The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-31
WONDERFUL EFFECT OF PRAYER
The Maryland Constitutional Convention
of 1851.

Hon. F. P. Phelps, of Dorchester county, who
is now IS years of age, in a recent letter to the
Cambridge Era, gives the following interesting
facts with reference to the Maryland Constitu-
tional Convention of 1851:
"I am one of ten of that body who still survive.
Ninety four have passed away. In the year 1852
I was elected to represent this Congressional
District in the National Convention held that
year in the city of Baltimore, and l am the only
delegate from this State still spared. John M.
Clayton and Judge Layton, of Delaware, who
were both members of that convention, have pass
ed away, and it is possible like proportion of
the members of other States Of the Union have
been marked with like mortality. That is not
all; Gen. Scott, Mr.. Fillmore and Danl Webster,
who were the contestants before that body for
Presidential honors, have all been numbered with
the pale nations of the dead. What sad COM
mentary upon the brevity of human life. Verify,
''the life of man is only hands BREADTH as is
declared in holy writ. But to return. The Act of
Assembly providing for the call of the convention
in the year 81 threw the door wide open in the
selection of members of that body. Preachers of
the gospel, judges of the courts, members of Con-
gress and all others of suitable age and residence
were made eligible to seats in that convention.
This provision of the law was intended to secure
the best men in Maryland as delegates to this
convention. The result was that this convention
was composed of the most distinguished and ablest
body of men that had ever assembled in this
State since the Revolutionary war.
"In proof of this assertion permit me to state
that there were three ex-Governors of the State
elected as members of that body, three ex -Sena-
tors of the United States, five ex-members of the
House of Representatives, three ex-Judges of the
Court of Appeals, two foreign ministers, and one
preacher of the gospel, besides many other gen.
tlemen of distinction from different portions Of
the State. This assembly was composed of three
divisions of almost equal members. One of Dem
ocrats, one of Wings of that day, and one of Re-
formers; with the House thus constituted the
difficulty of organizing the body met US at the
threshold. For eight or ten days we continued
to vote for president with no prospect fsuccess
We were driven almost to despair Of an organiza-
ton when Judge Constable from Cecil, who was
not very distinguished for piety, surprised the
members by rising in his place and with most
sanctimonious air addressed the chair, and stated
we should never organize in his opinion, except
it was through prayer, and moved committee
be appointed to wait upon all the resident clergy
of the city, composed as they were of Methodists,
Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Roman Cath
lies, and invite them to appear next morning In
the hall and engage in earnest prayer that the
discordant elements of the body should so har-
monize as to allow us to proceed to the business
of the session without futher delay. This motion
prevailed and the next morning at the hour of
meeting, in marched all the preachers of all
denominations of Christians in the city. Old
Daddy Griffith, as we used to call him, Meth
odst preacher, being the Oldest clergyman present.
opened the session with prayer, and such
prayer was never offered up in that house, or else
where. 1t was more than half hour in length,
directed to the one point that was, that all dis
sensions cease and that harmony and goodwill
pervade the whole body.
"Strange to say, the first ballot after thatprayer
Gen. John G.. Chapman, of Charles county, was
elected president of the convention, and the bust
ness of the session was Immediately commenced
and proceeded with harmony from that time on
ward.