Expository Files 2.6
June 1995

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THE FRONT PAGE

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     It's that time of year again. School's out, just like 
every year since the beginning of our nation. Graduates 
are marching down the aisles and receiving their diplomas 
and degrees, just like every year since the beginning of 
our nation. The musicians are playing "Pomp and
Circumstance", just like every year since the beginning of 
our nation. The graduates are being congratulated for 
their good work and are being encouraged to make their 
future a success, just like every year since the beginning 
of our nation. Prayers and blessings are being offered in 
their behalf, just like every year since...

    No, it's not like every year since the beginning of 
our nation. God is no longer permitted to be mentioned at 
our graduation exercises, let alone petitioned. It has 
been decided by the powers that be that such would violate 
the constitution. One wonders why the original framers of 
the constitution did not realize this!

    It was three years ago that I was asked to give a 
prayer at our oldest daughter's graduation from eighth 
grade. The principal and I talked at length about the 
direction that the nation was going. He talked of the 
changes he had seen during his career. He expressed fear 
that it would not be long until the school administration 
would have to stop the practice of graduation prayer. In 
fact, he said all it would take is one complaint. Rather 
than be entangled in an expensive legal dispute, the 
school board would simply drop the practice.  I offered 
the prayer at the graduation ceremony. 

One parent mockingly shouted "Hallelujah" at then end, and was the 
recipient of many glares as a consequence for this. It was 
plain that most parents wanted this part of the ceremony 
to remain.

    It was the next month that the Supreme Court seemed to 
rule that my prayer had been unconstitutional. This is 
because some had argued that such a prayer consists of the 
school, an organ of the state, endorsing a religion. 
However, the school had no idea what I would say in my 
prayer. They had set no limitations, neither had they 
demanded anything be included. It had been completely up 
to me. So what about my right to speak my conscience as an 
individual when asked?

    Of course, participation should and must be voluntary, 
just as it is with the Pledge of Allegiance or the singing 
of the national anthem. Or will we also forbid them if 
someone objects? After all, both mention God (although you 
have to sing the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner 
to find Him.)

    Anyway, because of the Supreme Court's ruling, mine 
was the last prayer offered at graduation exercises in our 
public school district. As the foundation of our morality 
continues to be attacked, the eroding of our moral 
standards will continue. Of course, prayer at graduations 
will not save our nation, but a proper reverence for God 
and His Law most certainly will.

Jon Quinn
JWQuinn@AOL
    
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