The First Continental Congress P11

In 1789, long after the conflict was over and while Duche’ was still in England, he suffered a stroke and wrote to President Washington asking to come back to America. Six years earlier he had asked Washington for permission to return. Although Washington was personally willing, he indicated that the final decision would be up to state officials. In 1793, Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin, a signer of the US Constitution, officially pardoned Duche’, who spent his remaining years in Philadelphia.

Living his latter life with the knowledge of what he had done, how the War ended, and how his predictions had been so wrong, was undoubtedly a harsher punishment form than anything that could have been inflicted on him. In fact, Duche’’s own family served as a constant reminder of his poor judgment, for his wife was the sister of signer of the Declaration Francis Hopkinson.

Despite his failure, God used Duche’’s prayer in the First Continental Congress to help the divided delegates understand Whitefield’s “Father Abraham” message of unity. That unity would only grow in the years to come.

See you next week for another American moment.

Sourced From The American Story: The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton.