Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-10
Must HIVE Prayer OF Deeds.

Must HIVE Prayer OF Deeds.
To the Prayer Editor
OF Tho Times Dispatch:
>, 1 h ,S noticed with surprise that so
becn expressions from tho cxponents
OF custom fast disappearing. For
Whether We like 1t or not. the age OF
prayer is closing forever.
In the first place. We find It difrfcult
today TO believe that the affairs of
men here upon earth are OF such SUI
pleme importance to God that He has
20 listen 10 our complaints and petit
tions. When the earth was regarded as
tne center OF the universe it was easy
souls was the central problem of cos.
mic history. but this belief cannot be
chcrished now. when the rcsear chcs OF
us the vast reaches OF the universe.
The extent OF the universe in space
and time. as discovered and explored
ny scientists, makes mans position
shrink into such insig!hcancc that il
Is difficult 10 believe that God can be
very much concerned with the pctty
desires and aspirations Of our individ-
We know. today. II we know any
thing at all. that this vast material
un verse is controlled by unchanginE
reemotest corner Of all the immeasura-
BILE infinities OF sp.cc that is not sub
!ect 70 the unvaryinG and perfect uni
formity OF law. Since these laws are
the particular way in which God acts.
TO ask Him TO reverse this method Of
action in any specific case is to ask
Him to reverse Himself and, condemn
principles OF the universaiity OF divine
law are fatal TO the old idea Of prayer.
H nhrr,o can ua,5 prayer change the atmos-
stance. into a period Of rain? Or how
can the PRAYER of a whole nation even
achieve victory upon, battle field?
On religious grounds there is scri-
Gus objection to the custom OF prayer.
FOR by beseech!ng and petitioning God
In prayer. we imply lack Of faith In
His wisdom and goodness, why should
We pray at all? Why should we ask
Him to remove from, our shoulders
impending calamity II We believe i'm
plicitly In His mercy and wisdom
Petitions that He do this or will no,
trust In Him is not as perfect as we
profess 1t to be.
Another objection to PRAYER ] have
which makes the custom appear ride
ulous and puerile. II God desired to
es. There are millions of men upon
this earth OF different races. national
tics habits; tastes. ambitions: hopes
that God may do what they desire.
The farmer wants rain for his crops
and the picnic party wants fair
weather. One warrior prays for vic:
tory for his aide his opponent, equally
n son OF God, desires it for his. The
prayers OF both cannot be answered.
There is another difficulty which has
assaped trusting minds. namely. that
IL God needs prayers why does He not
answer them more often? We hear,
every and then. of the things. which
prayer has aecomp!ished; but very
Il has. failed TO accomplish. And yet
/ venture TO assert that for every
prayer which has seemed to be an
swered there have been thousands
manifestly unanswered In spite OF
those occasional condolences and mar
veis. we all OF us know, as a plain
matter OF fact, that prayers are not
answered.
The custom Of PRAYER has as its ba-
sis the. ideas that God in relation to
the universe Is great ruler or SOW
do anything He, pleases within His
dominions-that 1t is the business OF
man when he wants anything particu-
lar to come to pass to present the mat
ter to God IN prayer and try to per-
euade Him to grant it-that prayer is