South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-22
REAL CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
GEMS

Much wit has been expended in
criticism of the oratorical gems of
the Congressional Record. The we'll
known illusions to the troubles of
Greece and Rome, the too familiar
citations Of classical examples of un-
bending virtues, have been a source
Of never-ending JOY.
But nobody, at least as far as we
recall, has taken the trouble to point
out that the Congressional Record
contains real gems-usually two "A
day; verbal gems whose main quality
is not expansion but close compress
sion; gems that tend to put us in
touch with larger thoughts and as
pirations rather than TO titillate the
comic fancy.
We speak of the brief prayers.
chiseled and clear of phrase, large
and luminous of suggestion. seldom
containing more than a hundred
words, with which the chaplains of
the senate and house open the pro-
/ ceedings of the day.
Something of the quality of the
great written prayers of the world,
those prayers which embody in con
else form ages of human faith and
hope and fear and experience,
breath at times through these invoca-
tons. Take, for instance. this one
made on Thursday. July g. by the
Rev. Henry y. Couden in the house
of representatives:
Thy blessing, God our Father,
attend US with wisdom. power. purity,
and larger intent of purpose; that
right may prevail, wrong diminish;
that we may leave in our wake the
way a little smoother for those who
shall come after us. That brotherly
love, may have "A wider sweep, con-
tentfons cease. So may we learn the
joy of a good deed. and receive in
slant rebuke for an evil thought or
act and thus pass on our way, en-
abled, purified. wise in our genera
ton. For Thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory forever.
Amen"
How could the aspirations of all
good citizens today. the idea that is
coming TO dominate political thought
and action more and more, be ex-
pressed better or more concisely than
in those simple, pregnant words:
That we may leave In our wake the
way a little smoother for those who
\ shall come after US"
How could the goal toward which
/ humanity is ever marching. marching
| slowly but surely. the goal that is
even beyond the time when the wal
/ drums throb no longer" be better de-
/ scribed than in the pointed plea
That brotherly love may have 9
wider scope. contentious cease"
How could the purpose of the eter-
nal years if indeed as most Of u:
believe, they have purpose-hOv
could the end and aim of all human
I struggles for good against the force:
4 of evil If. indeed as most Of US be-
lieve. these struggles have an end and
six sublime words: That right may
/ prevail. wrong diminish"
Rarely has more significance beer
| compressed in 96 words than we finC
in this invocation. One need not b'
/ centration. Ii ought to find its way
in its present form, into a collection
I of written prayers. Because grea
prayer is a great treasure. the fruit o
a great inspiration, like a great poem
I or statue.
Never again say that the Congress
sional Record is wholly a wilderness
/ OF classic platitudes. an illustration
Of the horrors Of verbal expansion.
I mere congressional campaign devic'
10 tickle the ears OF the grounding
in brief. "a matter 20 be wept Will
blood and tears"
The Congressional Record is lik
nearly every other thing In this world
II has its good side If you will onl.
look for IL. We stumbled on AT leas
one OF its good sides today. And her
IL Is for anybody 10 whom things lik
almost perfect pga<srs appeal.