New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-31
PRAYERS FOR CONVENTIONS.
4 svryrNa FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE.

w X
AND OTHERS.
I'm accordance with the circular recently Is
sued by the Rev. R. Heber Newton and other Clergy
men of this city and Brooklyn, urging that speeai
prayers be offered for the Chicago ana Cincinoa' Oon
yeptsona references to the Conventions were
taraay by anumber of cerGymen In their sermons an"
prayers, and the Divine blessing was ssaeu upon S
delegates and their deliberations
Plymouth Church Was not crowded yesterday morn
ing After discussing the of prayer, Mr. Beecher
continued:
xhaye here letter signed by dozen clergy men,
which has been published asking prayer to-day Ior tne
Conventions soon 10 meet, that Divine influence may
varua ali consultations by the parties am far from
saving that with suitable limitations this Is un"Ise'
One thing is certain both Conventions need praying lO
while the prayers may do no good. they can 90
Praying these men is perfectly safe You WIZ run
mo risk We know little OF Divine method IN real e4
reucies and prayer offered at 30 little cost that We
might afford TO pray provided that are not too mueh
disappointed in the result Ibeleye thatthe hearls o
men in the hands Of God are not moved In the Fente
costal fashion. The evil Of HE ID hOV
made up in one burst Prayer for the CohVeh-
sons should take scope and reach afther tnau
the men In them No one has q more profound htIes'
In the results at them have; yet could not ASK
God to nominate this or that man. Exercising my
best Judgments have my own views In the matter pu'
have gone through enough to know that what We NUS
prav FOR "a not always the best It may be the pest
But IL "a our duty to attempt to secure eOoo one
when Henry Clay was defeated by the aoohtion
movement was bitterly disappointed But L sec No"
khaf II Henry Clay had been elected II would Ony NV
been temporary remedy for chronic oSease' I
fhe Missouri Compromise aud the Fugitive slave
hill came Nd revOlted at the one
aud abhorred the other, and denounced them
both Now 1 thank God for them. Hhen 'he
south and the North first cashed prayed Goa 10 Pe
serve harmony and bring them out peaceIuuy !" 'uo
N 4Osna OyQQV
or tyo hundred years. but by no means In my urne'
when the war broke out prayed for victory ana now
we 9roye,ed in the dust the Bull Run defeat where
the men went La in way and came out IN seNen D'
that defeat was glorious victory. God brought on tne
war and delayed the victory until the population Oh 'ne
South was decimated, its great industry oVernrown'
all society [sorganzed; we prayed against ~ all O
knew not what was best
Idon't apprehend any such danger now. am nope
fu by nature But II B. F. Butler should become FfeS
dent the Lord wouldn't be scared Bit The Nanoh Is
stronger than any man. The newspapers cannot
put q man down; one can destroy him Dut mmse'i'
Nation true 10 itself cannot be put down by pau au
roin.stration There is danger from bad men and
demaeogy but il is a part Of human nature. there
were nation OF angels there might be no scratching
But human Will assert itsef and certain quaheS
can only be got rid Of by death. am with those VINO
hope ideal government, and also with pracnea men
who see that is not possible thousand years from
non anne Of the evils OF human nature may be done
away with.
do not believe that the result OF putting one man up
and another down will one hair Whlte OF pidch'
unless for the who dobt get It, We must seek tue
best men aud measures. Can we bring them out OF
Chcago9 1t would be better to put the end OF the lever
further back If We wish to hoist the Convention 10
higher plane Politicians about the same as the
average Thurman Have you prayed Tor the ee
walton Of the schools and of the struggling cassesf
What sham and folly It is TO try to make up for our
(-E.n oYVA Canrin
Heaven help such folly. There is no harm In praying or
the Conventions but the answer will be at the butt and
not at the muzze
10 his prayer after the sermon Mr. Beeeher asked me
blessing Of God upon the assembly soon TO meet III the
great city OF the plains He said; "W the LORD pre-
side and restrain pride and self-seeking. Remember
also the Convention which gathers in short time IN
another cty move the hearts OF all there assembled
The Rev. Dr. Henry W. Bellows, Of the Church OF AL
Souls at Fourthave and Twentetn-st, preached ser
mon ON prayer" yesterday morning. In the course OF
his opening prayer he said Father we ask Thy bless
ing on our beloved country. May It's people De nled
With love- TRUTH and fidelity to vows aud duties In
the hearts OF the citizens feelings OF patriotism
and nationality be strengthened and on TINS arnVer-
sary dedicated TO the memory OF those VINO Ieh III inc
struggle for the preservation OF the Union may we
offer the decoration of prayers, that their struggle
may never prove TO been in vain; that the Union
may live long and grow that the love for tue
Nation may be above the love for states
and sections, and that fellowship may pre-
vail and all people be brethren indeed ana now at
the time when the hearts and minds OF many are shar-
pepng the swords for political warfare be especially
with our country ana her interests May the spirit OF
moderation patience aud fidelity to principle prevail
NAY that be done which is right and true before that
which Is expedent We pray for those who assemble
In council for the selection OF those whom they would
have to occupy nigh places may they DO lust men,
from whatever parties and may their proceedings be
guided by Thy wisdom. May duty prevail over oil
preferences paraties and promises that should never
have been made-prOmises addressed to cupdity from
aearts OF selGshness. Strengthen them in tho right
ana guide them in the OF what VIII be best Tor the
.opptrv vhoae fallen heroes are remembered today"
In the service yesterday morning at the Anthon Me-
mortal Church. NO. I30 West Fortyeighthst, the Rev
r. Heber Newton his preliminary prayer referred 10
the Chicago Convention. May God" the speaker said
drect and prosper all the consultations OF the Conven
ton and may deliberations be conducive to the safety
and welfare of the people, May the delegates act with
ont prejudice and may God so guide their MINDS thai
4hey will not determine hastily upon any one man
MAY they rather deliberate carefully and only choose
those as ministers for the who men ut
for their duty. May God 60 direct the action OF the
Convention that the Nation Will be quckened TO higher
and nobler life" In the course OF his sermon Mr.
Newton again referred TO politics. The State he said
Is one OF the means God uses to educate mankind In
free country there will be parties necessarily and
any attempt to stand outside OF these is as absurd as
q 10 ATTEMPT 10 stand outside OF the church. True in.
dependence is intelligent loyalty TO party. The great
mass OF men follow tho direction OF party leaders
bipdly The Christian voter ought TO be indeDen
dent This docs not mean that he should indulge II
factions opposition, should affiliate with any
,,artcular section He should simply refuse TO follow
tho crowd II there good reason for his doing 80
He should carefully choose the Uisest course as It sp
pears to him, and follow It,
The Rev Dr. referred in his sermon yesterday
oru,ng in the Church OF the Pilgrims, Brooklyn Il
ee afcacy OF prayer regarding political aud Hatona
s,rs speaking in part fOllows "our ancestors user
A. 10 od for guidance In National and public con