The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-08-04
The Scribes, Pharisees and HypOcrites
of these Latter DAYS.


of these Latter DAYS.
Amid all the fuss over the refusal
of Governor Roberts to call the peo-
pie of Texas to prayers, little has
been said as to the utility of such
general and public praying. In this
utilitarian and practical age the
question is-"what good will it do P"
and if it cannot be shown to be of
of some practical benefit, it seems to
me the Old Alcalde is right in his
position. When Professor Tyndall
proposed practical test of the value
of prayer by placing two hospitals
side by side, in one of which the pa
tients should be treated by the best
scientific physicians, and in the other
by prayer alone, and see which
would produce the best results, the
pious howl against him was almost
as general as that now at the gov
ernor; though we read in the Holy
Bible, that the Hebrew prophet,
challenged the priests of Baal to
trial of skill at praying, and beat
them on the trial. God sending the
fire to consume the offering on the
altar, at Eliiah's request, while the
rival priests could not raise a smoke
just now the doctors seem to be do
ing pretty well in the presidents case.
Would it not be well to let
them alone, at least until VIC see
whether they are likely to Sue
coed? If they give up the case
as hopeless, then there will
be a good chance to show the
efficiency of prayer. If God wants
to be entreated to save the life of
the president, to show His power in
the case, is it not better TO wait until
it is certain that the doctors can do
no more ; for God can save at the
last gasp-nay, even after death
just as well as now? Perhaps God
has already made up His mind as to
what He will do III Garfield's case:
if he has, will the unanimous prayers
of the people of all the states induce
him to change His mind? Does any,
one know of single instance of
change in Gods purposes being
brought about by prayer? If not,
does it not seem to be the height of
foOlishness to summon fifty millions
of people to unite in simultaneous
attempt to change the mind of an
Interchangeable Being?
But there is another view of
the case. One correspondent of
the NelcS says we are q christian
people, and therefore the COVER
nor should have followed chris
tian customs and called upon
the people to assemble in their
churches for thanksgiving and
prayer. When Washington was
president, he said, "this is in no
sense christian nation" Our gov
eminent was founded for secular |
and our secular principles
can constitutionally be run only by |
secular means. But if we are a |
people, where in the teach
ings of the founder of christianity |
do we find justification of all this |
public praying? Jesus says: Matt.
g., 5, "and when thou prayest thou
shalt not be as the hypocrites are,
for they love to pray standing in the
and in the corners OF the
streets that they may be seen of
men. Verify l say unto you they
have their reward. But thou when
thou prayest enter into Thy closet,
and when thou hast shut the door.
pray to thy Father which is in Sc
,ret," etc., "and when we pray, Use
not vain repetitions as the heather
10, for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking" Is
here single instance in the life of
Jesus where he ever prayed in pub
ic or recommended his dis
,iples to do so? If he should
return to the earth and enter
one of our churches i'll this, our So
called christian land, would he not
shink he had got among the hypo-
;rltes, praying standing in the syna-
gogues?
Is there not more of the genuine
spirit of Christianity in the consci-
,ntious refusal of Governor Rob-
srts to exceed his constitutional au-
.hority, than there is in the whole
'ale vituperation poured on his head
by the Scribes, Pharisees and hypo-
rites of these latter days? -
TOUCHING the senators of the two
greatest states, the New York San