The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-09-13
PRAYER AND EPIDEMIC.

A writer in The Lutheran Quarterly
| Elias u. Weigle, ID. D.-discusses
| the question OF the interference OF Di-
vine Providence with epidemic dis
eases. \ year or two ago in Philadel-
phia committee Of citizens, includ-
ing $ number Of clergymep, united in
sn effort 10 devise ways and means for
the prevention Of Asistic cholera.
For one thing it was suggested that
prsysr be made in the cturrheS and
BY sll Christian people that there
might be divine interposition touch
ing this threatened calamity. One OF
the elergymsn objected, on the ground
that he could not pray 10 God 10 keep
the cholers away from the city while
the people themselves failed 10 do
what they could in The way Of prevent
ing by cleansing their water supply,
snd changing the filthy condition Of
the streets. This event furnishes 5
theme 10 DR.. Elias d. Weigle for an
srtiele in The Lutheran Quarterly.
The objection advanced by Philsdel-
phis clergymen, says DR.. Weigle,
touched upon deep and unchsnging
philosophy Of prayer. He continues:
SIT is useless, aye, presumptuous, to
pray TO God TO svert thst which our
negligence and Indifference invite.
God gives US our daily bread in answer
TO prayer, but He does not place il in
our mouths. II is right 10 pray for
prosperous journey, but, 10 take il, we
must get on the train and stay on il
till we reach our destination. II We
should get in front OF one of our rapid
ly moving trains disaster would over
take Us. however earnest our prayers
fer deliversnee.n
DR.. Weigle proceeds from this TO
quote from numerous authorities TO
show how epidemic diseases originate,
how they sre propagated, snd what
means have been brought within our
reach by scientific Investigation and
sanitary science to prevent their rise
and spread. Neither on the basis of
good common sense, he argues, nor
sound religious doctrine, can il be
maintained that the Almighty will
protect Us from the ravages OF disease
unless We make all possible use of the
preventive agencies which He hiss
brought to our hands. Epidemies
can not be considered IS strictly pro-
videutisi in their operations so long
- : u Jul Wv - AC-ACN- anu A4A1A
ignorance invite them. It would be
very ungraeious, almost blasphemous,
TO lay the blame in aDy sense on
Providence for the death OF any
one who lived in such physical
conditions as TO invite the very
diseases which grow and thrive
in the midst OF filth. We are remind |
ed that in forming our conceptions of |
Gods providence we must include /
such elements IS permission, hin !
drsnee, direction snd determination"
We could not think, for example, of 4
holding God responsible for the /
suicide so common in these days in sll 1
classes of society. To do so would De \
not only repellent TO the Christian
sense OF right and justice, but would 4
border on blssphemy. Epidemics I
may be said TO be proviieutial in the
sense that God overrules them and 4
brings good out Of them.
In conclusion DR.. Weigle says:
IF We have done everything in our
power 10 prevent an epidemic, and 1t
still comes, We can then throw our
selves upon the infinite resources of q
0eueficent Providence, in the con-
:ciousness that he will suffer no real
harm TO come TO His own faithful
children. All We can reasonably eL-
1ect, when an epidemic has been self
imposed, Is Gods directive and over
-uliUg providence. But If we have
Used every possible means 70 avert
ueh 3 calamity, we can claim, accord
ng to His own promises, His sustain
ug, preserving and cooperating prov
deuce therein. Literary Digest.