The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-01-14

president Kruger, in the course OF
an interview today regarding the crisis
said he regarded the Boer position best
defined by the elghty-third Psalm
This announcement from South Afri-
ca reminds us that this is not the mrs,
time that statesmen have found COM
fort in the Book of Psalms. The firse
continental congress met at Philadei-
phia In September. 1774. 1t was pro-
posed that the proceedings should be
opened with prayer. Mr.. Joy OF New
York and Mr.. Rutledge Of South Caro-
lima objected on the ground that the
delegates we're not suhiciently united In
their religious sentiments, some being
Episcopalians, some being Anabaptists.
others Presbyterians, and still othera
Congregationalists. A false report had
Just reached Philadelphia that Boston
had been bombarded by the British.
What followed II thus narrated IN
letter written by John Adams to his
wife under date of September 10. TIA:
"Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said
he was no bigot and could hear
prayer from a gentleman OF piety and
virtue who was at the same time
friend to his country. He was. a strang-
or in Philadelphia. but he had hearq
that Mr.. Duche (Dushay they pro-
nounce IT'D deserved that character, ana
therefore he moved that Mr.. Duche. an
Episcopal clergyman, might be desired
to read prayers to the congress tomor'
row morning. The motion was seconds
ed and passed in the Affirmative. Nj.
| Randolph, our president, waited on
MI. Duche, and received for answer
that il his health permitted he certain
ly would. Accordingly next morning
he appeared with his clerk and In hi
pontificals, and read several prayers IN
the established form, and then read the
collect for the seventh day OF Septem-
Der. which was the thirty-fifth Psalm
You must remember that this was the
next morning after we heard the horri'
Bile rumor Of the cannonade Of Boston
/ never saw a greater effect upon ~
audience. II seemed as il heaven had
ordained that Psalm to be read on tina
morning."
There Is q singular likeness between
some of the verses which thus impress
ed the continental congress Of 1774 ant
portions Of the eighty-third Psalm
which Dom Paul finds 80 expressive o
his own feelings in this year, 1899. II
the eighty-third Psalm. to which tn
Boer president appeals, we md thes
words:
Keep not thou silence, o God; hol
not thy peace, and be not still, 0 God
For 10, thine enemies make tn
multi; and they that hate thee have lit
ed up the head. :.
20 nv God, make them like q wheel
, as the stubble before the wind.
"As the fire burnett a wood, and a.
, fame setteth the mountain on FIRE.
$50 prosecute them with thy tempest
and make them afraid with thy storm
! LET them be COMPOUNDED and trouh
, led forever; yea, let them be put I
! shame and perish"
: While in the thirty-hfth Psalm whic
: thrilled the continental congress Q
! 1774, we read:
Z "Plead my cause. o Lord. with ther
, that strive with me; fight against ther
, that fight against me.
E LET them be confounded and put t
( shame that seek after my soul; le
. them be turned back and brought I
t confusion that devise my hurt.
LET them be as chaf before tn
9 wind: and let the angel Of the Lor
Q chase them.
: LET them be ashamed and brough
: to confusion together that rejoice
mine hurt"
r Thus the same sentiment expresse
: in different portions OF Holy Writ Id
e Afforded solace to the troubled statei
= men of America and Of Africa In tn
latter days of the eighteenth and nin'
teenth centuries.