, 1875-05-21

| province that Ind been visited with Iona
| drought who assembled his parish and dc.
! voted several hours to feHyent prayer TO,
rnin. The prayers woro 20 eff'cacious that
tho rain cano down in torrents before the
services vero concluded. Aa tho priest had
forgotten to bring bis umbrella with him, he
retired To his cloaot, whi1o tho congregation
wero returning thanks, and prayed for tenn
pornry suspension Of tho rain until he could
! roach homo, In which be wes not 30 success.
ful* We aro reminded Of tho story by the
gossip on Change concerning tho growing
crop. One Of tho Btories told yesterday waa
To tho effect that Governor OF ono OF tho
Grasahopper States hau issued proclamation
advising the people to meet in thoir churches,
and, by united prayer, appeal to Hoayen To
avert the threatone1 plasuo; aud that tho
same Governor is at tho samo timo " long on
100, 000 bushels Of wheat. The question dis
cussed waa whether the official was wanting
in faish id tho efficacy Of prayer, or whether
his patriotism was so much superior to hia
selllshncss na to induce HIN to resort to prayer
against his own interests.
II thore is any truth to this story, it will
certainly be interesting to witch tho results
as we'll as to speculate On the motives and
acnsations Of tho Governor meanwhile. It
may bo that he ia follower of TYvp41n, and
is willing 10 venture the margin on hundred
thousand bushels Of wheat in practical
prayor-gaugo. Certainly thero could not bo
moro favorable application Of T7NpA11.'s
proposition, 20 far as tho Christians aro
concerned There uould bo the Lord
and the Church On ono side, and on tho other
the grasahopperH and the Doyi for his ga-
sanio Majesty would certainly put forth his
beat efforts IN favor Of tho Board Of Trado
operation. It would bo curious, also, to
watch the offocts OF such toat upon the
regular memboru Of tho Chicago Board.
Thero would DO morc church. going and pray
ing in that body than thero las ever been
baforo. Tho "shorts would masahh ns d
body and atsond church every Sunday, md
put in regular appearance at Ill tho special
services. Tho "longs," On the other hand,
could host serve their CAUSE and rropitiato
their patron by following their rsual a,o-
CATIONS. Meanwhile, tho "long" Governor,
lilto the Trench priost, may retire to his
closet and pray for q continuation ot tho To-
Gusts until ho can "get out"
Wa have m idea that thcro will DO noitLcr
mora nor less grasshoppers on account Of
prayers or tho failure to pray On this specific
matter. Tho best snswer eyor 1nado to Trs-
pA11's suggestion Ia that Ii would be sacrile.
gious to addrees tho Lord, and imploro re-
vcrsal Of any natural laws for the benefit Of
eny particular locality, claas, orpopulation In
formal trial Of the efficacy Of prayer.
This answer will apply To plaguo o.
we'll as anything else. It has boen discoyorod
that tho 1ocusts prevail In my section thoy
infest' two seasons; thoy ly over the first
season, and drop their oggs whioh develop
into "hoppors" tho nazt season, which fy
of to another section. Il this Ia tie natural
law that governs their e1iatonoe, We cannot
believe that the Lord will revorse
It On account Of supplications. IIo puts no
restraint, however. On nuns ingenuity to over
como the plaques, tormenta, md inconyen-
iences OF Nature, and wa are inclined to
believe that more can ba accomplished in
fighting tho grazzhopper by enlisting the
aotiya eo-oporntion Of scientific and practical
men tlan BY dovoting tho ssuo amount Of
un,o and money to specific prayer for m in-
reference in natural laws which tho Lord Ia
not likely TO undertake. The !" longs On
wheat lave moro to foar, and tho P" shorts
moro to hops for, from human ingenuity, az
perionce, pluck. md application thau from
the Interference ot Providence in this yisita-
ton OF loouata.