I just read a wonderful review of a new book on the America gospel written by Jon Meacham. It said that America's first fight was over faith. It went on to say that when the Founding Fathers gathered for the inaugural session of the Continental Congress on Tuesday Sept. 6, 1774, at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Thomas Cushing, a lawyer from Boston, moved that the delegates began with a prayer.
Both John Jay of New York and John Rutledge, a rich lawyer-planter from South Carolina, objected. The reason given was because “we are so divided in religious sentiments.” It was said the Congress was made up of Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and others — we could not join in the same act of worship.
Things could have gone either way. Samuel Adams of Boston spoke up and said he was not a bigot and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue who was at the same time a friend to his country. Adams moved that Mr. Dushay, an Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read a prayer to the Congress on tomorrow morning and it was passed. Of course we know that today before the Congress starts it session, the chaplain leads in prayer.
We are so divided in religious sentiments. It reminds me of the Baptist leadership of today. For instance, the move by Southern Baptists to bar enlistment of missionaries who profess to speak in tongues as they pray. The International Mission Board voted last November, to ban the private practice of speaking in tongues, which they call “private prayer language.” They would like everybody to believe exactly like they believe. For me, I don't have a problem with what you do praying privately.
Art Pierce, Chesapeake