The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1860-12-13


Great Union Prayer OF Rev. Thomas III.
stockton In the House Of Representatives
The opening Of the second session ofthe
Thirty-sixth Congress. this morning, at
IL o'elOck, was signalized by unusual So
lemnity. The galleries were crowded. and
a large majority of the members we're pres
elt. Mr.. Speaker Pennington appeared
ct the Clerks desk. accompanied by the
venerable Mr.. Stockton. OF philadelphia,
Chaplin of the House, who ruse and pro.
nounced the following impressive prayer
with a tone and manner which cannot
describe. His white hair and almost
ghostly appearance made him look like q
messenger sent from the other world. He
seemed 10 regard the men before him liSe
mortals as llry are. and to have risen
above he tempests Of party faction and
hatred. He spoke as if he had been in
spired to speak by the Deity. lie recog.
nized no divisions no sections, bu. one
country, and in his description Of the
blessings Of the Union. his whole soul
iremhed on his lips, aud his appeal filed
many an eye with tears. There was 70
cayilliDg. no complaint. Even those who
stood before him, intent on tearing down
the Republic. were doubtlrss appalled, at
the awful task they were contemplating,
and could not reproacn the minister OF
God when he prayed for the continuance
OF the blessings Of free government OIL this
hemisphere. Correspondence FOrney's
Press.
.'Ob, Thou, who nearest prayer! unto
Thee shall all flesh come. Uuto Thee We
come, trusting in the atonement of our
Lord and SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, and in the
sanctifying influence Of Thy holy Spirit.
Thine is the help Cf man. Oh! Thou
art our refuge and our trust--a very pres
ent help in time Of trouble! Our help is
in the asms of the Lord. who made fleav-
en- and eath. Happy is that people in
such ease, yes. happy is the people whose
God is the Lord We remember the past,
and we are grateful for the past. We
thank Thee for the discovery Of this new
world; We thank The for the colonization
of our own part of it; we thank Thee fo
the establishment ofour national independ
ence; we thank Thee for the organization
Of our National Union; we thank Thee FOL
oil the blessings We have enjoyed within
this Uoion-natiopal blessings, civil bless.
ings. social blessings, spiritual blessings,
all kinds Of blessings, unspeakabIy great
and precious blessings, such blessings as
were never enjoyed by any other people
since the world began. Aud now, Oh
Lord our Godl we offer unto the our hum.
BILE prayer for the present. and Cor all the
future. Will it please TLee. for Christ,
sake, to grant Thy special aid. Thou al
very high, and lifted up. Thou lookes
down upon our whole land, from the lakes
TO the gulf. from SEA II sea, from the lis
ing of tie sun unto the going down there
Of, and Thou knowest all our interests
and thou knowest all our dangers. Oul
good men are al fault-our wise men are
at fault In the North and in the South
in the East and ID the West, everywhere
they are at fault. We know not What i
Is best for US 10 do, and with Common
consent, we come unto Thee, Oh! Lord
our God and we pray Thee to overiuI
unreasonable, wicked men, IN all parts o
our Cuniederacy, And we pray Thee L
inspire, and to strengthen, aud to assis
all true patriots ia every part Of our Tn
ion.
And may thy blessings rest upon all tn
departments OF the Government We re
member with special solicitude the Plesi
dent Of these United States and his i'm
mediote advisers, They lack wisdom
But, if they call upon Thee, Thou vii
give them wisdom, for Thou givest to al
men literally and upbraide,h none. Will
we trust they pray for themselves, we her
also pray tor them, that Thy holy spi:i
4 may be granted unto them. and that the
may see exactly what they ought to do an
have grace to do it, in the positions whic
they are placed, a..
+, We thank Thee for this bright and Beat
tifu! morning for the assembling of the tw
houses oi Congress; aud we pray that Th
: blessing may rest upon the Vice Pres
J dent and upon every Senator in his plac
and upon the Speaker Of this House an
l every one in his place. We rejoice
= learn that they see their responsibility, an
!, that many Of them are looking TO Thee f
d counsel and direction. Oh Lord! our GoC
e let Thine own presence subdue every hea
e and every mind, and sanctify all action
j Thy cvn glory. and the good Of our who
: people. Oh! Inst We may still be hap
in this blessed Union.
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallo'
}! ed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom com
q Thy will be, done on earth as it Is in Hea
en-. Give us this day our daily bread, al
G forgive us our deots as We forgive O.
i debtois. And lead us not into temp alto
but deliver us from EVIL, for Thine is i
y Kingdom. and the power, and the glor
"a forever aud ever. Amen"
% Mr.. George Ssnnolt, the BostC
NJ L. ,rlz IL enp,a NT III. Yns