The First Continental Congress P8

The story of the Rev. Jacob Duche’ is both wonderful and sad. As an Anglican clergyman officially ordained by the State-established church of Great Britain, he had sworn allegiance to the king - a requirement for any Anglican minister to be in good standing with that church. But when Duche’ led Congress in prayer and Scriptures that morning from the official Book of Common Prayer, he deliberately crossed out and omitted the required prayers for the king.

Since British law stipulated that Anglican clergymen must say official prayers for the king, deleting those prayers was considered an act of treason. But Duche’ did not stop there; he went further, authoring and publishing two American patriotic sermons and openly dedicating one of them to George Washington. And on July 9, 1776, just a few days after the Declaration of Independence was approved, Congress (now filled with leaders identified as enemies of the king) offered him the honor of being its first-ever chaplain. He accepted - another direct slap at the British.

A few months later, British General William Howe captured Philadelphia and Congress was forced to flee, but Duche’ remained behind with his church. Howe had him arrested for treason. Duche’ later released, but that brief time of detention dramatically changed him.  

More on this next week for another American Moment.

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