Roosevelt tribute paid by House
Saturday, April 14, 1945
WASHINGTON (UP) – The House held a brief session today, adjourning after five minutes in respect to the late President Roosevelt, whom it called an “illustrious statesman and leader in the nation and in the world.”
After receiving a Senate resolution expressing regret over Mr. Roosevelt’s death, the House adopted one paying its tribute to the late President and expressing sorrow over his death. The Senate had expressed itself yesterday.
The resolution also extended sympathy to the Roosevelt family and instructed Speaker Sam Rayburn to appoint 15 members to attend the funeral services.
Open with prayer
The House originally had planned today’s session as an observance of Pan-American Day but cancelled that program because of Mr. Roosevelt’s death.
The session opened with a prayer by Msgr. Patrick J. McCormick, rector of Catholic University. House members and the half-filled galleries bowed solemnly as Msgr. McCormick began his eulogy of Mr. Roosevelt with the traditional Roman Catholic prayer of the dead – the “De Profundis,” or “Out of the Depth.”
Plea for forgiveness
Out of the depths, I have cried into Thee. O Lord, Lord, hear my voice, Almighty and merciful Father, who in Thy inscrutable Judgment and unsearchable way has called unto Thyself the soul of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Thy faithful servant… we bow in humble submission to Thy holy will.
In this hour of national sadness and grief we turn to Thee, the God of all consolidation and hope and we plead for him, for with Thee there is merciful forgiveness and plenteous redemption.