How long has official praying at presidential inaugurations been going on?

[CTyankee]

Anybody know the history of this tradition? Did it start with our earliest presidents?

[Xipe Totec]

1. George Washington was a Mason

Masons are admonished to invoke the aid of Deity before any great and laudable undertaking.

[Starry Messenger]

4. I'd love it if they went back to that.

The history of Masonry is so interesting.

[baldguy]

2. "So Help Me God" is not part of the Presidential oath of Office.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the Constitution spells it out:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.


The new President adds "...so help me God" by custom & tradition, but it is not required.

[CTyankee]

3. Has EVERY president added "so help me God"?

Do you think Obama will?

[baldguy]

5. Yes

and Yes

[CTyankee]

6. It would be nice just for once...not to! n/t

[robcon]

7. Why do you want him to not to say "so help me God"????

Obama has stated that he is a believer.

[Bill McBlueState]

8. "believers" may have varying opinions

regarding the injection of their personal beliefs into a public ceremony.

[mkultra]

10. an oath is kind of personel though

so if he feels like he wants to ask for gods help, then more power to him.

[CTyankee]

11. I won't criticize him for it, but the prayer that takes place in the human heart

is, in my opinion, what really matters. It would be nice to have the Constitution the focus, that's all...

[mkultra]

12. i would agree

I would prefer that government be sanitized of religion, but i like to consider the feelings of those who are religious in cases like these.

[Bill McBlueState]

9. can you cite a source?

CTyankee said, "Has EVERY president added 'so help me God'?"

and you said "Yes"

Do you have a source for that?