The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-01
AN ELOQUENT PRAYER.

Bishop John P. Newman of the NJ Z.
of General Grant, delivered the following
impressive prayer at the memorial services at
Riverside Park on Tuesday; Father AL
mighty, maker of heaven and earth. Savior
of all men, God over all and blessed for ever
more, hear us while we pray. Around this
new tomb we gather to perform the last fun
eral rites for one we love. whom a nation
honors and Il world reveres. We pray not
for him, for he is forever free from the re-
pressive burdens. the grave responsibilities
the stern conflicts of this, cur incOnstant
life. He shall die no more; he lives with
Thee, in the certanties and realities of the
better life, sometimes thinking of US and the
country he loved so well.
"Forevcr with the Lord, he needs not our
prayers to cheer his soul nor our monuments
of stone to perpetuate his memory among tho
sons Of men. He ordained his place III
human history for all time, by the larseness
OF his soul, the greatness of his mind, the
uprightness of his character, 10y his love
of truth, his devotion to our nations welfare,
ny inc SWEET influence ne sui EXERCISES 1Or
peace, justice and liberty, and here to-day we
pour forth our libations of gratitude to Thee,
o Thou God of our fathers, that in our coun-
try's danger, when authority was challenged
and judgement imperiled and freedom threat
ened, in the supreme hour of doubt and fear
Thou didst give us this man to defend our
rights, to lead our armies to victory and to
administer our government in righteousness
and honor. Around his sacred dust we give
Thee thanks that peace prevails, that those
once divided on the field of battle are here
united in prayer and praise, under common
flag, the symbol of universal liberty, and
here we linger to pray for those he loved
for the precious woman, the wife OF his youth.
| the companion Of his manhood, the sharer Of
his joys and sorrows, that her last days may
be full OF heavenly rest. that in them Thy
word may be fulfilled. Who were lovely and
pleasant in their lives, and in their death
they shall not be divided.
MAY their children and their childrcn's
children live in all virtue, happiness and
honor, under Thy fatherly care.
May the mantle of our departed chiefan
and statesman rest upon him who is today
the chief magistrate of our favored Republic,
that under his wise administration our land
may be the home of peace and plenty; may the
poor never cry for bread, nor the honest
toiler languish in want. nor the virtuous
citizen suffer from injustice; may the rich
care for the poor, and the poor respect the
rich, for Thou art the maker of all.
ave supplicate Thee. Thou Supreme Ruler
of the Universe, for the welfare of our COM
mon country that our legislators may dis
Germ their times, and our judges be worthy
the smile Of the Infinite Judge; may our army
be a terror to evildoers, and our navy be the
bearer of a message of good will to all
nations, may the Governor of this imperial
State and the Mayor OF this great city be
under Thy divine guidance to give US Il wise
and stable administrations and may our
nation lead the advance of all peoples in
all that is benelcent in science, useful in
art, noble in charity, generous in devotion;
may prosperity return to our people in the
abundance Of our fields, the richness of our
industries and the wealth Of our commerce.
And here on some sacramentn altar we
renew our allegiance to Thee, Thou God Of
our fathers and on this memorable day. by
this flowing river, in the presence of this
noble monument, expressive Of II nations
love and admiration, we pledge ourselves to
be true TO the cause for which the departed
fought to the union he preserved, to the
institutions he cherished to love what
Thou lowest and to hate what Thou
hatest, until our nation shall be the light or
the world until knowledge and virtue and
truth. and sobrety and plenty, and Christ
ianity shall fill our earth with Gladncss,
through Him who taught us to pray:
"Our Father. who art in Heaven, hallowed
by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will
be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give
US this day our daily bread and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive them that tres
pass against us; and lead us not into tempta-
ton but deliver us from evil. for Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and tho glory. for
ever. Amen"