During WWII, State Rep. J. Frank Holmes introduced a resolution requesting the House and Senate to have a Bible for each chamber for reference when presenting or preparing bills. The House adopted the resolution, but the Senate never took a vote.
A few weeks later, on February 25, 1943, the Arkansas General Assembly scheduled a joint meeting to hear from U.S. Senator John L. McClellan about the war effort. State Rep. J. Frank Holmes also invited WWI Army Veteran Col. T. H. Barton.
During the joint meeting, Col. Barton presented the House and Senate with identical Bibles intended to be kept readily available for frequent reference. He inscribed each Bible with these words,
"To the Arkansas [House/Senate] with the hope that this book will always guide you."
The Senate's Bible now sits untouched and enclosed in a case on the desk of the President of the Senate. I have yet to learn what happened to the House Bible.
