Prayers for All Faiths - NYTimes.com Re "Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Constitutionality of Prayers at Town's Meetings" (news article, Nov. 7): Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. asked for an example of a prayer that would be acceptable to people of all faiths. Why not follow the lead of Washington and Jefferson? Washington concluded his First Inaugural Address by thanking "the benign Parent of the human race [who] has been pleased to favour the American people, with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility ... on a form of Government, for the security of their Union, and the advancement of their happiness." Jefferson ended his Second Inaugural Address by asking for "the favor of that Being in whose hands we are ... and to whose goodness I ask you to join with me in supplications, that he will so enlighten the minds of your servants [and] guide their councils." Washington and Jefferson simply thanked the benign Parent for the gift of freedom to use our minds well. SUSAN DUNN Williamstown, Mass., Nov. 7, 2013 The writer is a professor of arts and humanities at Williams College and is editor of "Something That Will Surprise the World: The Essential Writings of the Founding Fathers."