Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-24
uNANswERED PRAYER FOR
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

to . emcaey q prayer
Tue result OF Toe prayers offered for
the rscogssy ottha President rsfvery
differently construed. By the Christian
it is maintained taatslthoush the petit.
tiorr wssu not granted s. prayed, ysfths
prayer was heard and will be answered
in some other and better way which
sur limited understanding cannot now
comprehend aI&ud1a
The matter oE.fsct man OF the world
says. you prayed that GAsFrRlD might
recover, and he died, That's all there
IL Of it. .
These apparently differing opinions
are not in reality antagonistic.
The Christian faith, a We understand
it, is not p~redicated upon the belief or
assumption that all prayer Is answered
according to the human purpose, even
when all the conditions OF prayer are
complied with. They maintain, as WAS
said By one OF the speakers at the Cap
itol the other day, Rev. Mr.. MAsDEN,
that the object OF prayer is largely SUB
jecire That is 10 say, that while
the prayer OF the individual
nav be incompatible with the
Divine will and pan, the
reflex influence OF the act will tend to
bring tho human wish into harmony
with the divine, and reveal = better way
than that prayed for. Thus, while the
national heart was intent upon restora-
ton OF the President to health, and the
human understanding was full OF the
conviction that such q result would be a
boon to the country and a blessing to
humanity, the very act OF s~npplicAtion
in this behalf tended to the recognition
OF a higher power, of q higher intell-
gence, and to produce a willingness by
the nation to submit its destiny to the
control and guidance Of a Supreme Being
although His plans and purposes might
not be in harmony with the human wish.
The fact that the Presidents life was
prolonged, although the wound was
necessarily fatal, until the nation had
been prepared for his death,is claimed by
the Christian as merciful response OF
the Divine Being to the prayers for his
recovery. Other evidences OF the Divine
purpose are instanced to restore Chris
tian faith and resignation: Asaspeaker
said, the other day, 1.-THE verdi.t must
be that GARFIELD dead will be a greater
blessing to humanity than GARFIELD
living. Sixteen years had passed since
the wal and yet enmity existed asa con-
sequence VI the war. Legislation has
not been able to restore harmony, but
grief may do it, just as it may between
two parents weeping over their dead
child. is true as Christ died that IRE might
be sdred GGpkld died that our country,
North, South, East and West, may be
c,nented in harmony, in lore. LINCOLN
died for freedom, but it remained for
G~ABFIELD's death to eradicate enmity
and restore united love-"
The inquiry naturally arises from such
a position whether all prayer is TO be
understood as simply and solely sub
~jectiye in its results. Upon this point
hinges a variety OF views wen among
christians. Ii certain things are sure to
happen in certain contingencies what is
the profit of prayer? If GODS plans
rannot be changed by human supplica-
tons, why pray? II the subjective re-
suits to the individual mind and heart
are the only fruits of prayer, why pray
for anything more than submission to
whatever may happenH
We believe the majority Of christians
maintain, however, that the Divine will
is not entirely beyond the reach OF the
human will. 1.-The efectual, fervent
prayer Of the righteous man"
is held to avail much with
COP even in material things. CHsIsT
prayed on the eve OF his cruciiction
that "If it be possible, let this cup pass
IRON me-" but added, nevertheless,
not my will but Thine be done" The
necessary Interpretation OF such a
PRAYER is, that it is proper, pertinent and
even profitable in a material sense, that
prayer should be made for material aid
and relief, anil that it is possible to move
the Deity by such means to arrest con-
tingent results, and purposes of his own
forming. But at the same time it is
taught that the individual will must al.
ways be ready to submit to a different
dispensation from that prayed for.
This view rtsents the subject, as
nearly as practicable in a limited space,
from the Christian standpoint. We
cannot 90 into all the different phases
oil doctrine and belief running all the
way from extreme credulity to absolute
skepticism, in regard to the efficacy Of
prayer.
While the belief OF many good Chris
tian people has been shaken by the re-
snlt OF the prayers Tor the President and
the disbelief OF many more has be, n
confirmed, W. regard il as no
misfortune whatever to the u
Of truth and OF any religion
bss'h upon the trnth, or any sect seeking
only the Truth, that the subject OF
prayer, 80 interesting, 20 important and
yet Involved in more o. less doubt and
mystery, should 10y this event become
\ subj ct If general thought and discus
IL will serve to develop and en-.
ghtan public opinion, and possibly
G"row a clearer light upon the teachings
Of the scriptures relative to this subject.
AL epochs OF great advancement in
human thought and civilization grow out
OF just such united efforts Of the human
intellect to struggle out of the darkness
- LIT Il