A Contrast in Beginnings

A sobering contrast in the western hemisphere exists between the founding of Haiti and the United States—the poorest and richest nations respectively.

Pat Robertson was harshly criticized for mentioning the startling truth that Haiti’s beginning was associated with a demonic pledge to obtain Haitian independence. Robertson did not say, as some alleged, that the earthquake was a direct result of God’s punishment. What he did say is that Haiti’s independence from the French was linked with a pact with the Devil, and Haiti has had trouble ever since. I am extremely careful to disassociate the quake from God’s specific judgement. What is apparent however is apparent is the historical record of Haiti’s voodoo beginnings.

A Wikipedia article sets out the issue saying, “The most historically important Vodou ceremony in Haitian history was the Bwa Kayiman or Boi Caiman ceremony of August 1791 that began the Haitian Revolution, in which the spirit Ezli Dantor possessed a priestess and received a black pig as an offering, and all those present pledged themselves to the fight for freedom. This ceremony ultimately resulted in the liberation of the Haitian people from French colonial rule in 1804, and the establishment of the first black people’s republic in the history of the world and the second independent nation in the Americas.”

The first independent nation in the western hemisphere was the Uuited States, which began in a prayer meeting honoring the Bible’s God. The account can be found on a number of websites. This one is from the American Christian History site.

Unable to meet in the traditional location for fear of retribution from England’s rule, the Continental Congress leaders assembled in Carpenter’s Hall in September of 1774 and voted to have a minister come and read Scripture, a decision that was not a simple one according to a letter written by John Adams to his wife:

“...When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with prayer. … Accordingly, next morning he appeared with his clerk and in his pontificals, and 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 heard the horrible rumor of the cannonade of Boston. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience.

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

“...After this Mr. Duche, unexpected 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 (Dr. Samuel Cooper, well known as a zealous patriot and pastor of the church in Brattle Square, Boston) never prayed with such fervor, such earnestness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime – for America, for the Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here ....

“Dr. Jacob Duche’s prayer in Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia given at the first meeting of the First Continental Congress in September, 1774 says,

‘Our Lord, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth, and reignest with power supreme and, uncontrolled over all kingdoms, empires, and governments, look, down in mercy, we beseech thee, upon these American States who have fled to Thee from the rod of the Oppressor, and thrown themselves upon Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only upon Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause.’ Duche ended, ‘All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Savior. Amen.’”

Dr. Peter Lillback, author of the website article, says that George Washington was part of that prayer meeting.

In 1875, the Library of Congress produced a placard summarizing the founders’ reports on the impact that this first prayer had on the Continental Congress. It reads,

“Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee, and Jay, and by their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New England, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed. They prayed fervently ‘for America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston,’ and who can realize the emotion with which they turned imploringly to Heaven for Divine interposition and – ‘It was enough’ says Mr. Adams, ‘to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, Pacific Quakers of Philadelphia.’”

The contrast between the Haitian voodoo ceremony and the Congressional prayer meeting is stunningly obvious, and the divergent fortunes of the two original republics in the western hemisphere has been clear ever since. Haiti’s present hope is still our original hope. Let us all pray that true biblical spiritual revival will come to Haiti.

Dave Virkler