Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-02-08
FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS-

The following letter from the venerable
John Adams. has suggested to an artist, T.
IL. Matterson. painting, representing the
Congress of the United States, at it's frs,
meeting, when the first prayer was offered
up in that body, to the AUTHOR of all
mercies, and the RULER of nations. for his
protection, in the struggles Of the infan,
colonies for independence.
When the Congress met, Mr.. Cushing made q
motion that il should be opened with prayer. II
was opposed by Mr.. Jay. Of New York. and Mr..
Rutledge, OF South Carolina because we wero
SO divided in religious ssntments-some Episco.
palians some Quakers, some Ansbap,sts some
Presbyterans. and some Congregationasts-
that we could not join in the same act of wor.
ship. MIR. Samuel Adams arose and said, "tha,
he was no bigo and could hear q prayer from any
gentleman Of piety and virtue, who was q. The
same time friend to his country. He was
stranger in Philadelphia, bu, had heard tina, Mr..
Duche (Duchsy they pronounced III deserved
that character, and therefore he moved ,ha, Mr..
Duche. an EPiscoPalian Clergyman, might be de.
sired to read prayers to Congress tomorrow
morning" The motion was seconded and pass
ed in the affirmative. Mr.. Randolph our Pres
ident, waited on Mr.. D.. and received for an>
swer, that II his health would permit he certainly
would. Accordingly next morning he appeared
with his clerk. and in his pontifcals, and read
several prayers in the established form, and then
read the Psaltsr for the seventh day OF Septem.
Der. which was the 25h Psalm. You mus, 70.
member that this was the mex, morning after We
had heard of the horrible cannonade OF Boston,
1t seemed as il Heaven had ordered tina, Psalm 10
DO read on tina! morning
"Afer This, Mr.. Duche, Unexpectedly 10 every
body. struck out into extemporary prayer, which
hlled the bosom Of every man present. nust
confess never heard better prayer. or one so
well pronounced. Epscopalian as he is. DR..
Cooper himself never prayed with such lervsr.
such ardor, such correctness and pa,hos and in
Language so elegant and sublime, Tor America. for
Congress- for the Province OF the Massachusetts,
Bay, especially the town OF Boston. 1t had OF.
cellent effect upon every body here. | must beg
oil you to read the Psalm. IL there is any faith
in the sortes Vigiana, or Homerice. or especial
y the sores Bibcg, it would have been thought
provdential."
Here was scene worthy oil the painters art.
1t was in Carpenters Hall. in Philadelphia. a
building which still survives, that the devoted in>
dviduals met to whom this service was read.
Washington was kneeling there, and Henry.
and Randolph and Rutledge, and Lee. and Jay.
and by their side there stood. bowed in reverence
the Puritan patriots of New England, who at that
moment had reason to believe that an armed sol.
dery was wasting their humble households. 1t
was believed that Boston had been bombardsd
and destroyed. They prayed fervently "lor
America, for the Congress. for the Province Of
Massachusetts, Bay, and especially for the town
Of Boston," and who can realize the emotions
with which they turned implorngy TO heaven for
his divine interpostion and aid? at was enough
says Mr.. Adams. ITO mel, heart OF stone.
saw the tears gush into the eyes Of the old, grave
pacific Quakers OF Philadelphia"