The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1902-03-21
AN INCIDENT OF STATE WAR
HISTORY.
HOW REV. J. W. HARMON PRAYED A
LAW TO DEATH.


the oldest and most useful Methodist
ministers In the State. at Paulding
In Jasper c0unty, recalls historic in-
cident in Mississippi history In which
lie was the central figure. To him
alone, In all probability, belongs the
unique honor Of having blocked ob.
noxious legislation by means OF a
prayer delivered In the hall where the
Legislature OF the State was sitting.
1t was during the Civil war, when
the Federal forces had compelled the
Mississippi Legislature to leave Jack.
son and to move over to Macon, In
Noxubee county, to hold its sessions.
The members Of the Legislature, in
their anxiety to reinforce Gen. Lees
armv In Virginia, which was then
somewhat depleted had gotten up ar
army bill in which they summoned
every preacher up to sixty years of
aye To 20 to the front as a soldier.
The sentiment in the Legislature was
practically unanimous and no oppo.
sitiOn availed anything. On the
morning of the final vote and pas.
sage 0f the bill. Rev. Mr.. Harmon,
who was present was invited tn open
the sessions Vt the House with pray.
er. He accepted, and prayed the fol.
lowing very pertinent prayer, which
is preserved in an article written by
the late Col. Power for the Historical
Society:
: "Oh Thou, Great GOO OF the world,
and Sovereign Judge OF all beings. as
we are dependent upon Thine omnip-
tence for the breath we breathe, the
bread we eat and the water we drink,
and as Thou hast redeemed US, call.
ing us by Thy word and ministry, we
are under the highest obligations to
recognize Thine authority.
"We pray, therefore, for the mem.
bers Of this Mississippi Legislature,
for they have laid violent hands upon
the ordained ministers of Thy church.
thrusting them out into the field OF
carnage and bidding them 90 forth as
messengers OF wrath and blood In.
stead OF messengers of peace and good
will.
20 Thou God Of justice, for this
wicked act Of legislation, which
stands out In all It's gloomy isolation
without parallel in the world, we in.
woke Thy pardoning power.
20 Lord God, let not this wicked
legislation fall with terrible disaster
upon the heads Of Thy people, but
may a just sense Of our relation to
God cause a reversal Of this mOnstrous
legislation.
"Great God, we leave ourselves un.
der Thy protection, and let not Thy
mercy depart from Thy people,"
There was CONSERVATION after the
conclusion Of the prayer, and for
moment it seemed that the offending
preacher would he summoned before
the bar of the House for contempt.
The House Thought a little better Of
it, however, and shortly afterward an
amendment was offered relieving
preachers from the forced draft, and
it was passed with as much unani.
nifty AS had originally been displayed
in regard to the converse Of the pro-
position.
Immediately after the prayer Or.
Harmon str0lled over to the Senate,
according to Col. Power, which was
just beginning its session and where
the report Of his singular prayer had
been carried to several members. The
President. seeing minister present,
naturally invited him to open the
Senate with prayer, and he was abOut
to comply when Senator, informed
Of the House proceeding arose and In
a very decided manner, said. II ob.
ject!" This unprecedented objection
astonished the uniform members 0l
that body until the protesting Sena'
tor arose and humGrously related tht
scene in the House and concluded b,
saying that he thought that the min
lister had legislated enough for ont
day. Mr.. Harmon had accomplished
his point, however, and the ministers
OF all denominations In Mississippi
undoubtedly owed II to him that they
were not req uired to take their places
In the Virginia line OF battle.
i A Mississippi girl described her
flrst visit to city in the following
rhapsody: "Oh, had such q perfect.
~ beautiful time! Everything was
10 converted, you know. We stopped
| IN n houao svhora sve vxrda IN Our rnnma