The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-10
Endless Chain of Prayer Con-
tinues to Grow.
Bishop Lawrence Denies All
Responsibility for 1t.
7LOOD OF LETTERS
COmpeIs Him to Publish a Card
About 1t.
Says 1t Was Started by His
chieYous or Demented Person.

Boston Aug. 1870 much annoy
ance has been caused to the Right Rev.
William Lawrence, Episcopal bishop OF
Massachusetts. by the flood of letters
which has been pouring in for several
months regarding the so-called endless
chain of prayer" alleged to have been
started by him, that the bishop has
found it necessary to issue the following
denial that he is connected with the
matter:
The endless chain of prayer, said to
have been written by Bishop Lawrence.
is a hoax Bishop Lawrence of Massa-
chusetts never wrote it and knows
nothing about it. 1t is the work of
some demented or mischlevous person. "
A denial that such a scheme had
been started by any church official or
dignitary was prominently published in
all the Episcopal church papers as we'll
as in the local secular papers, in many
cities. The church officials also sent to
Episcopal elergymen throughout the
country a letter describing the hoax.
Despite this, however. there is scarcely
a day when Bishop Lawrence does not
receive letters containing inquiries con-
corning it. Such queries have come re-
Gently from Florida. Texas, northern
and western states and points in Can
ada while only this week a query re-
garding it was received by Bishop Law
renee from Paris, France.
The prayer begins with an invoca ton
for divine mercy on all mankind and
says it was sent by Bishop Lawrence.
who recommended it to be sent to nine
persons Misfortune was threatened to
whomsoever failed to send it. On the
other hand it promises that He who
he
from every calamity.
The inquiries concerning the endless
chain and comments on it which have
been received by Bishop Lawrence and
by church and secular papers indicate
that the fears of many persons have
been so worked upon by the mention OF
dreadful accident as the penalty fol-
failing to comply with the conditions Of
the scheme that they have not only
aided in the spread Of the prayer, but
have felt great terror lest they might
meet with misfortune. One of the most
striking letters regarding the matter
was received by the editor of a Mon
treal paper from a correspondent in
British Columbia This correspondent
wrote as follows:
Il enclose you a copy Of letter. the
endless chain letter. with which the
United States and Canadian mails are
flooded. I 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 in the
letter she received of the kind and She
was so afraid that some calamity would
befall herself or family that she has
disobeyed 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 as she
calls it, if they do not do likewise.
am sending a copy of the letter that /:
causing so much discussion to severa
of the leading newspapers in Canada
and the United States and hope tn.
matter win be so widely discussed tina
! il viii nut q stop to such sacrilege.,,