The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
Solace in the Psalms.

president KRtGER in the course OF an In
terview to-day regarding the crisis, said he
regarded the Boer position best defined by
the Eighty-third Psalm"
This announcement from South Africa re-
minds US that this Is not the first time that
statesmen have found comfort in the Book
OF Psalms.
The first Continental Congress met at
Philadelphia in September, IVA. 1t was
proposed that the proceedings should be
opened with prayer Mr.. JOY Of New
York, and Mr., RUTLKDGE OF South Carolina,
objected on tho ground that the delegates
were not sufficiently united in their relig-
ious sentiments, some being Episcopalians,
some being Anabaptists, others Presby-
terlans, and still others Congregationalists.
A false report had just reached Philadel-
phia that Boston had been bombarded by
the British. What followed Is thus mar
rated In letter written by JOHN ADAMS to
his wife, under date OF s ept. 10, 1774:
Mr.. SAMUEL ADAMs arose and said he was no bigot
and could hear . prayer from gentleman OF piety
and virtue who at the time a friend to his
country. He stranger in Philadelphia, but he
had heard that Mr.. DUcBE DUsHAY they pronounce
~ deserved that character and therefore he moved
be desired to read prayers to the Congress
tomorrow morning. The motion was sec
ended and passed in the Affirmative. Mr.
RANDOLPH. our president, waited on Mr.. DUcHR
and received for answer that, II his health would
permit he certainly would. Accordingly next morn
ing he appeared with his clerk and In his pontncals
and read several prayers in the established form,
and then read tho collect for tho seventh day OF
septem Dor. which was the Thirty. NTH Psalm. You
must remember this was the neIt morning after we
heard the horrible rumor OF the cannonsde Of Bos-
ton. never greater e6ec. upon audience. 10
seemed Heaven had ordained Nat Psdlp 10 be read
On hdt morning"
There Is singular likeness between some
OF the verses which thus impressed the
Continental Congress Of 1774 and portions
OF the Eighty-third Psalm which Dom PAUL.
finds 30 expressive OF his own feelings in
this year, 1899.
In the Eighty-third Psalm, to which the
Boer President appeals, we find these
words:
Keep not thou silence. Coz: hold not thy
peace. and be not still. o COP.
FOR 10, thine enemies make tumult: and they
that hate thee have lifted up tho head.
20 my Cop. make them like wheel; as the stubble
before the wind.
"As the fire burneth q wood. and as . flame setteth
the mountains on Are;
80 persecute them with thy tempest. and make
them afraid with thy storm.
- Let Thorn be COMPOUNDED and troubled forever;
yea. let them be put to shame and perish"
While In the THirty-nfth Psalm, which
thrilled the Continental Congress Of 1774,
we read:
Plead my cause. o LORD. with them that strive
with me; fight against them that night against me.
Let them DO COMPOUNDED and put to shame that
seek after my soul: let them be turned back and
brought to infusion that devise my hurt
Let Thorn be a. ohaf before the wind: and let the
angel Of the LORD chase them.
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion
together that rejoice at mine hurt"
Thus the same sentiment, expressed in
different portions Of Holy Writ. has afforded
solace to the troubled statesmen OF Amer
lea and Of Africa in the latter days OF the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries