Members of Congress are free to express their religious sentiments. However, God's law not to render to Caesar what belongs to God is violated when the civil magistrate assumes authority over the prayers of the people.

Prayer recommendations by civil magistrates are fruit of the poison tree of civil authority over religion. Although recommendations only, they imply a religious agency, making no part of the trust delegated to political rulers.

The members of Congress can in no sense, be regarded as possessing an advisory trust from their Constituents in their religious capacities. They cannot form an ecclesiastical Assembly, Convocation, Council, or Synod, and as such issue decrees or injunctions addressed to the faith or the Consciences of the people. In their individual capacities, as distinct from their official station, they might unite in recommendations of any sort whatever, in the same manner as any other individuals might do. But then their recommendations ought to express the true character from which they emanate.

The Congressman's prayer advice implies and certainly nourishes the evil idea of a national religion. The idea is too apt to lurk in the bosoms even of Americans.