Smyrna times., 1868-11-25
Prayers vs.. Courtesy.

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rlstS and foreign residents in which two-thirds
OF the wOrshippers are Americans, who pay
tnelr proportion of the expenses. They de-
sire to have the prayer for the President and
others IN authority here at home included in
the service. The obligng incumbent accedes
to this request, and almost throws a piOus
English gentleman into commissions of surprise
and Indignation. Shocked out of all decency
OF behavior he thumps the floor of his pew
with cane, and exclaims, by no means in
whisper, " thought this was an English |
church," And rather than have the Presi-
dent prayed for, the English confessors Of the |
congregation took their departure for another !
temple. For while the prayer was contn- |
ued but, the British element once more pre-
dominating in the church, we now learn, to
our great grief, that the obnoxious prayer has |
been abandoned and they only pray in that
divine edi6ce for the Queen Of England and
the King of SaXOny The ecclesiastical views
of the noble Briton with the cane have predo-
minated.
An American, who writes to the London
Times concerning these wonderful events, is
good enough to give us one of the reasons
which have been assigned against the introduc
tiOn of the prayer for the President. "He is
nominated, say the Bulls, every four years,
and we DO not desire to pray for such a number
OF nobodles!' 10 this it may be answered
that the prayer is for the person holding the
office; that the office is perpetual one; and
that even a monarch of England MAY reign
even less than four years, and yet require fer
vent and ettectual lnterceSSlOn quite as much
as If the reign were longer. In four years. a
man may commit great deal of iniquity. In
four years, a ruler may as etfectually go to the
devil, and take the country along with him, as
in forty. 1t seems pretty hard that the pray
ers OF the Church should be denied to public
officer simply because he is to be tried and
tempted and stand in special need of the divine
guidance tor only four years. And if he be
"a nobody, is that any reason why Christians
should forget him when he is in quite the same
peril as if he were really 8 somebody" How
long is it since the church gave up its prayers
} tor the nObOdiesY" Where will you find
such absolute "nobodies," apart from their
high p laces, as majority of those who have
reigned grotid Del or grdtia diaboH?-who
D have been annointed with holy oil, and crown
ed with humble prayer and with swelling an
: them? Where will you find more absolute
nobody" than George the Third? And yet
, for years after his few original wits had fed,
after he had ceased to reign, after he had be
come confirmed lunatic, he was prayed for
with might and main by loyal Englishmen in
all parts of the world 1t is true that long be-
L fore his death we had ceased to pray for him as
: King here in America, and this lapse of ours, il
= so great an effect can be accounted for by so
, Suldll CduSo, uldy pOSSlDy nave lau something
u to DO with the thumps and grOwlS OF the pee
r wish EnglishmaA in the Dresden Church, in
the present year of our Lord.-N T. Tribune
+ The New York Times (Rep) one day last
It week, urged the prOpriety Of increasing the
:, President salary. In response the n. Y. Suh
: (neutraD says:
e THE PRESIDENTS SALARY.-The PROPOSE
ton is being revived, in view of Gen. Grant
It accession to the Presidency of the United
d States, of increasing the salary Of the office
a from its present amount, $25, 1000, to $lO000C
n thereabouts. We hope nothing of the kind
10 will be done, or even seriously considered by
4 Congress.
Il In the first place, the $25 900 now allowed b,
he law is not the whole of the money paid by thu
m nation toward the President private expenses
te He has house free of rent, warmed and KEEP
p in repair for him without charge. The turni
Or ture of the house is also provided, and in on
a way or another his servants wages are paid
Sc out of the public treasury. His garden, from
Sc which his table to great extent is supplied,
IS. taken care of by public gardener. lnadditiOn
Mt every little while extra appropriations are mad
II. for special purposes Taking all things tOgeth
u er, the President really receives much neare
ks $50, 900 than $25,000.
ne As matter Offact, the salary now paid ha
ny always proved amply sufficient. Mr.. Fillmore
es Mr. Pierce, and MIR. Buchanan made hand
,al some savings while in Office. Abraham Lir
no coin saved some 100000 out of his four year
of allowances, and johnson will retire with a neal
en- ly equal amount 1t can easily be seen tha
he when nothing is to be met but marketing bill,
gh keeping pair of horses, and the cost of a fe
IN. entertainments, $25, 600 will go long way.
OF But the conclusve-argument on the subjeC
ed is, that we do not want a President Ofa Republ
lr- like ours to set an example of luxury and o'
to tentation to his fellow citizens What if
to cannot vie in display with foreign ministers
he whiskey spectators, gold and stock gambler
De- and parvenus generally? His $4,000 yea
me will certainly provide him and his family wit
a comfortable clothing, wholesome food, al
nd leave little over for pocket money There
no danger of any lack of able and upright : p
triots to take tn office, even at the preSel
Fol- rate of pecuniary remuneration.
on