The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-12-23
A THANKSGIVING PRAYER.

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER.
We make some extracts from an
original and curious Thanksgiving
Sermon or Prayer. written by G.
Grosvenor Dave, and printed in the
Delawarean Of Dover, Del.
Oh, great Architect of the infinite,
to whom thousand years are as q
day, we ephemeral,v vanishing creatures
bow before Thee in quiet, humble
thanks.
For immeasureabIe space, so extern
sive that the most cunning devices OF
attempts to set its bounds; for the
weight of our world and of all the
other wOndrous, unsupported, circling
bodies, so ponderous that the human
mind reels in computation, we thank
Thee, Thou who art power.
For the accurate movement of each
star, revolving In its orbit with pre-
cision indescribable; for the visible
voice of the heavens, our perennial
time-piece; for the inclination Of the
axis of our world, so cunningly devised
to give com fort and advantage in the
changing seasons and the broadened
area of habitation, we thank Thee,
Thou who art order.
Oh, Mechanic off, the infinitesimal,
we who are not the least of all Thy
creatures, enter Thy presence with
praise.
For the perfect detail in the short
lived gnat, dancing in the light of
the dying day; for the structural adap-
tation of those creatures that escape
our vision save as the eyes are aided
by the microscope; for the pervasive-
ness Of life, things even that die be-
ing the sustainers Of things that live:
for the evasiveness of life, so that
after all research we give up foiled In
every attempt to fnd a natural origin
for life in the tiniest atom; for all
these things we. shank Thee, Thou
who art life. +
For our own bodies, sacred because
they are Thy handiwork, so brief in
their endurance and yet so pOten tial
because of the blessing or sorrow we
pass to those who come after US; for
our brains and their power to set us
on the apex of all living things; for
thought and its products in solid form
that are seen in every directions; for
the challenge to effort that comes
from the elusive secrets of nature; for
the power to conquer and transform
this inert world beneath our feet, we
thank Thee, Thon who art supreme
intelligence.
Oh, thou Mindof the universe, we
who detect in ourselves free will and
and an individual consciousness that
separates us from the beasts and
gives US sense OF kinship with Thee,
approach Thee with assurance.
For the protest OF the human mind
against the claim of any human
knowledge to be final and complete;
for all honest doubt that drives us
steadily forward to clearer compre-
hension; for the great scientists who
have helped to shake the dead husks
from creeds and opened their makers
and preachers to fuller religion,
wherein the unity and completeness
of Thy plan for onward movement,
both in nature and in relation, are
more fully recognized, we thank Thee,
Thou who art not far from any one
of US.
For all passing away of forms and
ceremonies; for the universal eXecra-
tion of hollow Pharisaism, for the grow
ing understanding that sanctity is
never more to be measured by mere
attendance or worship; for the spirit
ual and material progress of our race;
for Thy stately steppings in human
history, making life seem no longer a
thing of chance but the possible OPEN
ing notes Of an eternal symphony. We
thank thee.
For all maiden women who with
hearts of flesh sanctifled to humanity
seek a wider family than home can
give, and go forth to cherish the sick,
the bereft, the orphan; for all the
helpful ministrations of those full Of
Divine self-denial, who bury their sor-
row to turn a sunshine face to the
world, we thank Thee, Thou salts fer
of hearts that yearn to be filed.
For the great Teacher, the Emanci-
pator of mind, the Founder, the Cen
ter, the Secret of all that is lovely and
of good report inl our civilization; for
the Moral Monarch, the Prince Of
Peace, before whose mild might the
paganfsm of Rome and of Greece
shivered into fragraments; for Him
whose power is not shortened to tame
the heart of fire. till the lion within
us lieth down with the Lamb, we
thank Thee, who art incomprehensible
to US except in human form.
We bow. in wondering awe before
Thee, apparent iny these Thy works,
both great and small, save to the fool,
blinded, deaf, and anresponsive. Thou
spiritual embodiment of power, order,
life, intelligence, love, hear the
breathings Of OUR hearts as we sink
into silence before Thee. Our voices
die within us. Sustain us till we step
upward from this dim, mysterious So
journing place into Light.
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