National Bible Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, John Adams said that the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people and totally unfit for any other kind.

How are we to know what John Adams meant by a ``moral and religious people''?

In the 1600s, Massachusetts school children were required to study the Bible. I don't think this was unusual for people who lived prior to the time of the Revolution.

I am going to quote a little bit here from three of our Founders to see what they felt about the Bible.

George Washington, ``It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. Of all of the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters.''

John Jay, the original Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. I wonder if the Chief Justice would say this today. ``The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the Word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts.''

I will go back to John Adams one more time. ``Suppose a Nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God . . . What a Eutopia, what a paradise would this region be.''

It is primarily important to read the Bible to understand the history of the world, the commandments we are to live by, and also the life of Jesus Christ.

I may also point out, in particular, we should pay attention to the books of the Old Testament in learning lessons that God taught Israel.

We cannot understand our Constitution without a thorough reading of the Bible, and, therefore, I don't think you can be a decent congressman without a thorough reading of the Bible, which is why we have National Bible Week today. I hope as many Members as possible read the Bible themselves.

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