Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-12
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICA N
 HISTORY
THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS.

THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS. l
 It is interesting to us at this day to look back upon first events that occurred Tn the organization of our government. | and to note that peculiar ideas entertain ed by our founders and the odd incidents that developed in our building. Today our sessions of congress are opened by prayer. When the first congress met in Philadelphia in 1774 Thomas Cushing made motion that before the first ses- sion divine blessing should bbe asked upon their work In those days there was more bigotry than at present, and this proposition was opposed by John Jay, of New York, and MT. Rutledge, of South Carolina.
 The reason these men assigned for their objection was that the body was constituted of Episcopalians, Quakers, Anabaptists, Presbyterians and Congre- gationalists, and that it would not be possible for them to all join in the same act of worship
 Thereupon Mir. Samuel Adams arose and said that he was no bigot. and could hear prayer from any good man of pie ty and virtue who was at the same time friend to his country. He said he was stranger in Philadelphia, but that he had heard that the Rev. Jacob Duche de- served that character, and, therefore, he moved that the reverend gentleman. an | Episcopal clergyman, be requested to read a prayer before congress.
 l This motion was seconded, and John
 Randolph, the president of congress,
 waited upon Mir Duche and secured his consent to perform the service Accord
 ingly he appeared in his pontihcals and
 read several prayers in the established
 form, and then read the 35th Psalm
 After this MT. Duche unexpectedly tc l everybody began an extemporary prayer
 which is said to have filled the bosom oi every one present. T must confsess.' John Adams wrote, 'T never heard a bet
 ter prayer pronounced. Episcopalian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself never prayed
 with such fervor, such ardor. such cor rectness and pathos. and in language s,
 elegant and sublime, for America fol
 congress, for the province of the Massa
 chusetts Bay. especially the town of Bos
 ton. It has had an excellent effect upor
 everybody here"
 The scene during the religious part 0 the opening of our first congress is sap : to have been most striking. Washington was kneeling. as was Patrick Henry, aI1i John Randolph, and Rutledge, and Le . and John Jay. And by their side ther stood. bowed in reverence, the Purital Patriots of New England. who at ths
 moment had reason to believe that al
 armed soldiery was wasting their hum ble households,
 At the time it was believed that Bos ton had been bombarded and destroyed
 "It was enough" wrote MT. Adams, ct melt a heart of stone. saw the tear gush into the eyes of the old, grave, pa cific Quakers of Philadelphia" Thi :; prayer made such profound impressio - that Messrs. Gushing and Ward were de = puted to convey the thanks of the cor : gress to MT. Duche, flor the exceIlen s prayer he composed and delivered on tn Il occa sion.'
 Il On July g, 177s, MT. Duche was chose the first chaplain of congress and serve : three months, when he resigned. He d.
 voted his stipend of $150 to the relief (
 the families of Pennsylvanians who ha i fallen in battle. Later the reverend ger tleman fell into disfavor through writin | a letter to Washington Co abandon tt struggle which he designated "a fol
 lorn hope" In consequence he left tn }, country and went to England, where ! Q made a reputation as an eloquent preael r. er. In the meantime his estate had hes n eonfiscated and he was declared tra It tor. He returned to Philadelphia in 17s l. where he lived for the next eight year
 dying on January 5, 17ss.
 III (Tomorrow-When Lincoln Was Cha
 | lenrad tN Eiphtl