TODAY IN HISTORY: 1st Prayer in Congress
America's First Continental Congress
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On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia.
Among the delegates who attended were
George Washington
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams
John Adams
John Jay
and many other notables.
This meeting was important since it was the first time the colonies united on a large scale (though one colony was not represented), thus the tone it set would be crucial for America's future.
The congress had been called to address increasing British tyranny, including the Intolerable Acts, which had ended self-government in Massachusetts and shut down the port of Boston to commercial shipments.
On the second day of the gathering, Congress got down to business.
There was a call to open the meeting with prayer, but some delegates doubted they could pray together since there were different denominations present.
Samuel Adams ended the debate when he announced that he was not a bigot and could "hear a prayer" from anyone "who was at the same time a friend to his country."
He then nominated Rev. Jacob Duché to conduct the prayers.
It was amidst all these circumstances that on the third day, September 7th, the Rev. Duché led the first prayer in Congress.
Delegate Silas Deane reported Duché prayed for a full 10 minutes and then read the Scripture for the day.
John Adams related to his wife how much this time of prayer meant for the attendees:
He read several prayers in the established form, and then read the collect for the seventh day of September, which was the thirty-fifth Psalm. You must remember, this was the next morning after we heard the horrible rumor of the cannonade of Boston. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.
That time of prayer united the delegates despite their differences. In fact, Daniel Webster, "Defender of the Constitution," later reminded the US Supreme Court of the unifying power of prayer:
Mr. Duché read the Episcopal service of the Church of England and then, as if moved by the occasion, he broke out into extemporaneous prayer. And those men who were then about to resort to force to obtain their rights, were moved to tears; and flood of tears, Mr. Adams says, ran down the cheeks of the pacific Quakers who formed part of the most interesting assembly. Depend upon it, where there is a spirit of Christianity, there is a spirit which rises above form, above forms, independent of sect or creed, and the controversies of clashing doctrines.
It was prayer and the Scriptures that united the Founding Fathers, and they can still unite us today.
First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774
The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774 The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774
[ House of Representatives, Office of the Chaplain / archive ]
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle 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 truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people.
Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come.
All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
Amen.
Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.
Psalm 35
A Psalm of David
1 Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.
2 Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3 Bring out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For without cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares, and let his net, that he hath laid privily, take him: let him fall into the same destruction.
9 Then my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poor and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!
11 Cruel witnesses did rise up: they asked of me things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good, to have spoiled my soul.
13 Yet I, when they were sick, I was clothed with a sack: I humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer was turned upon my bosom.
14 I behaved myself as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled myself, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew not: they tare me, and ceased not,
16 With the false scoffers at banquets, gnashing their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou behold this? deliver my soul from their tumult, even my desolate soul from the lions.
18 So will I give thee thanks in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies unjustly rejoice over me, neither let them wink with the eye, that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not as friends: but they imagine deceitful words against the quiet of the land.
21 And they gaped on me with their mouths, saying, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: be not far from me, O Lord.
23 Arise and wake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, O our soul rejoice: neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26 Let them be confounded, and put to shame together, that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with confusion and shame, that lift up themselves against me.
27 But let them be joyful and glad, that love my righteousness: yea, let them say always, Let the Lord be magnified, which loveth the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day.