The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-09-29
The Efficacy of Prayer.

Two or three days after President Garfelds 3
removal to Long Pa ,ch, when he was feeling
better, the following item appeared in the pa
prrs:
TnIlnace SAYS that President Garfield's present
condition ia q signal proof Of the efficacy of prayer
IfGarield had got well, it wonld have been
claimed by praying people for all time, that the
praying eaused his cure. But since he died, Mr..
Tallmage and all the rest Of them will not ad-
nit the opposite conclusion, thst praying is of
no effect. People have different opinions of
this praying business. Millions firmly believe
in it, and claim that because many do earn
esily believe in it, there is something more in it
than mere superstition. But it is only mat
ter of faith, after all. There are more Pagans
in the world than Christians. Do their num-
bers prove the correctness of their belief, and
are their incantatiOns any less superstition than
the prayers of Christiansi We believe that it
is all superstition on both sides, and that the
pOw-wows of the Pagan have as much influence
in shaping events the prayers of the Chris
tians Then, we are an Infdel, or an Atheist,
are wef We believe there is n God, all the
same. Perhaps that belief is q superstition. If
Sd, il is superstition that we labor under, and
firmly believe in. But We do not believe that
God changes his purposes for anything that
mortal man can do. If he does such thing as
direct human affairs, and determines that a GER
tain thing shall take place, it will do so, in spite
of all the prayers that can he offered. If he has
willed that the thing shall not occur, praying
will not make it any more sure. But We do not
believe that he specially directs any occurrence.
We believe that he has established certain laws
of nature, and that living according to those
laws, or violating them, brings its inevitable
suit. If man is injured in a vital part, as Gar
field was, he is going to die. Ifnot, although
it may appear that he is, he will get well, un-
less some neglect makes the injury fatal. A
man may be badly injured, but care and sci
ence may aid nature in overcoming the injury,
when without such care, the victim would die.
Science and skill only accomplish that !;
praying can do nothing at ALL Garfeld's inju-
ries were snch that science and skill could not
ascertain their extent or location, and therefore
could not apply the proper remedies to assist na-
ture. Therefore, Garfield died, the same he
would have done, hal not a prayer been offered
for him.
Prayers for a man show good viii toward him,
and may be a consolation in that respect. They
NAV put his mind in a cheerful and healthy
state and thus assist in his recovery. But in
that way, they act "a a medicine, and aid ma
ture. Laying on of hands has undoubtedly cur
ed persons. But it was not in the supersttious
way intended, but through some electrical in
flnence, according TO the intricate laws of ma
ture. There was never man earth who had
the prayers of many people, and whose
prayers were more sincere, than Garfield had.
II praying is Of the slightest effect, he would
have had the benefit of il. But when science
could no longer keep him alive, he died.
supposing there is efficacy in prayer, to infu-
ence or change the purposes of God. Would not
the earnest, heartfelt prayer, that goes up in
quet, and is genuine through and through, be
the one most acceptable to himi Can he not
hear each one separately, offered up in that
way, as well as he could if they all met in one
building, and prayed londly as their lungs
would permit; These public occasions Of
prayer are all pomp and parade, got up for ef-
feet on men, not on God. 1t is an attempt by
men to hunbug the Lord, and take him by
storm, after the fashion of political conven-
ton. No wonder such prayers amount to moth
ing. Yet millions Of dollars spent TO lift
the heather ont of his superstitious munmeries,
and have him adopt other mummeries equally
superstitiOus.