The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-06-12
A Negro Layman's Prayer.

Alexander Clark gives in his Meth
odist Recorder graphic description of
"a Sabbath in Richmond" aud an
account of his visit to the First African
Baptist church, in that city. We take
from it this specimen of characteristic
| natural eloquence
A layman being called upon to pray.
led this part of the service in a fervent
appeal to God, plea at once eloquent
in smile and musical in utterance. 1t
was a pictured petition, vivid to the
eye and pleasant to the ear. With a
voice of elevated key, the pleader re-
counted the mercies of God, and be-
sought blessings from above. 1t may
have been indecorous in us, but the
prayer was unique, SO like a chant, a
dream, and yet so like a converse with
the listening G I'D, that we ventured to
note down few passages, while no less
sharing the devotional spirit Of the
hour and place.
The words spaced were prolonged
and circumfe1ed in higher key, as if
the words of a song, while the inter
vening words we're uttered with rapid
ity almost beyond the apprehension
the final words of each sentence being
pronounced in a low voice and with the
falling infection
ooh! Lord, our blessed Father OF
Love, thou know the 'dition of the
worP. Thou knows the pore mis'abP
sinner despin' dy grace who turned his
back upon dy call. Thou sees his
footsteps in the will derness, and you
de thorns de debil's a sharpen'n for his
feet. In this dark way of sin and
death, while de loud thunders of dy
wrath roll in majes' in his ears, and
de blaze of dy fury flash in sudden
fore his eyes. oh send your broodin'
spirit like a dove thro' de storm an
speak peace to his wretched soul fore
tbs e-v.e-r-lastin' to late Show him
de slippery rocks and de miry clay.
Make him see dat Satan follows fas'
trippin' at his heels, and hell yawns
open to catch him when he falls. Oh!
rest him by de mighty pow e-r of dy
grace. Pour down your E1ercy like
rain from de summer clouds. Make
him open his blind eyes to see de
beauty of dy holiness a-shinin' in
de face of Your beloved Son like de
rainbow when de storm done gone and
passed away.
"Oh, thou great King of Glory who
Jerusalem, above de sun. I 'seech an
dis way and when de h-o-o-f-s of de
horses strikes dis lower worr and de
dashin' wheels come in our eight, stop
dy chariot at Washington city, and
light in loving kindness at de door of
dy servant, de President Grant. an tell
him 'xactly what to do. Scum de
meanin' of your will into de Con
g-r-e-s-s halls. an tell de great men
'thout their own AKIN how to serve dare
country bes'. Purge de hearts of de
senatore and 'sentatives from de love
of sin, an cad dare stumblin' steps
from the snares of hell. Help them to
member dy servants in every SOL
row and temptation, as Jesus mem
bers them. Thin out the sire of honor
and the love of salary from their Souls
like suckers out'n corn and may your
name be above every name, and d-y
kingdom come into the high places and
de low like the light of mornin' comes
to de hills an de valleys de same. Afr
leavin' Washington city, an takin' dy
time, drive your chariot down over de
fields and reign up dy horses of fire
at the capital of Old Virgin'y. Light
out at de Governors door, and go into
his house an tell him what things he
ought to say, an show him what things
he ought to do, like a faith err who
structs his own chile"