Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-08-31
FIRsT PRAYER IN coNGREss.


The subjolned extract of a Characteristic
letter from John Adams, describing a scene
in the first Congress il Philadelphia, in Sep
tember, l775s shows very clearly on. what
power the mighty men of old rested their
cause. Mr.. thus writes1oa friend at the
time
"When the Congress met, Mr.. Cushing
made motion that it should be opened with
prayer. 1t was opposed by Mr.. Jay, of New
York. and Mr.. Ruiledge of South Carolina,
because we were so divided in religious
sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Qua
kers, some Anabaptists, some Presby tcrians,
and some Congregationalsts, that VIC could
NOT Join in the same act of worship. Me.
Samuel Adams arose and said that he was
no bigoi, and could hear prayer from any
gentleman Of piety and virtue, who was at
the same time friend to his country. He
was a stranger in Philadelphia, but had
heard that Mr.. Duche, (Duchay they pro-
nounce6 it, deserved that character. and
therefore he moved that Mr.. Duche, an
Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to
read prayers to the Congress tomorrow
morning The motion was seconded, and
passed in the affirmative. Mr.. Randolph,
our President waited on Mr. Duche, and re.
ceived for answer, that if his health would
permit he certainly would. Accordingly.
next morning he appeared with his cloak,
and in his pontificals, and read several
prayers 10 the established form, and then
read the collect for the 7th day of Septem.
Der, which was the S5th Psalm. You must
remembergthis was the next morning after
we had heard the rumor Of the horrible can
noaade at Boston. II seemed ais if hearen had
ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.
safer this, Mr.. Duche, unexpectedly to
every body. struck out into on eXtempora-
~ prayer, which filled the bosom of every
man present. must confess never heard
a better prayer, or one so we'll pronounced.
Episcopalian as he is, DR.. Cooper himself
never prayed with such fervor, such ardor,
such correctness and pathos, aud in lam
guage SO elegant and sublime, for America,
for Congress, for the province of the Massa.
chusetts Bay, especially the town of Boston.
1t has had an excellent effect upon every
body here. must beg You to- read that
Psalm. lfthere Is any faith In the sortes
Virgilianae, or sortes Homericae, or espc-
cially the sorties Biblicae, it would be
though providential."
The 18th Psalm was indeed appropriate
to the news received and the exigeEcies of
the times. It commences:
"Plead your cause, o Lord, with them
that strive with me: fight against them that
fight against me.
"Take hold of shield and buckler and
stand up for my help.
"Draw out also the spear, and stop the
way against them that prosecute me say
unto my soul, am thy salvation"
What q subject of contemplation does the
above picture present. The "A members of
the First Congress, In their Hall, all bent
before the mercy seat and asking Him that
thais eepeWies, "might be as chat before the
s ~ the Newark ADVERTISE .as there;
Randolph, and Rutledge and Lee, and Jay Jay
and by their side there stood, bowed in rev.
Puritan patriotsof New England,
who ut that moment had reason to believe
that an armed soldiery was wasting their |
humble households. it was believed that |
Boston had been bombarded and destroyed. |
They prayed fervenily "fcr America. for
the Congress, for the province OF Massachu- |
sets Bay, and especially for the town. of
Boston - and who can realize the emotions
with whic h they turned impbringly to heav-
en- for divine interposition and aid =? 8 1t was
enough says MIR. Adams, go melt a heart
of stone. saw the tears gush into the eyes
ofthe old: grave, pacific Qiakers of Phil.
adelphia.'
WITH AND WITHOUT TIE CLoAK.-There
are no such sticklers of eq1l rights in this
country, as the Roman Qnholics. They
will have tho Bible banihed from their
schools, because it infringe on their reiig-
ious privileges. Free tolsrttion of religious
opinions in their watchc'y in season and
out But then step aces our Southern