The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-07-27
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER.

heard in heaven appears to have been
illustrated in n remarkable manner
last Monday in Missouri. In compli-
ance with the proclamation issued by
Governor Dockery, the Christian citi-
Zens of that commonwealth observed
last Sunday as Il day of fasting, and
assembled in their usual places Of wor-
ship to implore the Almighty to pour
rain on the parched earth and thus
save the crops from the blighting effect
Of the prevailing drouth. In Tues
days Pioneer Press appeared the fol.
lowing special telegram from Chicago,
dated Monday, July %:
",Today rains fell over most Of West
crn aud Northwestern Missouri. The
downpour extended as far north along
the Missouri river valley as the Iowa
line. A light rain fell in Kansas City
tonight, breaking drouth of twenty
eight days duration"
We have seen nothing further con-
corning the rain in Missouri. but as
sumo that the above dispatch stated
the truth. The proclamation for rain
in that state brings to mind the procla-
nation of Governor Pillsbury of Min
nesota in 1878 for the determination
of the grasshoppers which were de-
vouring the crops of the North Star
state. A day Of fasting and prayer
was held in Minnesota and the pestif-
erous insects disappeared from within
it's borders, to the establishment of the
skeptic and the agnostic. Referring to
Governor Dockery's proclamation the
Western Waterman, of st. Louis, says:
1t Is magnificent testimony borne
by our chief executive to the duty and
efficacy of prayer. 1t is a proclama-
ton of the goodness and omnipotence
Of God and His fatherly providence in
human affairs. Even scoffers are
dumb in face of such a situation.
The heart of the people is with God
and when they get down Oh their knees
to adore, infidelity bares Its head and
is silent.
Two classes of good Protestant peo-
gle do not believe in prayer for tenn
poral benefits. One class think that 1t
ia Il mercenary proceeding, alike on
worthy of a Christian to engage i'll and
Of Gcd TO consider. These people NOT
only believe that religion is spiritual.
Tut that II is thing Of spirituals anu
Of srirituals alone. We may pray for
mercy. or light, or grace, Or forgive
ness; but to pray for any earthly i'd
vantage would be almost blasphem-
GUS. The other class are those who
cannot reconcile with their ideas of
natural law any interposition of Heav-
ell in physical affairs. The laws of
nature in their eyes are as fixed as
the throne of the Eternal, and any
change would argue change III the I'M
mutable Godhead. They do not deny
that God is omnipotent; but only that
He can change.
Both Of these classes reclte daily
the LORDS Prayer. in which they say:
"Give us this day our daily bread"
There is no commentator on the
Scripture who doubts that this is n
prayer for temporal blessing. Our
Lord prayed over the grave of Lazarus
and asked that he should be brought
back to life. He told us to pray for
anything whatsoever. He illustrates
the action of prayer on the mind and
heart of God by the parable Of the boy
who asked his father for bread. The
prayer would not be answered by the
gift of stone or scorpion. IF then
you being of evil give gifts to those
who ask you, how will not my heaven
ly father give good things to those
who ask him?" The statement is as
general as Our Lord could make it.
"You" means all men; and "what-
ever" covers the whole range of good
things temporal and eternal.
The objection that God is immuta-
BILE and cannot alter his eternal DEGREES
is a bad conclusion drawn from a
good premise. The laws of nature