Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-09
THE GAZETTE.
PRAYER BY A HEBREW RABBI.
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY ., lss

On the lst instant the session OF the House
OF Representatives was opened with the foi-
lowing prayer by the Rabbi Nj. j. kapnaiis
of New York. 1t was the first instance OF
the sort in our history. 1t is an eloquent
and appropriate invocation:
Almighty and most mercifui uoo' We APP
proach Thy presence this day to thank Ihee
Tor Thy past mercies, and humbly TO beseech
Thee to continue and extend the same 10
Thy servants, the Representatives OF these
United States in Congress assembled.
Lord, great and manifold have been Thy
bounties to this highly-favored land. Heart
felt and sincere are our thanks. While the
vast despotisms of Asia are crumblng into
dust. and the effete monarchies of the Old
world can only sustain themselves by yield
ing to the pressure of the spirit of the age, 1t
has been Thy gracious will that In this
Western hemisphere there should be estab-
lished a Commonwealth after the model OF
that which Thou, Thyself, didst bestow on
the tribes Of Israel, in their best and purest
DAYS. The Constitution and the institutions
of this Republic prove to the world that men,
created in Thy image, and obedlent to ihy
behests, are not only capable, fully capable,
of selfgoyernment, but that they know best
how to combine civil liberty with ready obe-
dence to the law, religious liberty with
warm zeal for religion, absolute general
equality with sincere respect for individual
rights. In acquiring and carrying out these
most wise institutions, Thy protection, Lord,
has been signally manifest. 1t was Thy
right hand that defended the founders of this
Commonwealth, during the long and peril
GUS struggle ofright against might. lt was
Thy wisdom that inspired them when they
established this Congress, to be what Thy
tabernacle, with the arim and thammim-
right and equity-were intended to have
been for the tribes Of Israel-the heart of the
entire nation, where the wants, the feelings,
and wishes Of all might become known, to be
respected by all. so that union might ere
ate strength, and concord keep pace with
prosperity.
Lord, the ordinary lifetime of man has
barely elapsed since this Constitution came
into force, and under its auspices our coun-
try, from being feeble and poor, has become
wealthy and powerful, ready to take rank
with the mightiest: and Thou, Lord, wilt
realize unto it Thy gracious promise unto
Thy chosen people: Tehosircha adonai tefo-
5eh-the Lord will distinguish thee for that
which is good.
Supreme Ruler OF the Universe, many
days and many weeks have gone by since
Thy servants, our Representatives, first met
in this Congress, but not yet have they
been able to organize their House. Thou
who makest peace in Thy high Heavens,
direct their minds this day, that with one
consent they may agree to choose the man
who, without fear and without favor, IS 70
preside over this assembly. TO this intent,
Father most gracious, do Thou endow them
with Thy spirit; the spirit of wisdom and OF
understanding; the spirit of counsel and Of
amity; the spirit of knowledge and of fear
of the Lord. Grant. Father. that amidst
the din of conflicting interests and opinions,
Thy grace may direct them 80 that each one
of them and all Of them may hold the even
tenor Of their way--the way of moderation
and of equity; that they may speak and act
and legislate for Thy glory and the happi-
ness of our country; so that from the North
and from the South, from the East and from
the West, one feeling of satisfaction may
attend their labors; while the whole people
Of the land joyfully repeat the words of Thy
PsalmiSt: "How good and how pleasant
it is when brethren dwell together in unity"
Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of
Jacob, /, Thy servant, beseech Thee bless
these Representatives; even as Thou hast di-
Iected Thy priests to bless Thy people.
Yobarekeka adonai Yegishmireka.
Ya-air adonai psHaraleka wy-chaneneka.
Yissa adonai penar aleka veyasem Leka Shalom.
May the Lord bless ye and preserve We.
MAY the Lord cause his countenance to
shine upon We and be gracious untoye.
May the Lord raise his countenance unto
We and grant ye peace.
May this blessing of the one who liveth
and who reigneth forever rest, upon your
counsels and yourselves this day, and ever
more. Amen.
The TRUE GENTLENAN.-The following
sketch is called the portrait of a true gen
tleman, found in an old Manor House in
Worcestershire, written and framed, and
hung over the mantle-piece of a tapessried
sitting room:
The true gentleman is Gods servant, the
worlds MASTER and his own man; virtue Is
his business, study his recreation, content
ment his rest, and happiness his reward;
God is his father the Church is his mother
the saints his brethren, all that need him
nlb ITl6DuS, uevOtion is HIS Cuapiuih, ChuiieJ
his cham berlain, sobriety his butler, tenn
perance his cook, hospitality his housekeep-
or, Providence his steward. charity his
treasurer, piety his mistress OF the house,
and discretion his. porter, to let him in or
out as most fit. This is his whole family,
made up Of virtues, and he is the true mas
ter of the house. He is nocessitated to take
the world on his way to heaven: but he
walks through it as fast as he can, and all
his business by the way is to make himself
and others happy: Take him in two words