American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

United States Congress (April 25, 1789) elected the Right Reverend Samuel Provoost (February 26, 1742-September 6, 1815), the first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of New York, as the first chaplain of the U.S. Senate, appropriating a salary for him to be paid from the Federal treasury. He conducted the service at St. Paul's Chapel, April 30, 1789, following Washington's Inauguration, attended by the President, his staff and all the leaders of the new government. He later officiated the memorial service for George Washington at St. Paul's Chapel, December 31, 1799. Earlier, on July 15, 1787, Bishop Samuel Provoost had preached the...

United States Congress (April 15, 1789) a Committee of Congress, composed of Richard Henry Lee, Oliver Ellsworth, Caleb Strong, William Maclay, and Richard Bassett recommended: <That two chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, the Senate to appoint one, and give notice thereof to the House of Representatives, who shall, thereupon, appoint the other; which chaplains shall commence their services in the Houses that appoint them, but shall interchange weekly.> 1789US004 -- American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement. Endnotes: 1789US004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014)....

United States Supreme Court (1789) was "ordained and established" by the Judiciary Act of Congress. Originally consisting of 6 justices, it has since been increased to 9. The Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., designed by Cass Gilbert, was completed in 1935. Engraved in stone above the head of the Chief Justice are the Ten Commandments with the great American eagle protecting them. Moses is included among the great lawgivers in Herman A. MacNeil's marble sculpture relief on the east portico. At the beginning of each session of the Court, as the Justices stand before their desks, the crier opens...

Adoniram Judson (August 9, 1788-April 12, 1850) was the first American foreign missionary. He helped establish the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, translated the Bible in the language of Burma (1840), and compiled the Burmese-English Dictionary (1849). The conversion of Adoniram Judson is recounted: <Adoniram was born in Malden, Massachusetts, in 1788. His father was a Congregationalist pastor. At age sixteen, Adoniram entered Providence College (renamed Brown University shortly after he began his studies). Here he met a young infidel named Jacob Eames. Both he and Adoniram were of quick wit, had a flair for the dramatic, and...

North Carolina Convention (July 30, 1788) during the debates to ratify the Federal Constitution, Governor Samuel Johnston stated: <I know but two or three States where there is the least chance of establishing any particular religion. The people of Massachusetts and Connecticut are mostly Presbyterians. In every other State, the people are divided into a great number of sects. In Rhode Island, the tenets of the Baptists, I believe, prevail. In New York, they are divided very much; the most numerous are the Episcopalians and the Baptists. In New Jersey, they are as much divided as we are. In Pennsylvania,...