The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-02
AN ELOQUENT PRAYER.

Rev. Joseph Newton OF the People
church in Cedar Rapids delivered tn
opening prayer at the Republican stat
convention there last week. 1t wal
highly praised by the delegates pres
ent and perusal of it shows it to bt
entirely worthy their good words. L
was reverent in tone, loyal in senu
ment, classic in character and fitting
in every respect. Our space canno'
be better employed than by its repro
duction, as follows:
Almighty God, Father of men and
nations, who in former times didst
/ lead our fathers forth into a goodiy
land, and didst set their feet in a
large place, give Thy grace, We be-
seech Thee, to their children, that
we may approve ourselves a people
Thy will. Grant that we may not only
keep the inheritance of truth and
honor won by the past holy unto
Thee. but that it may grow and be
glorified in our hands. In time of our
prosperity. temper our gladness with
gratitude, and in the day of our trou-
Bile, suffer not our faith in the God OF
our father to fail.
I'VE remember before Thee the
times past and gone and acknowledge
Thy divine guidance in the history of
this republic. We bless Thee for the
great and good men whom Thou didst
raise up in other days to tell truth to
men and lead them in Thy ways
flowers of humanity, whose seeds have
been scattered broadcast along the
world making the solitary place to
bloom as a rose. Thine they were,
and Thou gavest them to Thy people
men and true, seers of Wis
ers of winged truths, who endured
hardships, vanquished evil, toiled
and passed through sorrow
for the right.
Grant unto us, their sons, who live
in new and changed times. a like
noble and pure manhood, loyalty to
the right; patience, wisdom, and
courage: that our labors may be an
influence making for justice and mer-
cy among men. vouchsafe to us wise
and understanding hearts, responsive
to Thy will. that all we may do and de-
wise here assembled may be in behalf
OF social beauty, national honor. and
human welfare. Endue us afresh, O
Lord, with a sense of the sanctity of
the state and its service to the ideal
interests of humanity
BLESS our native land with honor
able industry, sound morals, and pure
deals. Defend our liberties; preserve
our unity; prosper our advance. O
Thou who didst give, to Greece a harp
of song, to Judea an altar of faith, and
to Rome a sword of power, and didst
cast them off when they fell into evil
lusts. keep our republic true to Thy
holy law of nations. Save us from vio-
lence, discord, and confusion, from
pride and arrogance, and from every
evil way Fashion into one noble
and happy people the multitudes
brought to our shores out of many kin
bred and tongues. that they may dwell
together in freedom, fraternity and
good will. working out Thy eternal
purpose.
Make all who speak and act for this
nation organs of Thy truth, that
through their wisdom and justice Thou
mayest be our Iawgiver and our
Judge. Let it be that, as with people
SO with leaders, all may know Thee,
that purity and equity may be our sta
bility, and righteousness our high tow
er. And to the God of our fathers,
Lord of history and Ruler of peoples,
be praise forever Amen