The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-11
A LEGAL PRAYER.
BY wApR wnIrrLK.

BY wApK wHIeFLE.
 When Judge Prolicka joined the Methodist Church of Regeneration, New Jersey, 1t was with the express understanding that he was not to be expected to actively participate in any of their festivals of prayer. He re- marked that even in his chosen pro- fession he had rarely, if ever, been called upon to do anything in the way of pleading or public declamation- his lahore being almost entirely in the line of legal research. preparation of briefs, forms, etc.--and that even under spiritual influence he feared he would make an indifferent exhorter. To the credit of his brethren in his fold be it said that his preference in this regard was courteously deferred to, and dur ing several years of consistent mem- bership in the Regeneration church Judge Prolicks was never called upon to do anything more than pass the plate and punctuate the intervals of supplicstion with some warm and tre- mendons "Amens". One evening, however, visiting divine was leading the service and had worked the par ticipants to such degree of ardor that even the judge acted as If it was about all he could do to "hold in" Deacon Lackwitt took note of the ef- fervescence of the judicial member, and availed himself of the same by ex- claiming:
 "Will Brother Prolicks please lead in prayer2"
 The judge was winged, 90 to speak, by the audiences of this discharge. He futtered to the limit of the anxious seat," and for moment seemed to wilt from sight. The fiery fervor had been smothered but for that moment, however, and flaming into life again 1t assisted the judge to his feet, whereupon, with much in- coherence, aided nevertheless by the resources of his calling, he petitioned as follows:
 "This evening we beg mercy and forgiveness for all people situate, ly- ing and being within this tenement edifice, erection or structure devoted to worship. We arc all miserable sinners of, in, during and through the existence, duration and continu- ance of our life or lives-that Is to say, the life or lives of each, any, either or all of us, collectively, jointly or severally-we have grievously, per- sistently, feloniously and with malice aforethought offended against the law Tn such case made and provided. We have, each and every of us, at divers and sundry times, occasions, intervals and places-as will be more particu- larly and at length set forth, pro- claimed, declared, enumerated and elaborated in the indictment hereunto annexed-committed, performed, per- petrated and caused to be done such acts, deeds, transactions and offenses as have rendered us unworthy the len iency of this honorable court. But we nevertheless beseech our law -giver to give, grant, devise, transfer, convey, set over, release and bequeath unto each and every servant, the parties hereto of the second part, and to their heirs, executors, administrators or as- signs, and to the survivors or survivor of them, such mercy, sustaining grace, commiseration and relief as the need may indicate, and to this court may seem meet, just, worthy and com mended in the premises. We know that the relief sought by us as peti- tioners, and by all parties serving under them or either of them, is such as passeth the measure of human un- derstghding, but we know further more, and by these presents declare, affirm, insist and maintain that mercy is as boundless as the heavenly domin- ions. Infinite power extendeth over all those certain lots, pieces and par cells of land and water situate, lying and being in the solar system and bounded and described as follows, to- wit: Beginning at 6 point"
 To what further extravaganza his momentum in the professional rut would have borne him can only be copjectured. Apprehension led Deacon Check to cut short his peroration, and from that day to this Judge Prolicks has never been invited to indulge in public prayer.-Nes0 Fork Mercury.
 An Important Element