American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-04
PRAYER FOR EDITORS.

fhA len run EDiIOnS.
The Methodist Recorder is very |
much exercised about the spiritual
well-being of editors of newspapers :
and magazines. aud desires the
Protestant Episcopal Church so to
change the liturgy as to embrace III
its form of prayer this much neg
lected class ut erring humanity
For our part, we do not object to
the proposed change, we'll knowing
that the brotherhood are greatly i'll
need of this method of securing the
Divine appreciation; for, it left to
themselves, we much fear that their
efforts would not be attended with
satisfactory evidences of regenera
ting grace. Acknowledging the eff
ticacy of prayer, and the great need
of the craft for it's refining and puIi
flying influence upon the heart and
conscience, yet we must he pardon
ed for entering our protest against
the position assigned us by the Re
cOrder in this religious exercise. 1t
makes the great necessity for
our redemption hinge upon that
which obtains with the corrupt and
unscrupulous rulers of this heaven
abandoned land. While we are
constrained to admit that, as a
body, we have wandered far from
the paths of christian virtue and
rectitude, and par ticularly need the
prayerful intercessiOnS of the pure
in heart, yet if we had no higher
claim upon the Divine clemency
than have the wicked and rebellious
rulers of this disgraced and degra-
ded nation, we should feel that all
the prayers that could be offered
up in our behalf from now until the
day of Judgment, would fail TO Sc
cure us against the righteous doom
of the nngodly.
Should the church SO alter its
form of prayer as to include the
craft without asSOciatirg them with
our degenerate rulers, the act would
meet with cordial approval; but to
have the proud name of the broth
erhOod go up to the throne of the
great Infinite in the same supplica-
ton that invokes the bepediction of
Heaven upon the "President of
the United States, and all others in
authority" wOuld be to insure
their utter condemnation, and from
which we beg leave most respect
fully and reverently to dissent.
With all the shortcomings of the
editorial fraternity, they do not
seek position for the purpose of
plumber, nor do they enrich theIr-
selves at the expense of those whom
they should protect, and then look
upon the ruin they have wrought
without blush of shame or pang
of remorse. Such association they
must ignore, even in the sanctuary
of the Most High, and decline the
prayer that would bear the burden
of their transgressions to the Mercy
Seat, if accompanied by such re-
Time of official plumderers and de-
bauched misCreants.
The case we are considering is
thus presented by the Recorder:
"Suppose that the petition was
daily offered by millions of chris
tian hearts for editors, that is Occa-
sionaliy offered for rulers: so re-
,lenisll them with the grace of thy
Holy Spirit that they may always
incl ne to Thy will and walk in
Thy w-ays' Would it be less APP
Is there lessneed for it?
Might we not anticipate great
good'Gen such petition thus offer
ed. Editoria responsibility is not
felt as it should be. The power OF
The press is acknowledged, but few
seem to appreciate the fact that it
is tremendous pc wer, in many in.
stances, for evil. We would not
have our secular newspapers tech
nicaliy religious, but it would be
great gain to mankind # they were
governed by those elevated senti-
ments Of purity, justice al d benevO-
lence which christianity emoins."