The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-08
STATESMEN AT PRAYER.
Tho Eloquent Petitions OF DR.. But
l Tor, the Senate Chaplain.
N rrac,ic,, rhilantf,roric,I Christi Mnn
Who Tvs Not Worried In Vain
Tho Luther Statue FarinE:
on Thomas Circle.
rspcoia, Washington corrpspondcuco.l

IEpCCfot washington COrrCSro1QcCcCi
Tho morning prayer In tho House OF
Representatives is never delivered In
tho morning. Both houses Of tho Ma
tional Legislature meet exactly at nom
and AFRO called together by tho Vice
president and tho Speaker, simulti-
ncousiy. Zig Tom Rood asccnds tho
steps OF his throne, raises high his
mighty gavcl, brings il down with n re-
bounding thwapk upon his ncw desk,
and says: ''l'ho House will BE- in order"
After waiting hall minute, or some
times longer, for quiet to succeed the
diurnai bubbub, he says: Tho chaplain
will offer prayer"
Tho blind servant OF tho living God,
REV. Dir. Alilburn, then standing III
front OF tho desk, with his back 10 tho
Speaker. raises his sightlcss orhs and
briefly involles consideration and bless
ling Divine upon the proceedings Of tho
lHousc. Tho prayer is usually from
three TO five minutes OF duration. and,
las soon rs IL is ended. tho Journal or tho
proceedings Of Tic last meeting is read.
For forty years past tho namo and fame
lof tho Blind Chaplain have bccn
iheraldcd to tho people OF this country
and nearly every adult reader knows
what manner OF ,nan ho is and some
thing concerning his style OF praying
land preaching.
Tho opening OF tho daily sessions Of
tho Senate. ut tho hour OF noon is al
ways marked with moro dccornrn and
dignity than has over obtained in The
House. Tho Senators do not so to their
places and tako their seats before Tho
hour or assembling, as tho members OF
tho House arc accustomed to do. On
tho contrary it is very oXccptionabc for
"a Senator TO 10 seen in tho Senate
,Cha,nbcr. or ovon in tho Senate cloak
room CT licr than tive minutes before
twelve o'clock. They arc usually busy
either 1T homo or in tho Executive De-
ipartrIcnts, and few Of thcm oven arrive
in tiro for tho opening prayer. Prompt
,ly ct noon, Tho icc-Prcsidcnt, MIR.
,hIorton. or tho Vico President pro tom.
Mr.. Ingalls,, takes the Gavcl and ascrn]s
to tho step next To- tho chair, and thcro
stops, takes tho niiG aturc Etvcl. and
taps tho desk SO lightly that it is scarce
ly heard about The room. Everybody,
!howcvcr. is listening and watchin. for
tho ceremonies and instantly the Senate
Cham Dor is still as all absence Of sound
lean mako it. Tho Vice Prcsidcn: does
mot announce tho prayer. but. almost
immcd lately after tho fall Of tho litilo
gravel. tho voice OF tho chaplain Is heard
addressing tho Throne OF Grace.
Sometimes there arc but half Il ccoro
lor oven half dozen Senators in tho
clinmber when tho noon hour arrives,
bnt tho pages and othor employees stand
within tho outer spaces and with bowed
heads rcvcrcntly listen to tho invoca-
,tion. Tho sceno has all tho so!cmrity
Iof q church or prayo>mccting. Tho
prayer being finished. tho Vicc-Prcsi-
dent slowly advances to his chair. as
,snmcs tho Gavcl, looks around hin, do
Ilihcratoly, consuming u couple of min
Iutcs us though Awaiting, the appearance
of other members OF Tho august body,
land then says: "1'ho clerk will read
tho journal OF Yesterdays proceedings"
During tho reading the Senators como
in ono by ono and quietly take their
seats preparatory to the business OF tho
day. After tho rcading of the journal,
(which occupies from five to fifteen min
utes. bills. petitions, resolutions. etc,
arc introduced. and another days work
is going upon tho record.
But Let US return to tho chaplain.
Whilo Eov. DR.. Milburn who prcsidcs