Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-07-26
PUBLISHED (DA1LY) BIZ
GDGAR SNOWDEN, SR
mmOFFICE-No l04, King street, over
French's Book Store.
TCOMMUNICATED.
PRAYER-BY j. B. JOHNSON.

COMMUNICATED
.' PRAYER-BY. j. B. JOHNSON.
How beautiful is prayer! How, like some
thing not Of earth, does he appear, who BOWS
with contrite heart to ask the Creator 60
look down upon him, miserable sinner, ana
receive his supplications for pardon and Tor
g;veness of sins. Around such one, there
seems to cling halo that spreads an eloquence
which mellows the feelings, and renders the
scene permanently impressive. There must
he merit in sincere prayer, or else the humbled
soul would not arise from its devotion, feeling
az though it's voice had been heard, and It's
nenance done. AS there are are, now and
then, scenes that meet the eye which can
never be erased, and sounds that tall upon the
ear which eau never be forgotten, SO amid the 1{
multitude of prayers, few appear to sprlng,
y nroner spirit, from the heart, arise to
Heaven, and descend again, to reflect their
influence over the ways of the earth.
This manner of prayer is too lofty in. spirit,
too humble in tone, and too pure IN intent, to
he copfounded with another OF a very opposite
kind How different is the soft sweet voice OF
the christian invocation, from the harsh tones
Of a formal religious display, that has been
generated in prejudice, and kept alive by sell
fshness.
This IS the form that does its full share OF
harm. by giving Responsibility and Importance
70 the gross questions of worldly contention;
and bv becoming part of them, degrades it's
pulpit. abuses its religion, and shames It's IN
tention.
There is great conservatism in rational
nraver and no man can doubt, with justice to
himself. the immense power that it exerts IN
directing the mind to an observance OF those
commands, which if needed, lead to peace,
virtue and health Our forms OF prayer have
been sometimes so much perverted, that they
amount to very little more than apparent die
tation to Almighty God, to support those acts
which may be in direct opposition to Ills laws;
Of this class, mere sectarlan, and polltIlccal
prayer makers. Such, if it were possible,
would would deIude heaven, and misguide their fol.
lowers by Wordy displays that cost them moth
inc to utter. When one thinks Of the woe
that such beings have produced by dabbling
in secular affairs, his mind is overwhelmed by
a mingled feeling of sorrow and contempt.
Sorrow for the effect occassioned and COO
tempt for the individual who is so irreverent
as to use his divinity to conserve the selfish
views of time serving policy.
The best cure for hypocrisy is time; and
the best reproof for sectarlanism is found II
events for when it cannot always rule by It's
sermons and it's books, it readily grasps the
sword, and drinks blood, instead of fconsecrated
wine, atits heated offerings. IF it were true
religion, it would not be such; and when a
prayer is uttered IN biased words, and excltes
the evil feelings, Of the ear that it falls upon,
it has missed it's Office, and it were better it
had never been uttered tor when dictated by
wrong spirit, it not only gives offence to op-
poste creeds, but makes those appear wlckedly
ridiculous in their attempt to invoke the
blessings of God, upon acts, which according
to His commands, may be denominations. The
Decalogue teaches that religion should be
shown free from the dress of those worldly
affairs, which excite the ungrateful passions;
and as politics are matters OF taste, Church
should never take sides in any worldly dispute,
and pastor should never allow himself to be
Identified with profane conduct When he
does, he performs acts unworthy OF him. and
torgets that province whose sacred privilege 1t
IS, to enforce by .precept and example, the
commandments of the Bible, and to teach
man his duty to bis God, to himself, and to
his neighbor. The quiet air of the sanctuary, IS
the health Of a Pastors noble calling, and his
morality refuge from the sinful Juror OF
civil contentious
The Agricultural Department reports the
crops of wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes, in all
directions, this year, as being uncommonly
promising. The yield will be very large.
a COW confined at distillery at Troy, n Y,
drank eighteen gallons of Whiskey, and has
hapn dr11pIr fo,G bel