Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-03-28

The Prayer Offered by Rev. j. j. Harper,
at the Unveiling of the BentonsviIIe
Confederate. Monument, March goth
1896.
1t is great pleasure to The
ARGUS to be able to give to it's
readers this morning the full
text of the beautiful prayer Of
fered at the unveiling of the
Bentonsville monument by Rev.
J. j, Harper, of Smithfeld, a
son of the venerable couple Mr..
and Mrs. John Harper.
The prayer opened the services
of the occasion and was as fol
lows:
Almighty God, invisible, immortal
aid eternal. We approach Thee as our
Creator, we adore Thee as our Father,
we worship Thee, the only proper object
of our worship We thank Thee for the
blessings that have sustained us in the
past, for the mercies that contribute to
our happiness at this time, and for the
assurance OF Thy love to brighten our
future. We thank Thee for this inter-
esting occasion, and for the privilege of
meeting and participating in the solemn
services of this hour. And as Thy SER
want Isaac sought to perpetuate the
memory of his beloved dead, even so,
Father, we Thy servants would now
embalm and transmit to future genera
tions the patriotic deeds and heroic
death of the faithful men whe fell on
this ensanguined field. Grant Thy bless
ings upon this effort to rescue from OBJ
livlOn their unSullied names, and to pre-
serve them for the encouragement of
those who are to come after us. Ana
though they rest in nameless graves,
far from home and loved ones, may their
rest be sweet and their memory dear
through the ages to come. May Thy
richest joys come into the experiences
OF Thy aged servants who tenderly and
faithfully mlnistered to them in their
sutferings, so lovingly soothed them in
their last moments, and so affectiOnate-
ly buried them when they were dead.
And o, merciful God, grant that Thy
tenderest ministrations may follow the
multitude of women left widows, ana
| children left orphans, who listened long
| for the welcome step, and watched
through the evening twilight of years
| for the familiar form of the loved and
| lost, till eyes grew weary with watch
| ing, and dim with age-but longed and
| listened and looked IN vain. May Thy
Fatherly care and kind providence fol
| low them through this life into life eter-
nal.
And grant, O. Lord, that the light OF
Thy presence, and the warmth of Thy
love, and the strength of Thy almighty
arm may ever be present and manifest
! to the brave sons of the South, who by
| Thy providence were preserved through
| the dangers and carnage of war, and
the eclipse of the cause they loved, and
who still inger on these mortal shores
Bless thess brave men who suffered and
| sOrrOwed on this and other fields, anG
| who have come to do honor to the mem
ory of their fallen comrades. Preserve
as the shadows of life evening lengther
grant to light up its sunset with the hope
of the eternal morning.
O, blessed Lord, richly bestow Thy
blessings upon the patriotic men anC
liberty-ioving women who have con
tributed of their means and efforts tC
suitably mark this historic spot, and tt
properly celebrate this important occa
sion.
And o, merciful Father, grant tn,
strength of Thy guiding hand to thi
great nation. Give us wise, conserva
tive and honest rulers. Give to all il
authority Thy wisdom, that they ma!
legislate wisely and execute fearlessly
fearing God. Preserve us from compli
cations and internal strife, and from
war. Give to the American Republi
continued peace and prosperity, ant
gres ter purity. Enlarge her infiuenc
for good among the nations of the earth
for the elevation of mankind and th
glory of Thy name.
These blessings we ask in the nam
of Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen.