Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-04
PRAYER GAUGE.

The Lord Used TO Assiat the Lien
tenant Colonel and the Boys TO
whip tho Rebels.
From the Washington Capital.l
There is heather, a scoffer, an inf
del, but a very learned man, known to
fame and Boston as Professor Tyndall
Now, this gentleman has created furi-
GUS row by proposing prayer gauge. ;"
We have called attention to this novel
proposition in a former issue of The
Capital; but we could not then chronicle
the row, for it had not developed the
huge proportions since attained. If the
efficacy Of prayer coald be proven and
fairly gauged, as it were, what famous
result would be achieved. We have
heard some telling prayers in our time.
They we're powerful appeals-some in
shrill tenor, but mostly they were in deep
bass. Your deep bass is the approved
voice. 1t is common for heavy-lunged
brother to get on his knees, close his
eyes, and tell the Lord what to do in
certain trying emergencies. We have
| heard this over and often; but
we never could determine pre-
cisely how far the Lord listened
to the advice of the heayy-lunged brother
or acted upon the suggestions Numbered
out upon the occasion. Sensitive peo-
ple are apt to be shocked by such per-
formanccs, and disposed to consider
them rather blasphemous than other
wise. But to our subject. If prayer
gauge could be established it would be
an excellent thing, and 90 far to con-
found the skeptical unbelieVerrs and
give comfort to the faithful. There are
difficulties In the way, of course. There
are obstacles and troubles attending all
reforms. Had George William Curtis
and his enthusiastic associates, such as
our friends Elliott and Dave Cox,
stopped to consider what a row they
were about to kick up by their competi-
tive examinations, would we have ever
had our beautiful civil service reform,
whiet asks an ambitious clerk il he
ever had the prickly heat, and if so,
how many, and othet questions o. like
depth and importance3 No, asyer
Let the prsyer-gaugers then not be dis
| hAsgtened. The Right Reverend
tCoionkL-0r -General-Gran-
viii; Moody Of Ohio, for one,
is prepared fSE tbe gauge, and
ha. evidence in point. When he
was in command of the famous ohio
regiment that so distinguished itself
during the late war, Colonel Granville
Moody, on going iuto battle would turn
bis command over to his Lientens2t
Colonel, and retiring TO some sequesteFed
shade, pray to the Lord for victory, and
his prayers were always responded to in
a prompt and handsome manner. The
rebs invariably ran away, and snail
wonder when we remember that they
we're opposed not only by superior num-
bers, but by the Rev. Granville Moody
and the Lord. This came to be fact
SO well settled that the men were always
uneasy on the eve ofan engagement Hn-
til they saw their pious commander re-
| linauish the command and 60 20 pray
ing. The boys in blue we're well salts
fed that their Colonel was better at a
prayer than pitch battle; and then, if
at the head of his regiment, in the midst
of the fight, he were to to cpt down be-
fore the Lord had time to flank the epe-
my, the efficacy would be lost and the
boys would hsye to retreat instead OF
the rebs.
On another occasion the Right Reve-
rend and Brevet Brigadier 4snsEsl
Moody saved Nashville by prayer. We
have heard him relate this miracle, and,
therefore, warn scoferss The bricks
are there to testify, so deny them aOt "
1t was understood that General Buell.
vas falling back before Bragg, and about
70 abandon Nashville. The pious Colo
mel, fnii Of patriotic wrath, sought Gov
ernor Johnson=the inebriated Andy
at his headquarters, and found that dis.
tinguished gentleman foil Of disgust and
liquor. They gazed at each otReF "
gloomy silence for few moments, and
then Andrew suddenly exclaimed:
"Dam9 it, Moody, let's pray. Moody
responded lets, and down they drop
ped, and Moody prayed long and loud,
and with such efoqdence that Andrew
crossed the room on his kpees, 8pd
throwing his arws about old GRANVILLE,
went like q Water-caFt. Fhe prayer was
answered; the Lord strengthened the
| backbone of the little General, RRA
willed him TO have sufficient force in
the threatened town Of Nashville 70 pro-
itaet its inebriated Governor. Who does
not Eszt o prayer-gauge alter thatf