Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-04
IN PRAYER is THE POWER OF
MANY ARMY CORPS

eTvHE alchemists in their day were
4 martyrs to a hopeless cause. Great
men, amazed by the miracles Of chemistry
their ignorance could produce, were con-
vinced that they had but touched the
possibilities of the science and with fur'
ther knowledge could approach omnit.''
tence II they could disintegrate a given
Substance and separate 1t into its con-
stituent elements, why could they not
Also rebuild or transmute the baser metals
into pure gold? They did not know that
gold was a primary element in itself, dif-
ferent from wood or alloys that were
combinations. So their search was vain
and in time the alchemists became mere
lakers and Wallingfords, feeding on the
ignorance Of the multitude and dissent
mating falsehood. But in that long search
for the mysterious formula that would
bring untold wealth to the finder. enthu'
siasts stumbled on discoveries that were
destined to be OF more value to the world
than all the gold there is or ever will be.
Columbus searched for India and he
found America. A man combed the
seven seas for fortune and found 1t at
last beneath his Pennsylvania backyard
IN the form Of oil.
There are men who doubt the efficacy
Of prayer. Others. knowing its wonders,
doubt IL there is limit to its effects.
"But." exclaim the doubling ones. do
not our enemies also pray? Is not their
God our God. and is It not mockery
g. ,e 10 ha 4.
mighty that victory lie with them, while
other millions offer supplications for an
opposite decision? We will not pray. We
prefer to rely on heavy artillery" 1t Is
. common belief that Napoleon staked
his fortunes too, on his guns, but he did
not. The French had sought to dethrone
God during the Revolution. Napoleon
knew that without God nothing would be
possible, and he valued the moral
strength of his soldiery as three.to-one
more important than mere numbers.
To a material people. not versed in
psychic phenomena. springing from fore
bears who for generations worshiped
God but concentrated their efforts on
material advancement, 1t is not strange
that the true meaning Of prayer, as real
ized by those who walked with Christ
in Galilee. is unknown. A great nation
with its mind fixed on one object, offer.
ing its prayers for the achievement of
that object. institutes thereby force of
tremendous power. 1t is not visible. It
cannot be loaded on to ships or shot
from machine guns. but it can work
itself across oceans and trenches into the
brains and souls of other men. Mr.. WI.
son struck with the power of ten army
corps when he pointed out that the Ger.
mans themselves were the slaves of
Hohenzollernism, quite as much in need
Of deliverance as Belgians or Serbs
Thought overwhelms all physical barri.
eades. It undermines dynasties and up.
roots governments 1t energizes or de.
energizes armies, as witness the enfeeble.
ment Of the Russian forces as a result
Of the spread Of a doctrine OF pacifism
which appeared to be plausible. Prayer
Is solemn utterance of conviction. Uni.
versal prayer, the minds of millions fixed
simultaneously on a given purpose, seals
public opinion. internationalizes It, and,
we believe, universalizes It. For the faith
that has leveled mountains is the faith
that can bring victory to our arms or
peace to the world. This country has
never doubted God, for God in most ap.
parent ways has guided its destinies and
directed its progress.
We gather together in our churches
once a year to thank God for his mani
fold and many blessings. Would 1t be
lack Of reverence. to gather together on
Another day and beseech the Almighty
70 guide the current Of our thoughts and
purpose, TO direct us along the right road
~ this great crisis. to enable us to see the
proper thing to do. to bring to us vic.
tory II thereby the good of the world
Would be served? We have urged before
t11is that there should be a national, or,
better. an international day of prayer.
Nothing has come Of it 80 far. But we
repeat the suggestion, for we are conn.
Nent that we have no right to send our
young men across seas without godspeed,
1nd II does not behoove a great Christian
ontton to embark on 80 prodigious an
@nterprise without religious devotion,
'nublicly expressed by the whole people
Utom thousands Of homes prayers rise
- God each night. but may we not for
~ day mobilize the churches Of the ma.
|on and dedicate ourselves soberly and
5vofently to petition the Almighty for
y and sustenance In this hour Of trial?
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