The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-16
PERSONALITY OF DR.. DUCHE.
The Minister Who offered the First
Prayer Before Congress.

Prayer Before Congress.
The Washington Star recently print
cd in full what was supposed to have
been the first prayer ever delivered be-
fore the congress of the United States.
The minister on that occasion was the
Rev. Jacob Duche of Philadelphia. and
the prayer was printed first in an is
sue OF Thatcher's Military Journal,
bearing date of I'LL. The article came
to the attention of a well-known resi-
dent of St. Louis, who belonged to the
family of which DR.. Duche was MEM
Der, and who has sent to the Star some
additional information about that in
teresting incident.
DR. Duche." the writer says was
the eldest son of Anthony Duche, jr.,
a merchant of Philadelphia. His grand
father. Anthony Duche, ST.. was re-
spectacle Protestant refugee from
France. who came over with William
Penn the first time in 1852 His mother
was the granddaughter of the very
first family Of Philadelphia. the SWed-
ish general commanding Fort Christing
on the Delaware. the owner of air the
land where Philadelphia now stands,
and the original old Swede from whom
the church of the Gloria Del gets its
name.
The tombstones of Anthony Duche
and Katherine Swan Duche, his wife,
and DR.. Duche's parents, are on the
east wall of the church of the Gloria
Del in Philadelphia. He became assist
ant pastor in 1874. He was also rector
of st. Peters church. When the first
american congress met in Carpenters
hall. Sept 5, 1774, they closed without
having accomplished anything, and.
with anxiety and fear. Thomas Gushing
Of Massachusetts proposed that the
next days proceedings should be OPP
ened with prayer. Jay of New York
and Rutledge of South Carolina opposed
it, because they We're so divided in We
ligious sentiment that they could not
join in the same kind of worship.
Samuel Adams Immediately arose
and said: i am no bigot. / can hear
a prayer from any man of piety and
virtue who is at the same time a friend
of his country. ] am stranger in
Philadelphia, but | have heard that Mr..
Duche, an Episcopalian clergyman of
this city deserves that character. |
move that he be requested to read pray
ers to congress tomorrow morning.
The motion carrying, President Pey-
ton Randolph waited upon DIR. Duche
and received the assurance that If
health permitted he would gladly ac-
cede to the wishes of congress. The
next morning, attended by his clerk,
he entered the halls, read prayers in
the established form, and the psalter
for that day, the 35th psalm, and un-
expectedly to everyone broke forth into
extemporaneous prayer with, an old
letter records. such ardor, such fer
yor, such pathos and in language SO
elegant and sublime praying for Amer
lea, for congress. fer the province of
Massachusetts Bay and especially for
the town of Boston, that even the staid
old Quakers of Philadelphia We're moved
to tears, for on their way that morn
ing they had heard of the cannonading
Of Boston; Washington, Patrick Henry,
Lee, Rutledge and Jay knelt. while be-
side them stood the Puritans of New
England and the Quakers of Pennsyl-
Nania sat with covered heads. facing
the crisis of the American nation.
We have no record of this prayer. eX-
cept from old letters; no notes were
taken the printed prayer said to be
the first prayer was never delivered
in Carpenters hall. but before sue
ceeding congress, after an army was
in the field. DIR. Duche was a warm
personal friend of Washington. His
elegant mansion on the corner of Third
and Pine streets was built for him by
his father copied after a wing of Lam
beth palace. His wife was a daughter
of Francis Hopkinson. His friendship
for Washington and his brothers high
position in the continental army made
him so secure in his reputation for 10y
atty that when the British had poses
sion of Philadelphia. the colonial treas
sury empty, the army naked and hun
cry, he wrote General Washington ad-
vising him to give up the unequal
struggle. AT that time Washington
was crossing the Delaware at Tren-
ton. The letter became public and
made DIR. Duche SO unpopular that he
fled to England, where he had been ed
ucated. He was a high churchman. 50
he carried the records of Christ church
to the archbishop of Canterbury and
deposited them where they remain un-
til this day. Colonel Hay may initiate
Secretary Bayard and return them to
Philadelphia. DR. Duche was given
an honorable position in boys school
in England He remained there till
1893, and returned to this country. died
just 100 years ago and is buried in St
Peters churchyard. He was a mystic
in belief, handsome. eloquent and pop
ular. honest in his opinions and does
not deserve the brand eff traitor. for
he believed that what he advised was
for the countrys good.