The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-08-07
A Patriotic Prayer.

Alta Fourth of July celebration at
Fairyiew. Kansas, Rev. Harry Hunting
ton. pastor OF the Methodist Episcopal
church at Normal, Kansas, invoked
divine blessing upon the assembly, In the
following eloquent words:
"Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom
come. thy will be done, on earth as it is
in Heaven. We thank Thee, our Father,
that we are permitted to observe hide
pendence Day. We thank Thee for all
that day means to US. We thank Thee
for our sturdy forefathers who assem-
ble6 more than a century and quarter
ago today to declare IN the name of God
that we are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent people. And we
pray to day, in the name of Christ, that
we NAV continue TO be free and indie
pepdent people. Our Father, we believe
that righteousness exalteth nation, and
that sin is a reproach to any people;
therefore We play that as people we
may keep very close to God. We are
proud of our nation, proud of our sturdy
pioneers, proud of the men who sacritic-
ed and died upon battle fields that we
might have our country. We are proud
of our American institutions. We are
proud of our broad fields, and our hills
aid mountains But. oh, Father, in
our pride, will not Thou help US that we
may be very humble, and may not forget
that a nation cannot be maintained upon
wealth and upon power alone, but that
it must be established upon the hearts
of the people. Our Father, we know
that the lust of office some times kills,
and that the spoils of Office some times
buy men. Oh, God, give us men! Our
time demands strong minds, great
hearts, true faith and ready hands.
Men whom the lust of office cannot kill.
Men whom the spois of Office cannot
buy. Men who possess opinions and
will. Men who have honor. Men who
will 1t lie. Men who can stand before
demagogue and scoru his treacherous
batteries without winking. Tall men,
sur. crowned, who live above the fog 10
public duty and in private thinking.
Our Father, we pray Thy blessing upon
every American throughout the length
and breadth of our land. Bless our people
and let them truly be strong men and
women, and may we keep very close to
the teachings of the Man of Galilee. We
ask Thy blessing upon the president
Vi tucbc Sbib OsueNo uho uPoh O'o's
official over our land, and as officers
who have taken the oath to do
their duty in the administration
Of their office, may all our officers
seek to perform that duty rightly
and honestly in the sight of God. May
we come to the place where manhood is
above office, where manhood is first
and where we all as an American PEG
pie, seek to know and do the whole of
our duty. We pray, Heavenly Father,
that this day may not be observed in a
su perficial celebration. and that people
may meet together today to do honor to
the flag aud to the heroes of the past.
That they may meet together to observe
| and consider the great questions that
interest US as people,; that We may be
sober, hon est minded people. That we
may study the questions Of our day in
the sight of God as he would have us
study it, and that we may truly be men
and women.
"We ask Thy blessings upon US all,
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen"