Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-04-25
Defeated by PRAYER.


The recent death of the Rev. j. w. Har-
mon, one of the oldest and most useful
Methodist ministers I'm the state. at Paul
ding in Jasper county, recalls a historic
incident I'm Mississippi history I'm which he
was the central figure. To him alone. i'm
all probability, belongs the unique honor
of having blocked obnoxious legislation
by means of a prayer delivered I'm the
hall where the legislature of the state
was sitting.
II was during the civil war. when the
Federal forces had compelled the Mis-
slssippi legislature to leave jackson and
to move over to Macon, in Noxubee
county, to hold its sessions. The mem
bers of the legislature, in their anxiety
to reinforce Gen. Lees army in Virginia.
which was then somewhat depleted. had
gotten up an army bill in which they
every preacher up to sixty
years of age to go to the front as a
soldier. The sentiment i'm the Legislature
was practically unanimous. and no oppo-
sition availed anything. on the morn
ing of the final vote and passage of the
bill. the Rev. Mr.. Harmon. who was
present, was invited to open the session
of the house with prayer. He accepted.
and prayed the following very pertinent
prayer, which is preserved i'm an article
written by the late Col. Power for the
Historical Society:
80, Thou Great God of the world. and
sovereign judge of all beings, as we are
dependent upon Thine omnipotence for
the breath we breathe. the bread we eat.
and the water we drink, and as Thou
hast redeemed us. calling us by Thy word
ana ministry, we are under the highest
obligations to recognize Thine authority.
we pray. therefore. for the members of
this Mississippi legislature. for they have
laid violent hands upon the ordained min
listers of thy church. thrusting them out
into the field of carnage and bidding them
go forth as messengers of wrath and
hlood instead OF messengers of peace and
good will.
90 Thou God of justice. for this wicked
act of legislation. which stands out in
all its gloomy isolation without a parallel
In the world. we invoke Thy pardoning
power.
80 Lord God. let not this wicked legis-
lation fan with terrible disaster upon the
heads of Thy people. but may n Just sense
or our relation to God cause a reversal
of this monstrous legislation.
Great God. we leave ourselves under
Thy protection. and let not Thy mercy
depart from Thy people"
There was CONSERVATION after the con-
clusion of the prayer. and for a moment
II seemed that the offending preacher
would be before the bar Of the
house for contempt. The house thought
a little better of IL. however. and shortly
afterwards an amendment was offered
relieving preachers from the forced draft.
and II was passed with as much unani-
nifty as had originally been displayed in
regard to the converse of the proposition.
Immediately after the prayer DIR. Har-
mon strolled over TO the senate. accord
ing to Col. Power. which was Just be-
ginning its session and where the re-
port OF his singular prayer had been
carried to several members. The presi-
dent. seeing n minister present. naturally
invited him to open the senate with
prayer. and he was about to comply when
a senator. informed of the house pro-
ceeding. rose and In a very decided man
ner said. II object!' This Unprecedented
objection astonished the uniformed mem
bers of that body until the protesting
senator arose and humorously related
the scene In the house. and concluded
by saying that he thought the minister
had legislated enough for one day. Mr..
Harmon had accomplished his point, how
ever. and the ministers Of all denomina-
tons In Mississippi undoubtedly owed II
to him that they were not required to
tax their places in the Virginia line
of battle.-tJackson (Miss.) correspond
ence in New Orleans Times-Democrat.