Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-06-10
THE FIRST PRAYER.

gress, Feyton Rando!ph was fresloeht
and Bishop White Chaplain. When
for the first time tho Chaplain offered
up prayer to the Throne of Grace, Of
all the audience Gen. Washington was
the only one who was seen to kneel, as
if he was thus early impressed with his
and their dependence on the God Of
battles. But more impressive Incl
den. has seldom occurred than that wit
messed on the occasion of the first pray
or, in the first Congress or Convention
which assembled in Carpenters Hall,
in 1774. 1t is one of the most signif-
cant events chronicled in American Rev.
olu,ionary history. The following &C.
count is given of it by John Adams:
When Congress met, Mr.. Gushing
made a motion that it should be opened
with prayer. 1t was opposed by Mr..
Jay, Of New York, and Mr.. Rutledge,
Of South Carolina, because we were so
divided in religious sentiment-some
Episcopalians. some Quakers, some
Anabaptists, some Presbyterians, and
some Congregationalists-that we could
not join in the same act Of worship
Mr.. Samuel Adams arose and said, that
he was no bigo,, and could heara pray.
er from any gentleman Of piesy, and
virtue, who was, tas the same time. a
friend to his country. He was stran-
ger III Philadelphia, but had heard that
Mr.. Dutchie (Duchay, they pronounced
it, deserved that character; and, there
fore, he moved that Mr.. Dutchie, an
Episcopalian clergyman, might be de-
sired to read prayers to Congress to-
morrow morning. The motion was se-
conded, and passed in the Affirmative
Mr.. Randolph, our President, waited
on Mr.. Dutchic, and received for an-
swer, that if 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 Psalter for the seventh
day of September, which was the S5th
Psalm, You. must remember that this
was the next morning after we had heard
of the horrible cannonndeof Boston,
It seemed as if heaven had ordained
tha, Psalm to be read on that morning.
CATER this, Mr.. Dutchio. unexpect-
edly to every body, struck out into ex-
temporary prayer, which filed the bo.
som Of every man present. l must con:
fess i never heard better prayer, or
one SO well pronounced. Episcopali-
an as he is. DR.. Cooper himself never
prayed with such fervor, such ardor.
such correctness and pathos, and in Ian
guage SO eloquent and sublime, for
America, for Congress, for the Province
of Massachusetts Bay, and especially
the town Of Boston. It had an excel
lent effect on every body here. ! must
beg of you to read the Psalm. Ifthere
is any faith in tho Sortes Virgiliane, or
Homerica, or especially the Sor,es Bib
licp, it would have been thought prov
idential." s ,9 4g- oeS .'s
Here was scene worthy of the paint
ers art. II M
1t was in Carpenters Hall, in Phila.
ielphia,-a building which still survives
that the devoted individuals met to
whom this service was read. Washing
ton, Henry. Randolph, Rutledge, Lee
and Jay. were there; and beside them,
aud bowed in reverence, stood the Pu.
ritan patriots Of New England, who, at
that moment, had reason to believe that
ali armed soldiery was wasting their
humble households. It was believed
that Boston had been bopbarded and
destroyed. They prayed fervently for
America, for Congress, for the Province
of Massachusetts Bay, and especially.
for the town of Boston; and who can
realize the emotions with which they
turned imploringly to heaven for divine
interposi,ion and aid.
"I,,was enough, concludes Mr.. Ad-
ans, "to melt heart Of stone. l saw
the tears gush into the eyes Of the old,
grave, pacific Quakers of Philadelphia
On tile Sth it was voted that the com
mittee Of two. Mr.. Gushing and Mr..
Ward, should wait upon Mr.. Dutchie,
and in tho name Of Congress present
their Acknowledgements for his perform
ance ofdivinc service, and fort the excel
lent prayer which he composed and de-
livered on that occasion.
Mr.. Dutchie became famous. When
Congress again convened, on May 10,
l775, his services were once more re-
quired, and on the llth January, Of the
same year, thanks were again proaered
him for another effective demonstration
which he made. "a
On the 18th June, l775, !. was resol.
we'd in Congress. that a General be ap-
pointed to command 1.-THE Continental
forces raised or TO be raised for the de-
fehse of American Liberty, and that
$500 per month be allowed for the pay
and expenses Oft General. BY bal.
lot, General Washington was chosen
uuauimously.-M y Times. w