Dear KKIM/KARS family,
This from KKIM’s Chris Tomlin………..
Subject: American Minute – Jan. 31 – The First Prayer in Congress
Jacob Duche’ was born JANUARY 31, 1738.
An Anglican minister, the Continental Congress had requested he open
their first session with prayer.
Conscious of impending British attack, Rev. Jacob Duche’ read Psalm
35:
“Plead my cause, Oh, Lord, with them that strive with me, fight
against them that fight against me…Let those be turned back and
humiliated who devise evil against me.”
John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:
“Rev. Duche’ appeared with his clerk and in his pontificals, and read
several prayers in the established form, and read…the 35th Psalm…
I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven
had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.”
John Adams continued:
“After this, Mr. Duche’, unexpectedly to every body, struck out into
an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present.
I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well
pronounced…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.”