The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-01


for them. What do we mean By prayer? Do
we by prayer simple. hopeless T.
breathing. dying away In false and feeble resig-
nation? The author Of the Eptste the He
brews took no such view of prayer. Perhaps
his the most subtle and beautiful mind
among all the inspired writer's of the New Tes-
lament. He unauestionaeiy regarded prayer
a. power II beseech you the rather to do
this that MAY be restored to you the sooner"
Our soldiers and sailors, In their long days and
/ nights GO cheerily with their work. but who
among them does not long to he back, crowned
with victory, and In the arms OF his OWN Pray
for that Pray as those vhe believe that your
prayer may make difference. There Is such a
thing as the suppliant almightIness OF prayer
God does not mean prayers to be mere
signs of acquieacence He leves to be entreated,
pleaded with, wrestled with. He does not wish
to break Wills. but to make them. We are
To put will into our prayers. Ask and we shaal
receive, seek and We shall And. knock and 1t
shall be opened unto you" What mean lie That
should pray wth.all our might for a speedy
victory is there one OF US who, does not long
/ for it? Is 1t conceivable there should he a
single human being in this city or in this land
Who would. II he could, prolons this war by
single day? I cannot believe it. Well. then II
we desire this we must pray for 1t. II
not ready TO pray for It have right to
desire it. But desire It and we pray for IT,
and pray those who believe that It Is not
the same thing to God and man whether we
pray or no.
That ! may he restored TO YOU the sooner
The day OF the return Of victorious fighters
! oh, what a day that day will be- never
ionged so much to live for anything as to live to
that day. oh, the rapture and the rest and the
thankflness and the gladneas that VIII MI
every heart when again there is peace on earth
"a righteous peace. They will not all come
bcak and many Of US Will have to go through
our Gethsemane--a fierce conflict, submission
a strengthening angel. But sttll they will re-
turn, the vast majority Of them crowned. as
we believe, with glory
Well then let us pray for 1t with the whole
Intensity OF hearts. Oh II we only believed
that our prayers would bring them back sooner
If London believed it, If the Churches believed
it---instead Of having hundreds present this day
we should have had thousands and no place In
London would be able to contain the pleaders.
kut there many Of us who do really believe
il. let us go with praying. and make
II, n more earnest every day. Inere
is prayer all over the world. There is prayer
on sea and land Every soldier in the trenches
puts up his prayer at night A recent visitor TO
Russia wrote home: IL have come here to see a
nation it's knees" Our country Is not yet on
it's knees When II Is shall see the light
break
/ An American writer has said that what we
want to most Of all is good prayers. I.
seems II there not many left to
Perhaps the throng and fever of modern
days incapactates men and women for that
continual siege of heaven which is involved In
/ true prayer. II is nara TO concentrate one y
energy on prayer and TO obey the command
ment, pray without ceasing." But it is not
impossible IL pray for soldiers and
sailors the last thing each night, If we do so as
soon waken If from time to time during
the day lift up our hearts in Christs name,
! then perhaps by-and-hy. even az the days are
saturated with thought about the war; they will
be saturated with prayer about the war. When
we have prayed enough the war will end, But
let us who believe In prayer TO 1t that ii IL
not prolonged by our neglect
And ! give you again the message from
those who are fghting for us land and sea
Pray for us; for trust we have good con-
science in all things willing to live honestly.
jsut beseech YOU the rather 10 do this that
may be restored to you the sooner