The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-12
The Blessing at the Table.

The blessing at the table has much
to commend 1.-THE example Of Christ,
the necessity of cultivating household
religion, and the sense Of gratitude
for mercies received. It is small
feature of our domestic life, though
entering potentially into it. In many
households it is omitted altogether,
either from diAidence or Indifference,
except when a visiting minister is
being entertained. Around some ta-
bles it is form injected irreverently
in the clatter of dishes and the chat
ter of tongue, sort Of empty phrase
which propriety demands. Sometimes
with an excess of zeal it becomes a
long-drawn-out petition testing the
nerves (and the necks) Of the little
ones. Many seeing the abuse Of this
ordinance have been led to ask what
good it does. Do We say it lest other
wise there may be death in the pot :?
Do we utter it as pietistic formula :?
What do I'VE mean by asking the
blessing p
To say grace ct the table," then,
is, in word, momentary turning OF
the spirit heavenward in prayer and
praise. It means, first of all, thank
fulness for the mercies spread before
us, and for the unnumbered benefits
of which they are the representative.
It means fresh emphasis Of the
truth, which we are prone to forget,
that all our blessing SLOW from the
goodness of God" and are designed
to 'lead us to repentance" 1t means
the ceaseless recognition of the fact
that the strength which our "daily
bread" affords should be spent in SER
vice for the kingdom. 1t means that
the Christian would see in the pro-
vision of bread statedly supplied a
constant reminder of the "true Bread. :"
It means the earnest petition that in
everything we do, whether we eat or
drink, we may glorify God. 1t means
a renewed affirmation that We believe
in the duty, dignity and the potency
Of family religion. Ought not an or
dinance that suggests all this to be
earnestly and heartily enshrined in
Christian homes ?
Practically word. Four essential
principles should regulate our manner
Of giving of thanks at the table
sincerity, brevity, variety on the part
of those who ask the blessing and
unity of sentiment on the part of all
who are present. The last may be
secured impressively by the general
response "Amen'' at the close of the
uttered prayer. As for variety-this
may be obtained in many ways. The
contents as we'll as the form Of the
prayer may be changed. The blessing
may be asked silently, as the friends
do who simply bow the heads in quiet
petition, or it may be said in concert,
or it may be sung with fine effect. If
one acts for allin saying grace, it need
not always be the same person who
voices the general Thanksgiving. The
consecrated ingenuity Of the readers
of this article will devise other ways,
if necessary, in which to vary the
manner of "asking the blessing
A knowledge of the various methods
of observing this household ordinance
in different parts of the world would
help to exalt it to its proper place in
the home. The forms given below
are those which are perhaps most fre-
quently heard:
"Bless this food to our use and US
to Thy service. :"
"For these and all Thy mercies we
give Thee thanks, 0 God"
eve thank Thee, 0 God, for this
food may we spend the strength it
gives in more acceptable service to
Yhee."
"We thank Thee, our Father, for
Thy remembrance of us and for Thy
provision for all our needs.
"We recognize in these mercies the
hand of the Giver. 0 Thou who
givest literally and upbraidest not,
may we in return give ourselves more
unreservedly to Thee"
"Help US to do all that we do,
whether we eat or drink, unto the
glory Of God"
"May this food, our Heavenly
Father, remind us Of our need Of the
true Bread, of which if man eat he
shall live forever"
''Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all
that is within me bless His Holy
name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul,
and forget not all His benefits. !"
Repeat in concert