Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-12-04
by Uncle Daniel

The adoption OF the constitutional
amendment by vote OF the people at our
recent State election. 'Forbidding the
use Of Public Funds for Sectsrian Pur-
poses" and which requires but the proc
lamation OF the Governor to make 1t the
fundamental Law OF the State. will. It 10
generally believed. prohibit the ineom-
ing Legislature from employing Chap.
lains q. .h. States expense. 1t 10 to be
hoped that the general opinion upon
this question. as here stated. 10 correct
and legal. For while the expense Of
Chsplsius would not be srest-perhsps
six hundred dollars = session-still a. 1t
would bs unnecessary 1t will be best, In
future, to save that amount OF money 10
the State.
II il doubtless the belief OF nins.tenths
OF the nsmbers.eleot to the next Legis.
iaturs that the daily prayers OF . Chap
lain would be Of no more benefit to them
than would the ringing Of . bell or the
blowing OF . horn. And in times past
nothing but Difference to an old-sstab-
lished custom. and the opportunities Of
jealous friends Of preachers. which re.
auired much irmness to deny, have In.
duced legislators to vote for the election
Of Chapiaius. A belief on the part Of
legislators 10 the efficacy Of Cbaplains'
prayers has been the unknown quantity
In the matter, and has contributed but
little to the election OF Chaplains.
Aside from the phase OF the question
Just presented. there arc, to the writer,
absurd aud ridiculous sides to IL. which
may be exposed In this wise II 1t 10
necessary to employ Chaplains to period
ically ask the guidance OF an Almighty
power in matters OF legislation, BY what
means has 1t been ascertained that once
q day-no more. NO less-is sufficient 10
iniercede for it2 When legislation 10
going on rapidly. or whom measures OF
Importance are under consideration, 1t
would seem that moro auxiliary ioroe
would be required than when but little
work il being done (; and that u
prayer Q day would be required in tho
last named case. three or four prayers
per day would be required in the former
one. But why not at the opening OF
the session employ . Chaplain With
great persuasive powers 10 get both
branches OF the Legislature started right.
and then leave matters to be carried
through to the end by the impetus re-
ceived :? Why. in other words, may not
Q Chsplain make one prayer cover q
whole session. as well az cover one dsyP
Can there DO q limit to the stimulus re-
c,ived in response to q Chaplain's
prayer2
And, to borrow the thought from
voltsire.. il may be said, In almost his
very language, that u the objects prayed
for by the Chaplain be in accordance
with the design Of the power that watches
over the doipgs Of legislative bodies, 1t
must be perfectly useless to request the
very things which have been determined
from eternity shall be done. II prayed
to for the opposite Of that which was de-
termiped shall be done. the Almighty
power IL asked to be weak. fcklo and
incons,aut. The request is either for
what is Just and right, in which case 1t
will be done without any solicitation, or
the request is unjust. and then the
Chaplain insults the power addressed.
II the prayers OF q Chaplain could cause
. legislator to perform On act which he
would not otherwise have done. 1t would
violate the laws imposed upon US from
eternity; would derangs the universe.