The delegates, eighty-nine in number, among whom was Washington, assembled in the Apollo room of the old Raleigh inn, and organized an independent Convention.

They issued an address to their constituents, in which they recommended several important measures, among which was a proposition for a General Congress of the Colonies.

The June fast was solemnly observed, and Virginia looked up to God for direction in the crisis. It was this call to prayer, by the old House of Burgesses, and the resistance to the spirit of the act, by the royal governor, that proved the beginning of the American Congress.

THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS. [1774.]

The first prayer in Congress was made, at one of the darkest hours of our history. A deep solemnity seemed to fall upon the fortyfour members of that legislative body; and the old hall, where these legislators assembled, presented an awe-inspiring and impressive scene. Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee and Jay were there.

Most of the members stood with bowed

and uncovered heads, but Washington sank upon his knees.

John Adams has left the following picture of the scene :

"When the Congress 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 our 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, that he was no bigot; could hear a prayer from any gentleman of piety, who was, at the same time, a friend of his country. He was a stranger in Philadelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dushay they pronounced 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 an

swer, that, if his health would permit, he certainly would accept the duty.

"Accordingly, next morning, he appeared with his clerk, and, in his pontifical robes, 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 had heard the rumor of the horrible cannonade of Boston.

"It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.

"After this, Mr. Duche unexpectedly to everybody, 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. Episcopalian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself never prayed with such fervor, such correctness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime, for America, for Congress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that psalm."