Philadelphia, 16 September, 1774.
Having a leisure moment, while the Congress is assembling, I gladly
embrace it to write you a line.
When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be
opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay, of New York, and Mr.
Rutledge, of South Carolina, because we were so divided in religious
sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabaptists, some
Presbyterians, and some Congregationalists, that we could not join in
the same act of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said he was no
bigot, and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue, who
was at the same time a friend to his country. He was a stranger in
Philadelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dushay they pronounce it)
deserved that character, and therefore he moved that Mr. Duche, an
Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read prayers to the Congress,
to-morrow morning. The motion was seconded and passed in the
affirmative. Mr. Randolph, our president, waited on Mr. Duche, and
received for answer that if his health would permit he certainly would.
Accordingly, next morning he appeared with his clerk and in his
pontificals, and 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.
After this, Mr. Duche, unexpected to everybody, struck out into an
extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must
confess I never beard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced.
Episcopalian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself[54] never prayed 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 the town of Boston. It has had an
excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that Psalm.
If there was any faith in the Sortes Biblicae, it would be thought
providential.
It will amuse your friends to read this letter and the thirty-fifth
Psalm to them. Read it to your father and Mr. Wibird. I wonder what our
Braintree Churchmen will think of this! Mr. Duche is one of the most
ingenious men, and best characters, and greatest orators in the
Episcopal order, upon this continent. Yet a zealous friend of Liberty
and his country.[55]
I long to see my dear family. God bless, preserve, and prosper it.
Adieu.