First Act Of Congress, A Call For Prayer
The very first act of the Continental Congress, September 6, 1774, was a call for prayer. They had just received news that the British troops had attacked Boston. Reverend Duche was asked to open the very first Congress meeting the next day, Wednesday, September 7, 1774, with prayer. This took place in Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Library of Congress, from the collected reports of the various patriots, recorded on a famous historical placard the effect of that first prayer upon Congress:
Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee, and Jay, and by their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New England, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed. They prayed fervently ‘for America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston.’ And who can realize the emotion with which they turned imploringly to Heaven for Divine interposition and, ‘It was enough’ says Mr. Adams, ‘to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, Pacific Quakers of Philadelphia.” —- America’s God and Country, Encyclopedia of Quotations
America’s Patriot Forefathers Sought God First
Congress Continued To Have Days Of Prayer and To Call Upon The Colonist to Pray and Fast. Our congress continued to meet for the purpose of seeking God and His direction as they fought the greatest army and navy in the world while establishing a government for our new country.
Continental Congress July 19, 1775, as recorded in the Journals of Congress, resolved:
Agreed, The Congress meet here to To Morrow morning, at half after 9o’clock, in order to attend divine services at Mr. Duche’s Church; and that in the afternoon they meet here to go from this place and attend divine services at Doctr Allison’s church” Continental Congress May 16, 1776, appointed a day of fasting and prayer for the Colonies: “The Congress… Desirous… to have people of all ranks and degrees, duly impressed with a solemn sense of God’s superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely… on his aid and direction… Do earnestly recommend Friday, the 17th day of May be observed by the colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease God’s righteous displeasure, and, through the merits and, mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain this pardon and forgiveness.
Stop and look around this great Heavenly Kingdom called America today. And, what do you see? Do we see or hear of those in the Congress seeking the face of the Almighty on behalf of our country today? Perhaps some do, but as a whole body it is certain they do not, and to what intensity do they seek God? And what about the church? Does the church seek the Almighty with the heat and fervor of righteous men of God?
Patrick Henry, patriot of Virginia made many observations about the country and men. Among them were:
Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom. ~ Patrick Henry.
It can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. ~ Patrick Henry.
It is when people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains. ~ Patrick Henry.
These observations applied in 1776 as well as today.
Michael Reed is Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online. You may find our videos available on Rumble. The bulk of TheStandardSC video media channel has been censored by dominant social media groups like YouTube. YouTube, owed by Alphabet (Google), removed and destroyed all of our video work without permission or remuneration. That has stopped all potential donations from our many supporters on that venue. If you want to continue to see independent thought and reports please “like”, comment, share with a friend, and donate to support The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.
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