Newt Gingrich: “I simply want to share with my colleagues what a wonderful thing it is today to have Dr. George Docherty back sharing…”

“I simply want to share with my colleagues what a wonderful thing it is today to have Dr. George Docherty back sharing with us and leading us in prayer. He grew up and attended public school in Scotland; in Glasgow, to be exact. At the age of 20, he heard his calling to become a minister. In 1949, the Washington religious community was shocked by the death of Dr. Peter Marshall, the Scottish preacher, who was both Chaplain of the U.S. Senate and Pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Dr. Marshall had identified a minister to preach in his church in his absence: George Docherty. In 1950, the congregation chose as its new pastor George Docherty. He held the congregation together and led the church into an active ministry for the underprivileged which continues to this day. He worked with Reverend Billy Graham on the Washington crusades and arranged for Reverend Graham's first crusade to Scotland. For all of us this week, we should think about the notion, as we contemplate prayer and a National Day of Prayer, that Dr. Docherty convinced President Eisenhower and the Congress to add the words 'under God' to the Pledge of Allegiance. He is an example of why this is a great country, filled with good people who do amazing things. The fact is that we all owe Dr. George Docherty a thanks for reminding us that the only true America is an America which recognizes that its blessings come from the Creator who endows it with its unique rights.”