Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-15
DIR. RAYS PRAYER.
Petition of the Grand Chaplain of
Nirgipia.

|
| Prayer was then offered by Rev. DR..
George II. Ray, as follows:
! oh. Lord God, let Thy grace. mercy.
| and peace be upon this great assembly,
| gathered here to recall the virtues OF the
| heroic Nirginan who has slept I'm this
| grave for a century We give Thee
thanks that he was born on Virginia soil
! and through the lapse Of the cycles Of
time yet coming will be TO our boys, as
/ he has been to us. an example of mod
I esty, purity, and patriotism We thank
Thee for the influence of his illustrious
life on our people and on the strangers
who come to this land Of freedom.
We pray that Tiny blessing may rest on
the President of the United States his
Cabinet and the congressman who ga
Their with us to-day around his grave;
that the mantle of his virtues may fall
ON President and people alike. and that
those liberties and privileges purchased
for us by the blood and treasures of our
ancestors more than a hundred years ago
may not only be dear TO President and
officials but to all the people of this
broad land. We pray that constitutional
liberty. which has been ever dear 10 the
AnglO-SaxOn race. may be perpetuated
through Us TO the unborn generations.
that Thy great name may be glorihed by
us and through US IN the history ana
DESTINY of our native lana. W e. pray lDF
the continued unity Of our American peO-
pie and for the oneness of spirit of all
English-speaking nations; that these
States having been cemented by the
blood of their nOblest and bravest citi-
zens North and South may be strength
ened I'm the perpetuity Of freedom and
virtue. and that the far-on nations may
rejoice in the brightness of our nations
rising and the glory of it's coming. We
thank Thee. oh. Father. for the strong
conservatism of ancient craft Masonry,
that stands as breakwater against all
radical tendencies. and a distinguished
protection 30 both civil and religious lib
erty. We thank Thee that the great Nir-
gilman at whose grave we stand to-day
was a patron Of this ancient and venera-
BILE order. more honorable than the star
and garter.
THAT on the tessalated floor he trod
Blended his knee and placed his trust in
God.
That like a true. warm hero in his
conduct purity bore.
Always ennObling the apron that he
wore"
SO he illustrated our time-hon0red vir-
tues. temperance fOrtitude. prudence. and
Justice. and magniied the tenets Of our
profession by the practice Of brOtherly
love. relief. and truth. and so among men
and MasOns he stood. and must always
stand first among the patrons of Ma
sonic virtues in America, as he stood first
I'm the hearts Of his countrymen. May
of the various grand lodges OF the United
States Of America, who gather with US
to-day 10 do honor TO his memory on the
invitation of the Grand Lodge of Nir-
ginia May this reunion OF the grand
Jurisdictions Of the United states, Nova
scotia Canada. Belgium. and other for
elgn Powers be an inspiration TO purity
~ character and exalted brotherhood
among men. as IL is a declaration Of the
fatherhood of God and the truest and
puriest patriotism.
Here from the opening heavens to-day
LEI Thy blessing fan like this divine au-
tumn sunlight on all these men, and far
away I'm every hamlet. village. and city
~ or broad land, till every family shall
rejoice In the peace Of God.
BLESS the Fredericksburg Lodge, In
which the young Washington was ini- |
fiated passed, and raised 10 the sublime |
mysteries. and the AleX9ndria-W Washing |
ian Lodge over which ne presided IN |
mature manhood. May the members OF !
both lodges. and the Grand Lodge of Vir- |
ginia. and all Masons everywhere emu |
late his illustrious example OF consecra- |
ton 10 duty. and inherit the charm Of
his pure llfe: and in the evening OF the
world hail him again I'm the realization or
tho hep. q the resurrection.
Teach us all. on. eternal God. to-day at
CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGEJ j