The Constitutional Convention Prayer 1787 Philadelphia is remembered as one of the most decisive moments in the creation of the United States. In the summer of 1787, delegates gathered at Independence Hall to resolve deep divisions and design a government strong enough to hold the new nation together.
Weeks of debate had left the convention frustrated and fractured. Small states and large states clashed over representation, while others argued over the balance of power. Into this chaos, one of the oldest delegates — Benjamin Franklin, then 81 years old — rose to speak.
He reminded the assembly that in earlier times of crisis, they had sought God in prayer. Franklin urged them to do the same now, declaring: “If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
The Constitutional Convention Prayer 1787 Philadelphia was Franklin’s plea to anchor the nation’s future in divine wisdom.
The Call to Prayer
Franklin’s proposal was simple but profound: appoint a chaplain and open each day’s session with prayer. Though his motion was never formally enacted due to budget concerns, the sentiment had a powerful effect. The delegates paused to acknowledge their dependence on God.
John Adams later wrote that this call to prayer helped shift the atmosphere, paving the way for compromise and consensus.
Historic Backstory
The convention produced one of the greatest documents in history — the U.S. Constitution. Its careful balance of power and emphasis on liberty has endured for more than two centuries. But behind the words on paper was a recognition that human wisdom alone was not enough.
The Constitutional Convention Prayer 1787 Philadelphia shows us that even a man often described as pragmatic and scientific, Benjamin Franklin, believed prayer was essential to governance.
Biblical Parallel — Wisdom Beyond Human Understanding
Franklin’s appeal echoes the words of James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Just as Solomon prayed for wisdom to govern Israel (1 Kings 3:9), the framers of the Constitution needed wisdom to design a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” The Constitutional Convention Prayer 1787 Philadelphia reminds us that prayer invites God’s wisdom into human conflict.
Modern Application — Praying in Our Divisions
Today, political division runs deep in our nation. The Constitutional Convention proves that prayer can turn contention into cooperation. Franklin’s example calls us to pray for wisdom and unity in our own communities, families, and government.
The National Prayer Wall continues that mission by connecting prayers ZIP Code by ZIP Code, asking God to heal divides and restore unity across America.
Visit Philadelphia Today
Visitors to Independence Hall in Philadelphia (ZIP Code 19106) can stand in the very room where Franklin gave his call to prayer. The Assembly Room, with its high-backed chairs and green-draped tables, remains a powerful reminder of how prayer shaped the birth of our Constitution.
📍 This prayer took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (ZIP Code 19106).
And just one year later, in 1789, America’s first president, George Washington, received a historic Jewish blessing for government in New York City (ZIP 10004).
Read about the Jewish Blessing for Washington →
Reference Prayers and Proclamations: Historic Prayers in American Life (White House PDF)