Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-03-13
an Interesting Prayer Meeting.

During the time that the Hon. Mr.. FIRE.
linghuysen occupied seat IN the Senate Of
the United States, a Congressional prayer
meeting was established in the city of WASH
lngton through his instrumehtaity. This
meeting was regularly and faithfully sps-
tanned, as | believe, by my amented and
distinguished predecessor, the Rev. Mr..
Goodman, whose mysterious demise contin-
ues TO be the subject of anxiety aud lamen-
ta,ion. Having been called to occupy the
position Of chaplain to the Senate, thus
made vacant by Providence which is stll
involved in mystery and gloom, fes anx-
ious that this prayer meeting should be sus-
tanned with its accustomed interest. Ac-
cordingly | made it part of my duty at
the commencement of every session, and
especially every new Congress- TO ascertain
who among the Senators and Representa-
tlves were members of the Christian Church,
aud TO extend an invitation to all such to
be present at the Congressional prayer meet
ing without respect to politics or denoml-
national pecuIariles, aud not unirequently
as many as five or six different denomina-
tons, and Of all political parties, were seen
kneeing together around the common al
tar, aud ImploFIng upon each other aud up
on our country the blessing of oar common
Father and God. The scene thus present.
ed was one upon which doubt not the
Master of Assemblies looked with approbl-
ton, and upon which he evidently bostow-
ed the sanction of his presence aud his bles-
sing. How much the perpetuity of our III
stitutlons Is indebted To the earnest suppli-
cations of kneelng Senators and Repre-
senta;lyes, can only be ascertaifsEt1 ssaen
" the books shall be opened"
The scene which closed my connection
with the Congressional prayer meeting will
never be obiilerated from my recollection.
/ We had offered our last prayer in tins So
cIal capacity, and the last accents OF that
1 precious hymn,
% Blesi be the sacred tie that binds"
had Just died upon our ears; but as il held
by some heavenly charm, we remained
standing IN mute silence around the cham
Der of prayer. At length one of the NUN
Der proposed that, without changing osF pc
sIton, we should Join hands in token of con
tinued friendship and undiminIshed aztec
ton. Upon this suggestion, each lnoiFidu
al lnstincIiyely and simultaneously extend
ed his hanos right aud left to the broihe
that stood by has side, by which means
complete chain was formed around H.,
en,Ire chamber. After remaining son'
moments in these interesting circumstances
every eye filled with tears-every hear
throbbing with emotion-the silent prayel
of each spirit seemed to be, and no doub
really was, May we thus meet IN hcage
around our Fathers Throne, where eLaeg
comes not, aud separations are never, neve
known" At length the silence was broke
by the subdued and uemulous voice of yoa
who has since filled place in the Csbint
of President Taylor, and the mournil
" iarewell" broke upon the ear, and wa
tenderly repeated as link after link in thI
. chain Of immortal intelligence dlsappeare,
until the chaplain stood alone To muae O
the beautiful vision which had just van.she
away.-Septimas Iastin.