Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-07-18

THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS.-'rI e |
SUBJ "ncd extract Of Characteristic Letter from JOHN
Adams, describing "a scene he hrst Congress IA l
Philadelphia IN September INA, shows very clear.
" on what Power he mighty men of old rested
'heir cause, Mr. thus writes to friend al the
lime
when the Congress met. Mr. Gushing made
motion that II should be opened with PRAYER. a
was opposed 10 10y Mr. Jay OF New Y.rk aud MIR
Ruliedee OF South Carolina, because we were SO
divided m religious sentiments some EpiscopalIans
some SInakets. some AUaOaPiisis and sume Cuugre.
aliunalisis. that we could not Jon ia the same mol
OF worship, Mr. Samuel Adams ruse aud said .Ihnr
he was TO bIgui. and could hear n PRAYER from a,v
gentleman OF Piety and virtue who Was At the snmc
Time TREND TO his country lie was a stranger la
fhhadelphIn but had heart that Mr. Duche tDu.
shay they pronounced iD deserved that character
ana therefore he moved that Mr DIchc. an Elisco.
aIian clergyman, nigh, be desired 10 read .rlyers
I'D The Cpugress Ia morrow morning The mptiou
was seconded aud passed IA The affirmative. Mr.
Randolph our President waited on Mr. Duchp. and
received Tor answer, that # MS health " mid pernt
ne certainly would. Accordingly, next morning Ia,
appeared with ms clerk. and in hIs punifcnIs and
read several prayers IA the established rm. and
'hen read The collects Tor the seventh day Of Sep.
iemher' which was the thirty fnh psalm Y,u
mu remember this was the next murnirg after vc
had heard the Tumur oi Tho horrible cautionlde Of
Boston. IL seemed ms Il heaven had ordained ih,t
| psalm to be read on that rnorn.ng.
"AHer IT'S Mr. DuChe, very unexpectedly % v.
err udy. struck out into ara cxiCrngorarv prayer
M"ich hII'd The bnsum of every man present
must confess never heard a better prayer IA nIl nv
/ liie. or "ne 80 we'll Pronounced. Epscuna'ian a.
he is. DR. Copper himself never prayed with surb
ieTvcr, such ardOr such correctness aud paJros and
IN language 81 eloquent and sublime. Tor America
T Congress, for the province of the Masslchuse Us
Bay especially The town # Boston. II has had an
excellent elect upon every body here, | must beg
you 10 read thai psalm there Is any ,aitb m he
soies Hpmercc. or sori,s Vrgli,n a. or especiaIIv
ull." ''U'''
The 35th psalm was indeed appropriate to the
news received and the ox'gencies OF the times Ii
| commences.
plead my cause o Lord, with ;hem that strive
win me; light against them that fsht against me.
Take hold Of shield and buckler and sand up Tor
my help.
Draw Out also The spear and stop The way against
them that prosecute me; say unto my SOUL am thy
salvation"
What a subject for contemplation does the above
picture represent. Tue Al members of the First
Congress, IA their Hall. all bent before the mercy
scat asking Him that their enemies "might bc as
chah before the wind" WAsmNGrox was kneelinp
here s2ys the Newark Advertiser, and Henry and
| Randolph tnd Ruiedge, aud Lee, and jay, aud by
ieir side there siOpd bowed IN reverence the Pa.
rIInn pf trO's Of Ne,V England who II that m,ment
had reason Ia believe that an armed s,lIIrrv yvos
| wasting their humble households n was believed
Thai B"sion had been bombarded and bestowed
/ Ihsy prayed iervenIly "lur America for The Cong
TesS, for the province OF Massachusetts Bay and Is
especially for The town OF Boston," aud ~ no can re-.
alIze the emotions with which they turned implo.
rlngJ TO Heaven for divine nterposiIiun aud aiI2-
"Il was enough" says Mr. Adams. Ito melt a heart
"Ist"ne. saw The Tears gush into the evos of The
CID grave pacific Quekcrs OF Phiiadelpha"