The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-10
ENDLESS CHAIN Of
PRAYER A HOAX

Boston, Aug 1870 much annoyance
has been caused to Rt. Rev. William
Lawrence. Episcopal bishop OF Massachu-
setts. by the flood OF letters which has
been pouring In for several months re-
gardlng the so-called endless chain Of
prayer" which was alleged TO have been
started by him. that the bishop has found
II necessary 10 issue the following denial
that he is connected with the matter.
THE endless chain OF prayer said 10
have been written by Bishop Lawrence,
is a hoax. Bishop Lawrence OF Massa-
chusetts never wrote II and knows nothing
about IT, IL Is the work of some dement,
ed or mschievous person"
The endless chain movement evident
ly was started last May, when several
persons In different parts OF the country
received the following communications:
Endless prayer chain--'O Lord Jesus
Christ we implore Thee. O Eternal God,
TO have mercy on all mankind. Keep us
from all sin by Thy precious blood and
take us to be with Thee eternally. Amen
This prayer was sent by Bishop Law
renee recommending II to be sent TO nine
persons. He who will not send II will
be afflicted with some misfortune. one
person who paid no attention met with a
dreadful accident. lie who will write
II TO nine other persons. commencing on
the day II Is received and sending only
one a day, will on or after the ninth day.
experience great joy. At Jerusalem, dur
ing the holy fast, II was then said: He
who will rewrite this prayer Will be delv-
cred from every calamity Please do not
break the chain. l send you the endless
prayer chain as II came to me-"
IL Is evident that the chain was not
.f laff Itt.sft,
the past three months have been received
in every state In the Unioi, In Canada and
abroad. Inquiries concerning the endless
chain and comments on IL which have
been received by Bishop Lawrence. and
by church and secular papers indicate
that the fears OF many ignorant and SUI
perstitous persons have been so worked
upon by the mention OF dreadful acci-
dent as the penalty for falling TO COM
ply with the conditions OF the scheme
that they have not only aided I'm the
spread OF the prayer, but have felt great
terror lest they might meet with mis-
fortune. one of the most striking letters
regarding the matter was received by the
editor OF "A Montreal paper from corre-
spoudent In faraway British Columbia.
This correspondent wrote as follows
II enclose you a copy OF a letter (the
crdless chain letter. with which the
United States and Canadian mails are
flooded. | received the seventh today
from Canada, and have resolved to give
the matter publicity. one OF my lady
correspondents writes me that she Is
sick with fear for her husband would
not let her follow the directions I'm the
letter she received OF the kind. and she
was so afraid that some calamity would
bcfall herself or her family that she has
disoheycd him and written secretly nine
letters and sent them off TO as many
different parties myself being one OF the
victims. thus placing nine others under
the ban OF the curse az she calls H.
II they do not do likewise
Having become quite exasperated over
the matter | am sending a copy OF the
letter that Is causing 50 much discussion
10 several OF the leading newspapers I'm
Canada and the United states and hone
the matter viii be so widely discussed
that u VII put n stop TO such n sacrilege.
which makes fools OF superstltious people
and Is a mockery 60 all true religion"
The matter early came 20 the attention
OF Episcopal church officials and a denial
that such a scheme had been started by
any church Official or dgnitary was prom.
incntly published In all the Episcopal