The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-11-23
"Let us Pray"

mOCKeTy, ny tne L tWeS, lHe aooSC ie4uoo'
is worthy of all acceptation in the pres
ent crisis The advice is good. 'The
Lord sent it, though the devil brought it. "
If there was ever time, and there have
been many, when this country needed
the interference in its behalf of a merci-
full God, that time is row upon US. There
are times when unbellcvers call loudest
for the prayers of Christians. There are
times when they rend heaven with even
their own unaccustomed plants and pc
titions. When, after weeks OF wrangling,
the fate of the constitution Of this nation
hung in the balance, when it appeared
that the passions of men would prove
stronger than their patriotism, the veneer
able Benjamin Franklin, although not a
professor of religion, arose in the Con
yention and said:
In this situation of this assembly, crop
ing as it were in the dark, to lind poliu-
ical truth, and scarce able to distinguish
it when presented to us, how has it hap
pened, sir, that we have not hitherto
once thought of humbly applying to the
Father of Lights to illuminate our under
standings? In the beginning OF the con
test with Britain, when we were sensible
of danger, we had daily prayers in this
room for the divine protection. Our
prayers, sir. were heard; and they were
pracjously answered. We have
been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings
that Except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build it." firmly
believe this; and I also believe that with
out His concurring aid, we shall succeed
in this political building no better than
the builders of Babel. We shall he di-
vided by our little partial local interests,
our projects will be confounded, and we
ourselves shall become reproach and
bye-word down to future ages. And
what is more, mankind may he eafter,
from this unfortunate instance, despair
of establishing Government by human
wisdom, and leave it to chance, war and
conquest.
The lapse of nearly century since
Franklin made his memorable suggestions
in the Convention for forming the Constl-
tutisn of the United States has brought
us to crisis when the words of that
great man have fresh and startling sig
nit1cance. For a second time we are re-
covering from war during which the
press, the President, the statesman, and
the soldier, urged upon the people the
duty and necessity of calling upon the
God of our forcfathers to save His peo-
pie from defeat and disgrace, and to pre-
serve this nation from disruption and
anarchy. The priest at the altar and tue
people in the aisles were recognized as
having mission, as well as the Presi-
dent in his office, the legislator on the
floor of Congress, or the soldier in the
field. Every mother who had spared her
son; every wife who had given her huS-
band, every sister who had said good
bye" TO brother, for the cause of the
Union, was asked to remember that cX-
cept the Lord build the house, they labor
in vain that build itn If ever invinciblc
faith, made urgent by aching heart-tics,
took hold on heaven and carried it by
storm, IT was when our shattered forces,
fleeing from that fatal field of Bull Run,
convinced an appalled, people that the
that the strength of man was pitable
weakness Then the people prayed.
"Our prayers were heard" as of yorc,
"and they were graciously answered"
Now we are again in peril, as so often be-
fore. No crisis has been more dangerous
than the one now pending. Unless pru-
dent counscls prevail, unless men, by
mutual consent, lay aside their little,
partial, local interests, our projects will
be COMPOUNDED, and We ourselves shall
become reproach and by-word to fu-
ture ages. And what is more, mankind
NAV hereafter from this unfortunate in
stance, despair Of establishing govern
ment by human wisdom, and leave it to
chance, war and conquest
President Grant could DO no better or
more welcome thing, than to issue sup
plement to his Thanksgiving procl lma-
ton, asking the people Of this nation on
that day TO adj to their thanksgivings for
mrrces past, solemn prayer to the
Ruler of all things and Judge Of all men
that He would be pleased once again to
put forth His power in our behalf; to
give wisdom to our rulers. quictness
to the people, patience to the casper
ated, u spirit of obedience to the turbu-
lent, ard baptism of patriotism to US
all; that shall arouse US to one thought
and one purpose which shall bury all
other issues under the one determine
ton that at all hazards, the integrity of
the nation shall be maintained. the cause
that is true and right shall be upheld, and
that those who breed mischief shall be
put to shame, by whatever party name
they may be called Chicago Post.