Evening star., 1944-07-16
Capital Sidelights
By WIN P. Kennedy.

BY WIN P. Kennedy.
Congress, since its organization under
the Constitution, always has been strong
IN its appreciation of the Importance Of
Divine guidance and prayerfully asking
for 1t. In fact. Congress practically
ordered George washington by legisla-
tive enactment Immediately after his
Inauguration to 60 to church attended
by Congress. 1t was really John Adams,
as Vice President, who made the first
solemn prayer in Congress. The First
Congress met on March 4, 1859, but
adjourned for lack of quorum until
Monday, April 6, when Richard Henry
Lee Of Virginia established q quorum.
On Tuesday, April a., Adams was In
stalled as Vice President. He concluded
his address: And may God Almighty's
Providence assist you to answer their
tthe people's) Just expectations" The
following day the Senate set Saturday,
April Is, for proceedings to elect a
Chaplain" On Friday. April II. both
houses had agreed: That two chaplains
OF different denominations be appointed
by the Congress for the present session;
the Senate to appoint one. and give
notice thereof to the House of Repre-.
sentatives, who shall thereupon appoint
the other, which Chaplains shall COM
mence their services in the houses that
appoint them, but shall interchange
weekly" On Saturday, April Is, Speaker
Muhlenberg laid before the House let
ter from Vice President Adams inclosing
vote Of the Senate appointing the Rev.
DR.. Samuel Provost. That same day
Charles Thomson notified the Senate
that he had delivered to Gen. Washing
ton the certificate OF his election as
President. On Friday. May /, the House
elected the Rev. william Lynn as its
Chaplain, which was reported to the
Senate the next day by Thomas Beckley,
the House Clerk.
Meanwhile, on April n. the Journal
shows that while plans were being made
for the first inaugural, the Senate
passed this resolution: That after the
oath shall have been administered to
the President. he, attended by the Vice
President, and the members of the Sen
ate and House Of Representatives, pro-
coed to st. Paul's Chapel. to hear divine
service, to be performed by the chap
lains Of the Congress, already appoint
ed" This mandate. however, was toned
down by the House in approving the
resolution, amended to read: THAT after
the oath shall have been administered
to the President, the Vice President, and
members Of the Senate, the Speaker and
members Of the House Of Representa-
tives, will accompany him to st. Paul's
Chapel to hear divine service. performed
by the chaplain of Congress"
The first Senate Chaplain, was the
first Bishop Of New York, third in sue
cession in the American episcopate. He
had declined to serve as q delegate to
the Continental Congress, or to serve as
its chaplain in 1777, but was appointed
chaplain in 1785. while serving as rector
of Trinity Parish, two years before he
was elevated to the episcopacy. He was
personal friend of Washington,
Adams, Jay, Hamilton and other early
statesmen. A panel on the bronze door
of Trinity Church shows Bishop Pro-
vost welcoming Washington at the
entrance to st. Paul's Chapel, immedi.
ately after his Inauguration. Trinity
also has window in his memory and
portrait of him by Benjamin West.
The first House Chaplain, DR.. Lynn
sometimes spelled Linn-came of
family of distinguished preachers but
himself was better known as an educa-
tor He preached a Funeral Eulogy
on Washington" In 1900 and q Sermon
on the Death of Alexander Hamilton"
in 1904. He had been Chaplain in the
Continental Army. was president pro
tempore and trustee Of Rutgers College
and Regent OF the University Of the
State Of New York before being Chap
lain in the House. He was the father Of
IA children. In early life he had been
president Of washington Academy on
the Eastern Shore OF Maryland. He was
said to ba the subject Of Cowper's poem
on "The Preacher" The Society OF the
Cincinnati elected him an honorary
member