Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-12
THE BAPT|5TS' NEW
YEAR PRAYER

Q Thou Creator Of all crcation
Maker OF all mankind. Ruler in
righteousness. AS We attempt with
becoming reverence ana godly Near to
approach thy gracious. throne. turn
us not away; for thou art ali of our
trust. Wo rHalzc that "mrn ought TO
always pray and not TO faint" We
thank tho" FOR allowing us 10 out live
another year which now lies dead in
the cemetery Of ages and for bring
ing us ilffo a New Year with It's bios
sings, privileges aid opportunities
And may We rs race ana dcnomi.
nation strive IN improve under these
divine advantages.
Lord teach us Low to pray "Fath.
or, We fear that many Of our troubles
trials and n"rS"cutinns arc duo to neg
lcct in prayer.
Lord. bless our friends and foes.
everywhere. We pray for our country
with its President. his cabinet and
all tho civil and political leaders Of
our government. BLESS our soldiers
in the camps and on tho fields Thou
Mighty Warrior. hc thou the General
In this wordcrful war and give vic
tory in defense Of TRUTH Justice. right
eousncss, universal democracy. Oh!
wrench from the greedy Jaws OF this
awful conflict glory 10 Col ana good
to men. Oh hasten the day when jus
ticc. equity and far-rlay will ho the
fortune OF all mankind. rc"ardlcss of
race, coior or condition. Then. Lord,
thy word will Ne accepted as the uni
vcrsal standard hy which all human
conduct. crceds and opinions will be
tried.
Holy Father, bless the twelve mil
mssi""" -"ho are refused. denied and sore
~ dcsniscn by many OF their fellow
Rcountrymen.
Now Lord. do thou havo mercy ND
on tho color"d Raptist denomination.
This denomination that would be.
licvo the whole Bible but fats to prac
tiCc some OF it
Lord, our ranks are being invader by
the common enemies. envy. pride. jcal
ousy and hatred and tho spirit OF hos
sisnl. Oh Lord drive these foes from
our territory and help Us As n race
and rs n DENOMINATION to honor. re-
Sncrt and love one au0ihcr, rvnn
though we may not SEQ tAinTS lust
alike. Help ua To do NOR" coustruc-
tive and less destructive work. this
year than in some wears Of the past.
Lord bless tho colorcA news papers
or our country and cnahlc their cdi.
tors to realize that Stup"1dous pow.
crS they ar" for "oCd or bad. in pro
portion 10 the way they arc manned
Lord, bless all Of or leaders and
help them to know that If they all
surcocd in killing each other the poo
pc will I've left as sheep without shcp
hords. For alas all the leaders Will be
dead. DO Lord, call halt.
DO Lord remember tn" Virginia
Baptist State Convention. Thou hast
given this body a splendid history,
for which W. thank thee, from the
DEPTHS OF our hearts. Dlrss the Off
cial staff OF this body. May they he
mon OF strength courage ana cOnvic.
tions. Anf NAV they live. move ana
act upon '.rSc convictions tnd leave
the results With thee. We pray for
a great meeting IN Zion Baptist
church, Newport News. Va. May s.
-. 1918. May tie Bate cry s. 900
90 seven thousand he realized and
even exceeded. And VIC pray that the
spirit OF peace. unity. feeling and
affection may pcrvadc every heart
and be manifest on every tongue. as
in the years Of the golden past. Lord
bless oar fathers in the goSrcl, help
them to lead i'm that way that the
sons may never need feel ashamed of
them.
And finally when lifc'a story in
told ana her song sung. take all OF
thy children unto thyScli. o whom
be &lory. for ever ana ever. Amen.
to,orcd 'autists OF the United
States OF America
n. Il. It is hopcl that all baptist
pastors will lead this prayer in their
pulpit@. nt one service and have their
congregation rcncat the same.
& II Of fhn -