Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-12
THE BAPT|STS' NEW
!. YEAR PRAYER


O Thou Creator Of all creation,
Maker of all mankind, Ruler in
Righteousness. As we attempt with
becoming reverence and godly fear to
approach thy gracious, throne, turn
us not away; for thou art all Of our
trust. We realize that "men ought to
always pray and not to faint" We
thank thee for allowing us TO out live
another year which now lies dead in
tho cemetery OF ages and for bring
ing us ilfto New Year with It's bles.
sings, privileges and opportunities.
And may we as a race and denOmi-
, nation strive to improve under these
/ divine advantages.
Lord teach us low to pray. "Fath-
or, We fear that many Of our troubles
trials and prosecutions are duo to neg
lect In prayer.
Lord. bless our friends and foes,
everywhere. We pray for our country
with It's President, his cabinet and
all the civil and political leaders Of
our government. Bless our soldiers
In the camps and on the fields. Thou
Mighty Warrior. DO thou the General
In this wonderful war and give VIC
tory In defense Of truth, Justice. right
eousness, universal democracy. Oh!
Z wrench from tho greedy jaws of this
awful conflict glory to Col and good
to men. Oh hasten the day when jus
tice, equity and fair-play will be the
fortune OF all mankind, regardless of
race, color or condition. Then. Lord,
thy word will be accepted az the uni
versal standard by which all human
conduct, creeds and opinions will be
tried.
Holy Father, bless the twelve mil
~ ions Jcho are refused. denied and sore
Fy desDisedl by many OF their fellow
8oountrymen.
Now Lord. do thou have mercy I'D
on the colored Baptist denomination.
This denomination that would be-
lieve the whole Bible but fails to prac
tice some Of 1t.
Lord, our ranks are being invaded by
the common enemies, envy, pride, jeal
ousy and hatred and the spirit of hos
sism. Oh Lord drive these foes from
our territory and help us as a race
and as a denomination to honor, re-
spoct and love one another, even
though we may not SEQ things just
alike. Help us to do more construc-
1.-Two and less destructive work, this
year than In some years Of tho past.
iLoIh, biCSS tlLo COIplctt uCWS papers
OF our country and enable their edi-
tors to realize that stupendous pow
ers they are for coed or bad, In pro
portion to the way they are manned.
Lord, bless all OF or leaders and
help them to know that If they all
succeed in killing each other. the peo
ple wifi be left as sheen without shep
herds. For alas all tho leaders will be
dead no ord call halt
Do Lord, remember the Virginia
Baptist State Convention. Thou hast
given this body a splendid history,
for which we thank thee, fron, the
depths Of our hearts. Bless the off,
cial staff Of this body. May they be
mon Of strength courage and convic-
lions. And may they live. move and
act upon these convictions end leave
the results with thee. We pray for
great meeting in Zion Baptist
church, Newport News. Va, May s.
IL. 1918. May the Battle cry-$7 900
90 seven thousand be realized and
even exceeded. And we pray that the
spirit OF peace, unity, feeling and
affection may pervade every heart
and be manifest on every tongue, as
in tho years Of the golden past. Lord
bless our fathers in the gospel, help
them to lead In that way that tho
SONS may never need feel ashamed Of
them.
And finally when lifc's story in
told and her song sung, take all Of
thy children unto myself, whom
BIO glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
Co!orcd Baptists Of the United
States Of America.
N. B. 1t Is hoped that all Baptist
pastors will lead this prayer in their
pulpits. at one service and have their
congregation repeat tho same.
G. B. Of the u. S. Of A.