The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-12
A Negro s.as mans Prayer.

Alexander Clark gives IN his Methodist
-.t.rcorder graphic description of "a Sab
s,.rh in Richmond ard IN account of bis
visit to the Fist African Baptist church, III
,Hat city. We take from it this specimen Of
Characteristic natural eloqueDce
y iayman being called upon 10 pray, led
It's par. of The service in ic1yent appeal 10
GOD, n plea al once eloquent in smile and
musical in ulterance. 1t was pictured Pc
gi,Iou. vivid TO the eye and pleasant 10 the
ear. With voice of elevated key, the
Header .cyounted the mcrcicS of God, and
besought blessings from above. 1t may
have beer ndccO!OuS IN us. but the prayer
va so unique, so ike chant, dream, and
vt 50 Ike converse with the listening
God, that VIC yerlured TO note down few
passages, while no hess sharing the dero-
uUuql spirit of lie bour and place.
[rhc words spaced were prolonged and
cilcumti xed III higher key, as il the words
oil Il scug, while the intervening words were
uttered with Il zap dity almost beyond the
apprehension !; the final words OF each sen.
tence being pronounced in low voice and
With The falling iulirc,ion.]
"Oh Lord, our dressed Father of Love,
thou KIM .w.S tie 'dition OF the wori'.
Thou know, the p ore mis'abP sinner
de>pin' DIX grace who turned his back upon
dy call. TEoi secs his footsteps in the Will
,leiuess, aad you sees dc bloomin' roses
yrowiu' III round &c thorns de debips 4
>aarpen'n' for his feet. In this dark way Of
>ir and death, while de loud thunders of dy
wrath ,.o-i in majes' in his ears, and de
hEa.Z.e Of dy fury fash in sudden fore his
c?cs, OH sc nd your broodin' spirit like i
dove ibgu' Ce Storm an speak peace to bis
ny
lac. Show him dc slippery rocks and de
miry clay. Make him see dat Sutau follows
la>' nppiu' at his btel>, and hell lawns open
10 catch him when he falls. Oh rest him
l., 3t mighty o-w.e-r Of dy grace. Pour
down YOUR mercy like rain from de summer
clouds. Make him open his blind eyes TO
see dc be n.u-t-y Of dy holiness a.shinin' in
dc lace of your beloved Son like de rainbow
when dc Storm done gone and passed away.
.Oh. thou great King OF Glory who rides
in de "ol'n chariot in de New Jerusalem
above de sun, 'scech an pray you drive
az white horses down dis way; and when
de hoo is of de bosses strikes dis lower
worP an de dashu' wheels come in our
sight. stop dy chariot at Washington city,
and tight in loving kindness at de door OF
DIV servant, lie President Grant, an tell him
'yactly what to do. Sound de meanin' OF
your will into de Congress halls, an' tell
de great men 'thout their own axen' how to
serve dare country bes'. Purge de hearts OF
de senators All de 'sentalives from de love
of sin, and lead dare stumblin' feet
from the snsres of hell. Help them
to member dy servants in every Or
row and temptation, as Jesus mem
Ders them. Thin out the sire Of honor
and the love of salary from their Souls
like suckers out'n corn; aud may your
name be above every name, and d-y king
dom come into the high places and de low
like the light of moruin' comes 10 de hills,
am de valleys de same. Afr leayin' Wash
iugton city, an takin' dy time. drive your
chariot down over dc fields and rein up dy
E-ur-s.e.s OF tire ut the capital OF Old Fir.
ein'y. Light out at de Governors door,
and 90 into his house am tell him what
rings he ought TO say, an show him what
t'ings ne ought 20 do, like father who
'structs his own chile
The prayer was long, and yet brcathle>s
silence was observed by the congregation
The Throne Of Grace was near, and the pco-
pies souls were blessed.