Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-08-28
Religious Feature of the Philadelphia
Convention;


the Philadelphia Convention, we give below
the several prayers delivered at its opening,
during its continuance, and at its Close The
opening prayer was made by the Rev. Mr..
Mclponough, who addressed the Throne Of
Grace as follows:
y, Lord, High and Mighty, Ruler of the
Universe we; Thy dependent and pleading
creatures, bumbly draw mar to Thee in the
name of thy blessed Son, our Lord and Sa-
viOur Jesus Christ. Have mercy upon us
according to Thy loving kindness. Accord
ing to the multtude of Thy tender mercies.
blot out our transgressionS We bless Thv
great aud holy name for the innunerabIe
mcrcies thou hast bestowed upon us as
christian people. We bless Thee for the es-
tabhshment and maiptenance of religious and
civil liberty; and especially do we praise
Thee for the interposition of Thy power in
our behalf in our late troubles, which Thou
permitted to come on our beloved country
We bless Thee that Thou hast brought to an
end the fearful struggle in Which the nation
has been engaged, and that the nation is
preserved. Verify, Thou art a God who
doest wonders. Ihou canst make the wrath
OF man praise Thee, and Thou canst restrain
the remainder thereof. We thank Thee that
Thou hast put it in the hearts of these Thy
servants here present, 10 assemble from va
riOus parts of our land to consult for the pub
lie good. And now. o, most Mighty. o.
most Holy, let Thy blessing rest upon this
Conventions. May Thy servants come to-
gether as brothers and as friends. Help
them to lay aside all selfish motives. all un-
worthy personal and sectional considerations.
Eniighten their consciences and guide them
in all their deliberations so that the Union
Nnfo l. ELL.
may be rendered perpetual. L::'Amen from
a member OF the Convention. Restore their
prosperity as at the first, and their peace and
fraternity as at the beginning Bless the
country in all its interests, in its agriculture.
its commerce, and the mechanic arts-in its
churches and its religions and benevolent in
stltutions. Avert from us, we beseech Thee.
the pestlIence which walkcth by darkness.
and the destruction which wasteth by noon.
day and avert all the judgments which our
sins deserve. o, most merciful God. our
Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee to mani
fest Thy especial favor On Thy servant the
President of the United States. A loud
"Amen" from several members of the Con-
vention.] May his health and life be pre-
cious in Thy sight. Wilt Thou make him a
which, in Thy wonderful and adorable Prov.
ldence, he has been called to be the ruler
Bless his constitutional advisers. Grid them
with wisdom and strength in every emergen>
cy. We pray that he may be iust-ruling
in the fear of Cod. And especially, o, Lord.
crown the efforts of Thy servant, the Presi-
dent, in maintaining the Union of these
States inviolate under the Constitution of our
fathers. Bless all nations and their rulers.
Let the Gospel be spread abroad Let op>
preston disappear from nong men, and let
Righteousness and peace fill the whole land.
These are our petitions; these are our re-
quests. o Lord hear them. o Lord for
give. o Lord hearkcn unto us for the sake
Of our great Redeemer.
On Wednesday morning the session of the
Convention was opened with prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Holsinger. as follows 8
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father. Tbon
hast been our dwellingplace in all generations
Before this universe was formed Thou vert ::
even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou
art God. We would desire to come at this
time IA the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ.
and ask Thee for his sake to patIoti all our
SINS aud forgive all our iniquities In Thy
providence we have been brought together
here for a special purpose, and we ask Thee.
KIND Father, to give US the spirit proper for
the present occasion. oh that Thou ysOtIdst
help us to feel the responsibilities that rest
upon us As millions in after time are to be
effected for veal or woe by the doings of this
Convention, may 1t be endued with all neces-
sary wisdom. Make us dulT thankful for all
Thy mercies. May we feel becoming graft
tude that the storms of war have passed bv
and that We are permitted to mept here to-day
under the united arch of States. Nav the
constellation of stars upon the fold of our
national emblem remain ever undimmed and
undiminished; and may our Union be per.
petuated. In order that our efforts to tins
end may be successful, we ask Thee to give
as the spirit of our fathers We ask that
their mantle may be upon us. MAY the spirit
OF IlI6 rest upon this convention TODAY. and
may God bless and prosper its labors. We
pray Thee that temporal prosperity may rest
upon this land. The storms of war having
/ disd away. nav reaca ahnnnd e,-eruu,l,o 2