Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-11
C0UIDfN RE7IRES
Blind Preacher Was Chaplain Of
House For % Years.
PICTURESQUE FIGURE PASSES
Pathetic Prayers Have Long Since
Achieved National 'fame For Him
Lost Eyes While Serving Union


Lost Eyes While Serving Union
| Army.
The appointment January 6Sof Hen
| ry Noble Couden to be chaplain emeri-
tus> of the house Of representatives,
marks the passing from active service
Of one Of the most picturesque figures
In the government life Of Washington,
writes Jay G. Hardin in the Detroit
News.
The Rev. Mr.. Couden has been chap
lain Of the house twenty-five years, the
longest term Of service in that office
that has ever been recorded in the his
| tory of congress. A veteran of the
Civil War, he lost the sight Of both
eyes by reason of wound received In
battle in 1863.
Serving through the periods of stress
incident to the declaration OF two wars,
his prayers have probably had more in
fluence on the conduct of the affairs Of
the nation than those OF any other in
cumbent Of his office. They have long
ago achieved for him national fame and
have been published as an official doc
urrfent 20
Born in Indiana.
The retiring chaplain was born in
Marshal county, Indiana, l843. When
he was 10 years old he enlisted in the
Union army and fought until he be-.
came blind in 1863 After being grad
uted from the Columbus School for the
Blind he studied for the, ministry and
was ordained in 1878. He held church
es in various cities In the east and
middle west, and for several years
prior to becoming chaplain Of the
house filled a pulpit in Port Huron,
Mich.
Chaplain Couden's prayer at the
opening Of the session Of April S, 1917,
the day the house voted to declare war
against Germany, is regarded as
masterpiece of it's kind and Is an his
torical document of the first impor-
tance. He prayed:
Almighty God, our heavenly father,
we know not how or why, but we are
here, and we believe senough the
promptings Of infinite loye.. Thou hast
imbued us with marvellous faculties Of
mind and soul, and bade US go forward
day by day to new achievements and
larger life. Help US, weJbeseech thee,
to think wisely and act S6nscientlously
and to leave the rest to 4wise provi-,
dence which has, never Net failed 'us:
And everlasting praise We viii give, to
thee, through him who taught us how.
to live and how to die for liberty, JUS ::
tice, truth and Righteousness. Amen
With the Eyeof Faith.
On virtually everyday from this; the
beginning of American participation in
the world war, the Rev. Mr.. Couden's
prayers followed the course Of Amerii
can preparation for conflict and there
after the fighting Of American soldiers
in Franco, with Il striking combination
of pathos and blazing hopesfor better
things in the world. With!his sightless
eyes he seemed to struggle, to see far
into the future and from. these realms
beyond the sight Of ordinary mortals
picture of the dawn of new era of
justice and right.
In Dark Hours.
The chaplains prayers given at the
moments Of greatest stress Of the war
particularly attracted attention. On
February Z, 1918, the day when the
news Of the sinking Of the transport
Tucania, loaded with troops from Mich
igan and other states. brought the first
real shock Of war to congress, he pray
ed as follows:
Almighty Father, strong to save, be
with all who ride in peril on the sea-
Guard our ships and transport and en-
able us to overcome the threatening
dangers Of the elements and our mill
tary enemy. Comfort those who are in
anxiety and sorrow. Increase our de-
termination for the right;and bravery
to endure, to dare and to do.
"Of OLD thou didst encourage the
saints with unusual evidence of thine
approval. We are far FROM laying claim
to be saints, dear Lord. Yet we sin
cerely and humbly believe that in our
stand for justice and humanity we are
supporting a cause that is precious to
thee. Give unto us, therefore, courage
and cheer and tokens Of thine approval
and signs of sure victory. We ask this
in the name Of Jesus Christ. Amen"
On November II, Armistice day, he
prayed:
"Our Father in heaven, we approach
thee with gratitude yelling up in our
hearts and praise on our lips, that
truth has again vindicated itself, right
is marching on, and thy will In the as
cendancy.
Hostility has ceased. Democracy is
spreading it's wings over the earth.
Autocracy, military kaiserism and all
Of the evils connected with them shall
cease to be. Freedom, liberty, truth,
justice, righteousness live, to the glory
and honor of thy holy name.