Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-17
PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE.
Rev. Dr.. Hill Invokss Divine Blessing
 on Convention.


 Rev. Dr. John Wesley Hill, pastor of the Metropolitan Temple, New York, offered the following prayer at the permanent organization of the Re publican national convention in Chi cago:
 0 thou that dwellest in light and unto whom all things unfold in their ripeness and beauty. thou who art the center of the widespread universe, drawing all things in ever increasing harmony to- ward myself. to thee we come. and we thank thee that upon us thy knowledge has dawned. that for us thy spirit strives, while about us are the tokens of thy love and before us are the rewards of that righteousness which exalteth men and nations. We praise thee for the blessings of this day. for the benefcence of nature, for friends and friendship, for light and liberty ard eternal life. We bless thee especially this morning for our country. for the Providence which brought 1t to light and peopled 1t with patriots. for Plymouth rock and the pilgrim fathers, for the Declaration of Independence. the "chart and compass of all human rights" and for all the want and woe and glory of those vanished years. Thou didst bring us through that midnight of despair, and in the dawn of victory thou didst give to us flag. for the meaning and history of which we praise thee-a flag which Is no holiday banner, but a solemn signal. the symbol of liberty and equality. national authority and honor. We thank thee for that flag. for its symbols and prophecy and glory.
 And now, we beseech thee. let thy bless ing rest upon this convention. Grant that its deliberations may be seasoned with wisdom. that its platform may be found- cd in justice and that its candidates may represent the highest ideals for the gov- ernment and the governed. and thus may these delegates serve their country with heart responsive to every public need. with brain clear to comprehend every in- terest and issue, with a patriotism and devotion to principle worthy of the great party of Lincoln and emancipation and with an exaltation and purity of purpose becoming the first citizenship of the world. Bless. we pray thee, our na.ion. Save 1t from vice and violence. sedition and anarchy Bless thy servant the pres ident of these United States. We thank thee for his sense of responsibility to God and country, for his championship of peace and righteousness. his intensity of conviction and inspiration of leader ship, his patriotism and diplomacy and for his statesmanship undimmed by nar- row psrtisanship. unhindered by fear and unstained by selfish ambition. Bless all judges and lawmakers and those who have the execution of the laws. Bless the governors of the several states and the mayors of all the cities. Bless the great body of citizens. May they be God fearing and law abiding May they be filled with the knowledge that shall ban ish darkness. May intelligence be we'd ded to virtue. and virtue be joined to piety. SO that men may live together in the liberty and love of the common broth erhood of man. Let it be ours to sters among the nations of the earth with sacl hrmness toward the strong and gentle ness toward the weak that all men may love liberty and behold the divine source whence our liberty comes. Command thy blessing, we pray thee. not upon our land alone. but upon all the nations of the earth. especially upon those that sit in darkness Bring upon them spring and summer. that there may be towering and fruiting Reach forth thine arm. O Cod. and hurry the centuries that have been SO slow. Bring to pass all the droans and hopes and prophecies for the futuro of mankind which are now TO di-nly saea but which are certain Of corsu-1nat.on. Send out thy light and thy truth unt'. the brightness shsn shine from e. O tea and until the prayer so often oderes with tears and g-oans. Thy klagcoz, oone." shall bs changed Into the e=ultaE. Ihout. "Ths kingdoms os this world have Jeoome the kingdoms Of our Lord and of ais Chris" AHrsn-