Posted on 05/02/2007 10:19:50 AM PDT by Delphinium
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN 1774 OPENS WITH PRAYER
As the nation prepares for the 56th annual National Day of Prayer tomorrow, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on a seminal moment in American history.
The Continental Congress, which gave us the Declaration of Independence in 1776, convened for the first time on September 7, 1774.
The first legislative action taken was a motion to open this first session in prayer. The motion was opposed. Aha, you say – separation of church and state!
But it was opposed for reasons other than you might expect. It was not that the delegates were opposed to prayer, but rather that they weren’t sure which Christian clergyman to choose for the honor, as there were, according to Founding Father John Adams, Episcopalians, Quakers, Anabaptists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists present.
“Any gentleman of Piety”
The logjam was broken when Samuel Adams (right), the Father of the American Revolution, “arose,” according to John Adams’ account, “and said that he was no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country.” (Note to the ACLU: according to this Founder, opposition to public invocations is a form of bigotry.)
As a result of Sam Adams’ intervention, the motion carried and an Episcopalian clergyman, Rev. Jacob Duche’, was prevailed upon to open the next morning’s session in prayer.
Psalm 35 – “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me”
Duche’ first read several prayers “in the established form,” and then read the assigned passage from the Book of Common Prayer for that day, Psalm 35. (The horror: not only multiple prayers, but Bible reading, right there in the open, in Congress!)
Providentially, this Psalm opens with these words: “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help. Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers. Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’ Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me.”
Adams writes that this passage from the Scripture electrified the Founders. “I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.”
(As a side note, the Boise City Council had a meeting scheduled for the evening of September 11, 2001, and I had been invited to give the opening invocation that evening. Acting Mayor Carolyn Terteling-Payne considered canceling the meeting, but ultimately decided it was important for the Council to meet, in part so that prayer could be offered in the wake of that morning’s events. Reminded of Rev. Duche’s example, I read Psalm 35 to the Council and assembled guests, and then offered a prayer seeking consolation for the families of 9/11 victims, protection for our nation, and victory over our enemies.)
Duche’s spontaneous prayer
Following the reading of Psalm 35, according to Adams, quite unexpectedly, because it was not the custom of the day, Rev. Duche’ launched into a spontaneous and unscripted prayer.
(His prayer is depicted on this famous piece of art to the right. The Founders are picture kneeling in prayer as Rev. Duche’ prays for them and the budding nation.)
His prayer began, “Be Thou present, O God of Wisdom, and direct the counsel of this Honorable Assembly; enable them to settle all things on the best and surest foundation; that the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that Order, Harmony, and Peace may be effectually restored, and that Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety, prevail and flourish among the people.”
Duche’ went on to ask God to preserve the delegates’ health and vigor of mind, and to grant them “temporal Blessings” and “everlasting Glory in the world to come.”
Finally, in another data point regarding the question as to whether America was founded as a Christian nation, Rev. Duche’ closed his prayer this way: “All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Saviour, Amen.”
Rather than being scandalized at this “sectarian” prayer, Adams writes that Duche’s prayer “filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced.”
It was prayed, he went on, “with such fervor, such ardor, such earnestness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime, for America, for the Congress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston. It had an excellent effect upon everybody here.”
Rev. Duche’s prayer was heard and answered, and Providence gave to us a sovereign and independent nation, founded upon the concept that there is a Creator who has granted to everyone created in his image the inalienable right to life and liberty.
The need for our nation to once again turn to prayer
With these precious rights once again endangered, it is incumbent upon the American people to do as our Founders did, and seek the God of heaven for wisdom and protection.
Idaho’s observance of the National Day of Prayer will take place on the steps of Boise’s City Hall tomorrow (Thursday) from noon to 1 p.m. State treasurer Ron Crane will emcee, and Gov. Butch Otter will read a proclamation, officially declaring tomorrow the National Day of Prayer in Idaho.
Please join us if you can.
ping
Nice!
Check the mind which thinks it a source of contention.
FixitGuy
This article is about that. So is my column for this week. See below.
Congressman Billybob
Latest article: "To Raise the Edifice (Geo. Washington on the Constitution)"
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