New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-28

war this irreverent petitioning wa
carried to an absurd extent; fast day
having been played against fast days
and conflicting petitions sent upward b,
the two governments, in a spirit of un
conscious d~isrespect to the wisdom of the
Supreme Being that must have moved tn,
angels to most melancholy mirth. Thaf
these petitions for the direct interference
OF Omnipotence in the strategy of riva
generals and the of rival poll.
ticians were sent up in good faith, is I'm.
doubted. And not by the vulgar alone,
for a clergyman of this city of distin-
guished talent, undoubted piety and I'M
Improbable sincerity, in a public prayer
offered up Immediately after the battle OF
Manassas, attributed the success of the
Southern arms on that memorable day to
the influence of a fast day held through
out the Confederate States a short while
previous. So, in the recent war between
France and Germany, Emperor William
is graciously pleased to give the glory of
his success to the Lord of Hosts,
propitiated no doubt by the prayers of
the German nation.
The whole principle of praying for the
Divine interference in mundane matters
is unquestionably a relic of ante Christian
times, when men worshiped finite and
faulty gods, debased by the lowest Of
human passions-pride, vanity, blood
thirstiness and reviling. To return to
the treaty. Why should the Almighty re-
spect the parsons prayer to bring about a
settlement between this country and Eng
land by this particular means? Ageneral
petition for P~rovidential guidance in ma
tional affairs is well enough, but when it
comes to direct specifications as to the
name in which such guidance shall
work the form may indeed be that of a
petition, but the essence is that of If
reverent dictation. What is, what
can be expected from such prayers?
Are they to influence the action of the
Almighty by persuasion, or by conviction
the plan suggested is the very best
possible; by the weight of a majority OF
the petitioners, if the prayers are conflict
ing (as in case of war;, or by the force of
p~ertinacity? Is it supposed that there is
indecision in the Divine councils, and that
human desire will turn the balance? The
very suggestion seems irreverent, and yet
is no other explanation for such
1t has been said by n of Cal
views that the very prayers of the
lnregenerate are insults to the Almighty;
if they are more insulting than such
of the righteous as we have
to they are blasphemous indeed.
All this is not intended to undervalue
he importance or to dispute the efficacy
If prayer. From its simplest form, that
If expressed gratitude to the Heavenly
Parent for every blessing received from
hands, up through praise and ascrip-
ions Of glory, to that sublime height of
self-devotion to the Divine will
displayed in every word and act of the
appointed founder of Chris
prayer is the appointed medium
unites man consciously with the
Deity. 1t is not a charm to obtain the
.dvantage over our fellow-creatures by
the first, or last or loudest word
nto the ear of Ininity. 1t is not a ma
hine whereby disputes between nations
re to be settled, either by treaty or war,
a sanitary measure whereby sickness
) to be avoided; neither is it a meteoro-
ogical expedient to regulate the weather,
a fertilizing one to improve crops.
t will not make the grass grow, nor the
ruit ripen, nor the rain fall. 1t will not
gravitation, divert electricity,
eutralize poison nor arrest decomposi-
In short, it is not an instrument
hereby those skilled in its use can obtain
blessings denied to others. 1t
spiritual in its nature, and designed for
uses only. Those who would
ervert it to temporal purposes dishonor
=, and with it that sentiment Of the heart
which it is the proper expression-re-
gion.