Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07
PRAISE TO GOD ON HIGH.
Rev. Paul L. Menzel Invokes the Blessings
of Deity on ALL

of Deity on All.
Rev. Paul L. Menzel, the pastor of st.
Johns German Evangelic church, who had
been chosen to offer the prayer, was next
introduced. in doing so Vice-Presldent
Miller said: at has always been the Gus
tom of Germans in commencing their
meetings 20 invoke the blessing of God:
therefore introduce to You the Rev. Paul
Menzel."
The prayer [also in Germanl was as fol-
lows:
Almighty God, our merciful Father in
Heaven, together with hundreds of thou
sands of our German fellow-citlZens in all
the larger cities of our glorious Union; we
also. the German inhabitants of this beau
tiful capital of the sunny South, have come
together thankfully to remember all the
gifts of Thy Grace, which Thou hast be-
slowed upon us In this blessed land OF
liberty, and 60 consider what special du-
ties Thy Divine Providence may have as
signed to us in this dear country of our
choice.
before all other things we humbly bow
our heads before Thee, the Lord OF lords
and King of kings. the giyer OF every good
gift and every perfect gift, on whose bene-
diction everything depends. BE Thou
with us to-day, and bless us, Thy children.
according TO Thy fatherly kindness and
grace. Establish the work of our hands
upon us; yea, the work of our hands,
establish Thou 1t
WHAT GERMAN BLOOD HAS DONE.
40 God, Eternal Ruler of all nations on
earth, thanks, praise. and glory to Thee
for all the gifts and talents which Thou
hast bestowed upon our German people.
During twenty centuries Thou hast made
our old Fatherland the heart of nations, out
1. i e g. Ag. oil
directions. German blood IL was that re-
generated the rotten nations of the Old
World. In England and France, in Spain
and Italy beautiful blossoms of "A new cul-
ture were developed under the influence of
that new spirit of life that rushed forth
out of the oak forests OF old Germany. And
as in times gone by, so 1t has also pleased
Thee in the last two hundred years TO open
a new gate TO the overfiowing strength OF
German vitality. Thou hast built bridge
across the ocean for who knows how many
millions Of German men and women, who
came over into this new Land OF Promise
TO find here home for their families and
TO make themselves useful to others. The
fertile regions Of Pennsylvania and the ad-
iacent countries, and then later the vast
plains of the far West and North
west witnessed how German iabori-
ousness and industry changed the bar
=
garden that now almost reaches from one
ocean to the other. With the husband
man and farmer who advanced armed with
axe. hoe. and plow, Thou gavest German
handicraftsmen and mechanics. scholars
and clergymen, and artists. Tnou sunkest
valuable germs of German high culture
and good morals, of German arts and
sciences, into the virginia. soil out of which
the graudest nation of the future was to
come forth. Thousands of Germans not
ONLY shed their blood on all the great bat
tle-felds of the nation, but soon their in
tluence was also felt in the moral and
social life of the country. They brought
along with them their soul-inspiring songs
and their Christmas-trees, they happy lam
ily life and their merry social gatherings,
their enthusiasm for personal liberty. and
their truthfulness and reliability IN busi-
ness life. Wherever they were Thou always
madest them willing TO help with all the
power OF their healthy bodies and souls IN
building up this great powerful nation TO
whose most loyal. faithful, and disinterest-
ed children they always belonged.
MIsREPREsENTED AND CAST ASIDE.
"And now, o Father, Thou knowest how
often we have been misrepreSented. push
ed aside, and laughed at; how little
thanks we have received. how our enemies
have tried TO prescribe and TO extermine
even our dear native language.
"Oh we confess to-day before Thee rue
fully that the fault has been partly ours.
Too often we INDUCED in deplorable quar-
rels among ourselves too often, in mis-
placed modesty. we disregarded our own
nationality; and there have been some
among US who even at times seemed
ashamed of the blood that runs through
their veins.
n a l.. l. Al
weaknesse' Grant that this celebration
may strengthen the harmony among our
selves that we may henceforth overlook
the differences that exist among US and
cultivate with faithful and candid hearts
whatever we have IN common. Bless our
German families, bless our children. bless
our German churches and schools, all our
German societies and organizations. Pre-
serve us the jewel Of our mother tongue.
of that golden key to all the rich treasures
of German culture. Grant that out of
this celebration may result lasting. fruit
ful union of all who have German blood in
their veins, that may enable US better TO
cultivate our sacred inheritance, not only
as an honor to ourselves, nor for the well
fare of our children alone, but also for the
best of TINS our dear country, so that as
true Germans we may be wholesome salt
and SHINING light IL the midst of this
glorious free nation, which we love as a
true man loves and serves forever the wife
of his choice.
Hear us. o God Almighty. in Thy ever
lasting kindness and mercy. Amen"
Flowers and Nusic.
As Mr.. Menzel was about TO resume his
seat he was handed lovely bouquet with
the compliments of the Ladies Commit
tee to the Chaplain of Germaa-dayn
When the PRAYER was over the Soldiers
Home Band, of Hampton, Professor Levy
leader. played the bridal Rosen overture.
This body never renders but one class of
music the best-and any praise of its per-