The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-31
UNIVERSAL PRAYER
lnter-Church World Movement
Sends Prayer Into Far
Places of World

Atlanta, Ca. Dec. 25.-The New
Year will be ushered in during the
closing hour Of 1919 with prayer
from millions Of hearts that Is dcs-
tined to be heard around the world.
Watch night services in practically
every nation will use this prayer, and
it Will be heard by the kneellnS Wo-
man in a New York pew. by Chlnese
converts. with bowed heads, by Hin
doc women with arms folded cross
wise on their breasts, by Pcrslans.
Japanese. Syrians, Russians, and ev-
cry nationality.
This prayer was started on its world
mission from the headquarters OF the
InterchUrch World Movement IN New
York. and has been issued To southern
churches by the southeastern division
al headquarters in Atlanta. It was
sent by telegraph to the churches OF
the American continent. and by ca
BILE to the lands beyond the sea.
It is the first, prayer to be sent
around the world, TO be. translated
into a thousand tongues and spoken
simultaneously in countless places
With one voice, though in many dia-
lects, it calls for the. elevation of
justice and Brotherhood and ap-
peals for the Fastening of that
Kingdom where justice. mercy and
love shall rule the hearts and hands
ofmen.''
To Mexico City and Montevnoso,
the prayer was cabled for South and
Central America; to Shanghai also,
and from there st was relayed to ia
pan. the Philippines, Maiaysis and
Oceania, TO Lahore, India, for dis
.tribution throughout: India and the
surrounding countries; to Recht, Per
sia;;. and to Beirut Syria for the Le-
want. To Cairo. for. the northern
stretches of - friea; TO Bolobo for the
darkest places of the Congo; to Dun
can for South Africa for the Zula and
the Boer> 20 rUppasala, Sweden, and
Zurich, Switzerland, for all the coun-
tries OF Europe. From each OF these
mission centers it was sent out to the
stations everywhere, and the mission
aries will receive it in the language
Of the people Of their districts. and N
every Protestant mission station.
great or small, it will be spoken at
special Night-Watch services on New
Years eve.
And when merrynakers are
thronging through the Boulevard .aes
Italicna, Paris, OF streaming alo,lg
the Strand. or pressing along the
lighted sidewalks OF Broadway, Or
trudging through the Bund in Shat-
gfai,. waiting for the ringing OF the
New, Year IN, churches and in chapels,
some Of them made of marble, and
some Of them made Of mud, Chris
tian people ofctne; white: race; and the
yellow race. and the black race, will
be hearing the prayer that went
around. the, world: :The, .Drayer for
guidance to replenish a devastated
earth and stay the unrest of per-
picked peoples. The prayer is as fol-
lows:
Almighty God. Father Of all man
kind, at the end of a year. in which
malice has, SO, often thwartcd love we
join the prayers Of. all Thy children
around the world for peace the. eleva-
ton Of justice and of brotherhood.
Thou Creator, possessor of eli things
who d;dst make the earth: for the
races Of man and did5t set bounds
for their habiSation. forgive Us. or:
greed as we'rcpent Of our sin. and re
81. ore, TO al! hearts the recognition
OF the trascendent right of human
life 20 live.
Open our eyes, we beseeci1 thee, to
the, dignity Of labor. the sacredness
of human service, and the privileges
Of production. that nation may join
nation and man may join man justly
in honest work to rcplenish dcyas-
tated earth.
Quicken the sympathy of our
hearts M. de dull by reports and
sights Of suffering, incomprehensiblc
and needless.
Cal! us again that. we may bow be-
fore the eternal laws OF creation. put
ting aside malice, envy, coyctc; Tess
and Brutality. TO enter into the peace
of the sons Of the Most High.
Hasten by Thy gracious providence
and by the consecrated efforts of Thy
children the coming of THY world wide
kingdom where Justice. mercy and
love shah rule the hearts and hands
Of men.
Create in rs. 6 Lord, clean hearts
and renew right spirits for the coming
Year.
This we ask in the spirit Of Jesus
Christ, ON. only Hope Aincn:.
NrADTHN maTYNyTW