The Van Buren press., 1897-04-24
GOD IN THE INAuouRALs
References of the Presidents to n IN.
Dreme Deiny.

ldentlal inaugural ADDRESS save one Tn
some instances the invocation has been
made in the beginning of the address
and in nearly all Divine guidance hss
been invoked III the last words.
President Mckinley FASTENED to in.
woke 1.-The guidance of Almighty Cod
In fact, the first paragraph of his inaug-
ural is sufficiently reverential to satisfy
the most exaeting. The inaugural closes
with petition to the Lord Most High
an appellation which no former presi-
dent used on a similar occasion.
Washington's first inaugural, in its
opening, was full of mention of the
almighty Being" Great Author,a
and "smiles of Heaven" "Proyidencen
was invoked in the last paragraph. In
his second inaugural address there was
no reference to God.
John Adams acknowledged an Over
ruling Providence" in the beginning of
his inaugural, and in the close of the adj
dress references were made to the
Being Supreme over all, - Patron OF
Order, ""Fountain of Justice" and Pro
tector of Virtuous Liberty"
Thomas Jefferson called upon that
Infinite Power" in the last section of his
inaugural, and duplicated that Being
in his second address. The second adj
dress also contained the word Gre
ator," referring to God, and there was
part of paragraph touching on Chris
tian religion.
Joseph Madison acknowledged the
almighty Being" in the last paragraph
of his first inaugural and the "smiles of
Heaven" in the first paragraph Of his
second inaugural.
james Monroe, in the beginning of his
first inaugural, acknowledged that the
almighty had been graciously pleased
etc., and in the close of his second in
augural he spoke of the supreme Au-
thor" and almighty God"
John Quincy Adams referred to b.
ing In the presence of Heaven" in the
opening of his inaugural, and in the
close he quoted the text: IF the Lord
kcepeth not the city, the Waterman
waketh in vain"
Andrew Jackson, in his first address,
| invoked that Power" and in closing
asked Ills Divine care and benediction.'
In his second inaugural he made a
most fervent prayer to that Almighty
Being"
Martin Van Buren,, in his first inaugu-
raj, chopped for the sustaining support
of an ever-watehful and beneiicent
Power" and in closing he ''looked to
that Divine Being"
William Henry Harrison's inaugural
was the most voluminons yet deliyerd.
II was made up of more than S,000words.
The "Benefieent Creator was men,
toned once, and that Good Being
John Tyler, who succeeded Harrison
few weeks later, printed his inaugural
in the newspapers. He Cooked to an all
wise and all-powerful Being, who made
me-" and trusted in the ever-watchfu
and everything Providence"
James K Polk invoked the Almighty
Ruler of the Universe" and supplicated
the 'Divine Being"
Zachary Taylor, in the last words Of
his inaugural, invoked Divine Proyi-
dence."
Willard Fillmore, who succeeded him
little later, spoke in brief address OF
Him who holds us in His hands,"
Franklin Pierce put his dependence
upon God" and asked the blessings OF
"Divine Providence
James Buchanan asked for the aid of
"the God of our forefathers" twice in
the same inaugural.
Abraham Lincoln acknowledged a
firm reliance on Him. in his first in
augural. This is the only reference to
a Supreme Being in that address. But
nearly one-half of his second inaugural
Is a sermon.
Andrew Jackson mentioned God once
In his short inaugural, but not by way
of invocations
Grant mentioned Providence" and
almighty God" once in his first, and
the Great Maker" in his second in
augural, but not in supplication.
Mr.. Hayes asked the guidance of the
Divine Hand"
Garfield mentioned Almighty God
once in his inaugural. They are his
last words.
Arthur, in succeeding President Gar
field asked in his brief address for
laid and Divine guidance"
Cleveland, in his first inaugural, ac-
knowledged the power and goodness
of Almighty God"
Benjamin Harrison "reverenuy" in
voked Almighty God for strength.
There was no invocation in the closing,
but the word God is used once in the
address, after acknowledgment.
Cleveland, in his second inaugural
invoked a Divine Ruler."-N. y. Sun.