The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-06-10

The prayer by Rev. Mr.. Hutchings, at
the opening of the Republican State Con-
vention was one of the most solemn,
earnest and impressive, that we ever
heard. No idea can be formed of its
beauty and solemnity by merely reading
it. The following report of it is taken
from the report of the proceedings of the
Convention, in the Cincinnati Gazette:
"a buzz of expectation could be heard
all over the hall, and an animated con-
Versation was carried on by hundreds of
voices which was suddenly succeeded by
most impressive silence, stiffness as
of death, when the Rev. R. G. Hutchl
ings, of the Brown Street Congregations
Church in Columbus, stood up to address
the Throne of Grace. It was significant
of the deep interest taken in all the pro-
ceedings that, when Mr.. Hutchings first
commenced his prayer, several individu-
ais in the distant parts of the hall, in
perfect good faith, called out louder"
Mr.. II. prayed as follows:
"'Our Heavenly Father, we bless Thee
for this goodly commonwealth which
Thou didst commit unto our fathers, and
which they have enriched and transmit
ted unto u.s. We bless Thee for its
abundant material resources, for its
mines and its quarries, and its fertile
fields and its majestic forests. We bless
Thee for the development Thou hast
given to those supplies of Thy bounty,
that we are permitted to utilize them.
We thank Thee not only for these mate
rial benefits, but especially for the social,
civil, and religious advantages Thou hast
conferred upon us, that Thou hast
guarded the sanctity of home by Thy
laws enacted in our Legislatures that
Thou hast given us provisions for the
unfortunate sclasses in our benevolent
institutions; that Thou hast given US
the common school system and higher
seminaries of learning and universities.
We bless Thee that Thou hast given us
all these temporal mercies; and especial
ly we bless Thee that Thou hast given
us the Christian Church, which brings US
the light, and joy, and peace of heaven.
And now we give Thee thanks that from
generation to generation Thou hast pre-
served these privileges and these mercies
to us; that through the stress and trial
of war they have been continued. We
thank Thee for our national history. We
bless Thee that we are at last rid of the
curse of human slavery, though it were
blotted out in blood; we bless Thee for
which have been vindicated. We thank
Thee for the history of the organization
we represent to-day in these trials and
in this nation. We thank Thee for the
memory of the sainted dead. We ask
Thee that we may be true to all that is
best in the record of this party to-day.
We ask Thee that we may have these
blessings continued unto US, gained by
so much of sacrifice and guarded by all
possible sanctions and laws. To this end
wilt Thou put in the hearts of these rep
resentatives a sense of their profound re-
sponsibility to the commonwealth, and
to guide and make them act with an eye
single to the best interests of the State
ar the glory of their Heavenly Father.
We ask Thee that education may be
guarded, and religion may be guarded,
and all that is true and lovely, and of
good report in our commonwealth, may
be guarded by the action of this conven-
ton to-day. Our Heavenly Father, be
Thou with those who shall prepare
platform for this convention, and may
such principles be laid as the foundation
of this party that all honest and good
men throughout the commonwealth may
give entire allegiance to it. We ask Thee,
dear Father, that Thou wilt be with
these representatives in their choice of
candidates, that we may nave men as our
representatives worthy of the State, and
worthy OF the sacred interests they rep
resent. Dear Father, we commit this
convention to Thy guiding, and Thou
canst turn the hearts of men as the rivers
of water are turned. We ask Thee to
guard the minds and inspire the minds
of these Thy servants, so that at the
great day of Judgment, when they shall
look back upon the fulfilled issues of
this present hour, which they can not
now foresee, they shall have joy and
complacency in the work they have done.
These favors we ask for the sake and in
the name of Him who have not seen we
love. Amen.