Evening star., 1942-10-11
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

The Senate has printed public docu-
ment on the bicentennial celebration Of
the arrival of Henry Melchior Muhlen-
berg at Philadelphia, Pa, November 25,
l742. For that celebration the commits
sion includes President Roosevelt, Vice
President H. A. Wallace, Speaker Sam
Rayburn and Senate Leader Alben
Barkley. On May 80 Speaker Rayburn
was the principal orator at Muhlenberg
College, Allentown, Pa, on which occa-
sion they gave him a surprise by con-
ferring on him the honorary degree of
doctor of laws. He praised the services
of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, the
first Speaker, who charted the course
OF parliamentary proceedings when the
new Nation was formed" It was his
opinion that the Muhlenberg family is
one of the most remarkable families that
The Senate document pays tribute to
Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, D. D., the
patriarch of Lutherism in America" and
his sons-"who provided military, politi-
cal and intellectual leadership"-Fred-
erick Augustus Muhlenberg, the states
man; Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlen-
berg, "the patroit," and Gotthilf Henry
Ernest Muhlenberg, D. D.. "the pastor,
scientist" 1t contains letter from
President Roosevelt commencing the
patriarch of the Lutheran Church in
America and father of this distinguished
line" affirming: In this crucial hour of
destiny we think also especially of his
son, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenbcrg,
clergyman and officer in the Continental
Army, who went from his pulpit to fight
for the freedom of men," While the
Senate document tells of the services of
these four most distinguished members
OF the family 1t fa.ls to stress how many
others-to total of 12-from this dis
tinguished family have served in Con-
gress. Both John Peter Gabriel and
Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg,
brothers, were elected members of the
First Congress, and Frederick was elected
first Speaker. All original copies of the
Bill OF Rights carry his signature He
continued member during the first four
Congresses. His brother John was
member of the First, Third and Sixth
Congresses. and his son. Francis Swaine
Muhlenberg, was member of the goth
Congress. A nephew of both the first
Speaker and his brother John, Henry
Augustus Philip Muhlenberg, was
member of the 21st, 22nd, 23rd Oath and
25th Congresses. President Van Buren,
offered him the offices of Secretary of
the Navy and Minister to Russia, both
OF which he declined but he later was
Minister to Austria and had the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor of
pennsylvania, but died before the elec-
ton. Henry Augustus, his son, and
grandson of Joseph Hester, was a men,
ber of the 33rd Congress. On the COL
lateral side there were six members of
the Hester family who served in Con-
gress. David Hester served in the first
tour Congresses from PENNSYLVANIA and
IN the Seventh and Eighth from Mary
land John Hester, grandfather of
Henry Augustus Muhlenberg, served in
the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, 18th
18th and 18th Congresses, retiring to
bSSoAAC 1UNcIuOT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Meanwhile John Hester brother of
Daniel. cousin of Joseph and uncle of
William. had served in the 10th Con-
grsss. Daniel Hester, son of John and
nephew of Daniel. was a member of the
llth Congress. William Hester, father
OF Isaac Ellmaker Hester, uncle of
hiester Climer and nephew of John and
Daniel Hester, served in the 22nd, 23rd
ana 24th Congresses. Isaac Ellmaker
Hester, son Of William and cousin of
Hester Climer served in the 33rd Con-
gress. Hester Climer, nephew of Will
liam Hester and cousin of Isaac E.
Hester. was a member of the 43rd, 44th.
45th and 46th Congresses.
The Muhlenberg family and collateral
branches fought in the Revolution, the
War Of 1912, the Civil War, won cita-
tions for valor in the World War and
today are again on the battle lines fight
Ing for worldwide human freedom. They
were also prominent in religious, educa-
tional, industrial, business, Civic and
charitable activities.