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PLENARY SESSION
JANUARY 10, 1968—12:00 NOON
PRESIDENT H. VERNON ENEY,
PRESIDING
THE PRESIDENT: The Sergeant-at-
Arms will clear the aisles and close the
doors.
The Convention will please come to
order.
The invocation today will be offered by
the Reverend Bruce K. Price, delegate to
this Convention.
Reverend Price.
DELEGATE PRICE: May we pray.
We thank Thee, O God, for the privilege
of bearing witness in this terrific genera-
tion in which our lives are set. We thank
Thee for the faith of our fathers living still — the most previous thing we have re-
ceived from the past — the most precious
thing we have to pass on to those who
come after us.
To be alive is to participate in drama.
Yet, as individuals, we confess that we
have not always played our parts with
grace. We have called things God which
are not God. We have worshipped at the
wrong altars. We have burned incense at
the wrong shrines. We have not loved
when we have been loved. We have not
trusted each other when we have been
entrusted with life by Thee. We have re-
fused to accept wholeheartedly the good
intent of others in the mending of dif-
ferences.
As we look back upon the past may be
remember not only the pleasant moments,
but also may we recall the sad and tragic
hours that added depth to our faith. As we
peer from this point into the hazy mists
of the future, may we remember who and
what we are so that we do not expect too
much.
Give us the insight to know that not
everything old is bad, nor everything new
is good, and conversely, that not every-
thing old is good, nor everything new is
bad. Remembering with gratitude the past
months spent together and anticipating
the future with hope, strengthen us that
we may continually live out our days in
the present with calm reality, glowing en-
thusiasm, vibrant faith, personal integrity,
and righteous abandon.
And when our vision fails, and when our
understanding is darkened, and when the
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ways of life seem hard, and the brightness
of life is gone, we pray that Thou wilt
grant the wisdom that deepens faith
when sight is dim, and enlarges trust when
the understanding is not clear. As we go
from this point, may we face life without
fear, death without fainting, and whatso-
ever may be in the life to come, give us
confident hope that whatsoever is best for
us both here and hereafter is Thy good
pleasure and will be Thy law.
In quiet confidence, in patient trust, we
thank Thee, O God, with hearts and hands
and voices.
Amen.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Roll call.
Plas every delegate answered the roll
call?
(There tvaa no response.)
The Clerk will record the roll call.
There being a quorum present, the Con-
vention is in session.
Because of the unprecedented number
of guests, we have decided to leave the
doors in the galleries and in the main
corridor open as long as we can do so
without interfering with the proceedings
of the Convention.
The people you see on the floor sur-
rounding the delegates' seats are members
of the staff. They have worked long and
hard for the past four months and we
felt that it was their privilege to be
present on the occasion of the signing of
the constitution. They are the only persons
permitted on the floor other than the spe-
cial guests of the Convention and the pho-
tographers and press.
The Chair recognizes Delegate Powers,
Chairman of the Committee on Calendar
and Agenda.
DELEGATE POWERS: Mr. President,
I move that today's Calendar be adopted.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a second?
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: All those in favor
signify by saying Aye; contrary, No. The
Ayes have it. It is so ordered. The calendar
is adopted.
The Chair has a few announcements to
make.
The flowers in the center of the rostrum
are placed there as they have been on so
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