The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-11-06
PRAYER IN WAR.

In compliance with a resolution of con
gress the president designated "a day of
prayer" for all the people of the nation 1t
was entirely fitting that the nation thus
should be summoned to the house of prayer
in order that it might more fully consecrate
itself to its high task" There is sense
in which prayer may be futile and useless.
and there is a sense in which it may be DO
tential. All the nations now at war have
been calling on God for his aid and his
blessing, and have been returning thanks to
him for such successes as have been vouch-
safed to them. 1t is hardly to be believed
that these petitions to the Almighty have
had any direct effect on the course of the
conflict except as they have strengthened the
courage, the resolution and the hope of the
petitioners. Few, if any, believe that
any appeals that may be addressed to the
Ruler of the Universe beseeching his direct
Intervention in the war in any nations be-
half has effected or will effect any change
in the battle lines or the ultimate outcome
of the conflict, except as they shall serve to
consecrate us to our task. providence is
always on the side of the last reserve" Ma |
pOleon is quoted as saying, and Voltaire puts
it in another way: at is said that God is al
ways on the side of the heaviest battalions."
Cromwell, whose soldiers went into battle. !
history tells us, singing hymns, adjured his
troops to put your trust in Cod my bows, /
and keep your powder dry" Thus we are
taught to have faith in God, but not to RELY
upon him for the victory, but rather upon
hat l..
strengthened and fortified not alone by our
of divine approval but confidence /
in the righteousness of our purpose.
We may well pray, then, not for victory
for our arms by the miraculous interposition
of Providence, but for righteousness, for
sincerity, for resolution, for courage, for
faith in the integrity of national purpose,
for steadfastness in the great task that is
before us
We shall have need of all these things in
abundant measure before the task shall have
been completed, and upon them and our pos
session of them depends the issue of the con-
fict. Through prayer we shall gather heart
and hope for the big job which is ours.
Through prayer we shall gather strength to
bear the burdens which will inevitably lie
heavily upon US, Through prayer we shall
gain a clearer conception of the national
deal and purpose. Through prayer we shall
become as one, united in purpose and
thought and deed Through prayer we shall
earn humiliation and submission to the will
Of God that will sustain us in the hour of
grief. Through prayer we shall approach
closer to God, strengthening the spirit to the
end that we shall be unconquerable.
"Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel
Just" We have just quarrel and, there
fore, armed with righteousness and the
sword of the spirit we can 90 forth to the
battle with assurance, confident that "the
affectual fevent prayer of righteous man
availeth much"
The real value of prayer is what it does
for us as individuals. If the crises of war
shall stimulate us to prayers more often,
wen to prayers without ceasing, the gain to
is as a nation will be great and lasting.
Therefore pray We