The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-22
Man S Greatest
!. Help in This
! Life Is Prayer
by ELLA wnEELEn WILCOX.

= W 'iielA alO oru0ltc epcccHenOL long
ago. In which he spoke OF tho pass
ing OF old beliefs.
I, Tho Intelligent minds OF tho day,
he anid, no longer regarded tho story
OF Genesis ms a. true history OF the
! formation OF the world.
| IT is generally understood. since so
many excavations OF prehistoric cities
| have been made, that the earth is
billions of years old, and that man
has existed for cons OF time-tmc SO
| far distant that, in comparson, Adam
would be considered more babe.
/ 1t Is no longer believed by think
| ing people that this earth Is the one
solicitous thought OF the Creator; the
only plnnct on which life exists.
! We arc one of n vast system of
| worlds. and we have no reason to sup.
pose that we rank higher in the
! scheme of creation than other worlds.
| Such knowledge as astronomers and
| eXcavators have forced the reasoning
minds OF the day to accept must
| naturally change the tenor OF old re-
| lIsous thought
! But 1t should not. and will moi.
change faith into doubt, or belief into
atheism.
Man an Expression of the Power.
| The brilliant man seemed to think
that prayer was no longer possible for
| the mind which accepted the larger
facts of the Universe.
! He seemed to think that the man
! who knew lie was living on small
| planet. surrounded by millions Of otlier
| larger planets. would not expect to
| receive an answer TO his personal plea
from the Creator OF this great Uni
verse. But brilliant and erudite as
the man was. he failed to grasp some
of the finer and subtler truths of life.
| In his realization OF the vastness OF
| the Creative Power he did not stop
to think that man himself Is an ex-
preston of that Power--the highest
expression of which VIC know.
| lie is.s In truth, "One with It."
| Every human mind is at the same
time Divine Mind and 1t has I'M
limited possibilities and powers.
Intense and persistent longinss. in
tense and persistent thoughts produce
effects.
Not only is the very central
! power house" OF all thought reached
by prayer. but like a telegraph mes
sage which goes to a certain station.
/ 1t is heard by all intervening stations.
Between man and the Power we call
God. lie many planes of existence.
many substances and many disem-
bodied or different bodied) intelli-
gences. Some of these have lived upon
the earth before us: some have yet
to come: some have dwelt upon other
planets, and arc yet familiar with our
own. And man. of these are com
missioned officers" of prayer. They
hear and respond to the earnest and
intent prayer OF mortals.
Always Helped by Prayer.
4 Sometimes they respond by showing
us why they have not granted our
; \ MIR
we pray for only to prove to us that
we did not need II.
IL all depends upon our power of
concentration and persistence and our
state OF development gained here and
in former incarnations. But always
, are we helped and strengthened and
i bettered by prayer.
This life. without prayer. would be
. like home where there is no con-
versation.
1t would be inexpressibly lonely and
, sad
But prayer should not lead to
spiritual sloth
1t should not be used in place OF
personal effort and action
II should only supplement these
things.
Lean on myself until thy strength
is tried;
Then ask Gods help; it VIII not be
denied.
! Use thine own sight to see the way
to go:
When darkness falls ask God the
path to show.
Think for myself and reason out thy
plan;
God has His work. and thou hast
thine, o man.
Exert thy will and use 1T for con-
control;
God gave thee jurisdiction of thy
soul.
All thine immortal powers bring
into play;
Think act. strive. reason, then looR
up and pray
No matter what old traditions. II
the way of creeds. pass; no matter
what new discoveries are made. prov
ing the immensely of the universe ant
antiquity of man: no matter how thu
J. old idea OF God, the Man. resolves 1t
self into God, the Force; pray on
. pray on.
! In Touch With the Divine.
!. Prayer will put YOU in touch will
n your own Divine Kin; it will enlarg'
! your hope. increase your faith. an
strengthen your courage.
1t will brink you more than that TO
( which you ask. even If it does no
e bring you that for which you ask,
Pray on!
Copyright, 1910. by the New Yorl
!, evening Journal Publishing Company,
g. ----------------s--------------
C0opcr-I.iSht.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.]
Winchester. Va, February o1.-Ma
lrion Cooper, Frederick county far
g lmer, and Mrs. May Light, daughter o
u the late William Orndorff, were mar
g ried here TODAY by Rev. N. It. "A. Cupr
of the United Brethren Church.
n BrookS-Childs.
" Especial to Tho Times-Dispntch.l
o Fredericksburg. Va, February 21.-
j. II. Brooks and Miss Lillian Childs
both of Richmond county. We're mar
n ried Thursday at the home Of TIL
r. brides mother Mrs. Estelle Jett, Rev
d G. M. Connellee officiating.
Robbed of Horse and Buggy.
=, While he was In the Richmond Hotel La