The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-16
PRES|DENT-E[ECT
 TAXES TEXT FOR
 OATH OF OFFICE
Next Executive Reiterates De- vout Belief In Prayer and Again Asserts Faith In
 Republics Patriotism
Fly ROBERT IT. SMALL

Marion. Ohio. January 15.-(Special) Senator Warren G. Harding has chosen the Biblical text upon which he will take the oath of office as Pres ident of the United States. He will ask that the same Bible which George Washington used be opened at Micah 6:S, which reads
 "He hath shown me, oh, man.
 what is good; and what doth the
 Lord require of thee, but to hO
 justly, md to love mercy. nnd to
 walk humbly with thy God.'
 Senator Harding's thoughts have been much upon the Bible of late. For the past two weeks he has been talk ing numerous degrees in Masonry First of all. he was elevated to The thirty second degree in the Scottish Rite. Then he was made Shriner More recently. and at home here in Marion, lie has been taking Royal Arch degrees. So he has been sur rounded by apparently a solemn 'e- ligious atmosphere. The President- elect commented upon this last might, and pledged his belief in the efficacy ill help him with lthe problems shat are before him in the White Hodsc.
 DEVOUT IN FAITH
 senator Harding said that the af- fairs of this nation have been adrft for long while. but he is approach ing his task with confidence and faith, He believes faithfully that Coo will make him equal to the res2onsi> bility.
 During the past 10 days he said, 'I have been taken far back into the story of tho~ creation and l have sound 1t adding to my sense of religious de- votion. Prayer grips the heart and adds to one's confidence. I believe in prayer. believe in prayer in the closet, for there one faces God alone Many times the outspoken prayer is only for peoples ears. l can under stand how those prophets of old in their anxieties. problems. perturbati ons and perplexities. found courage and strength when they gave their hearts to the great omnipotent in prayer, s How many things there are in Scripture that we in our worldliness never discover. After all, men are much alike. God made us all in the same image. and there is no differ, ence in us, except as we have jevel- oped. or when the weight of respon- slbility is shouldered upon us. Then God makes men equal to that resp ,n, siblity. It is the touch of responsible ity that makes human beings awake
 CONFERENCES END
 The government of this republic has been adrift,' Senator Ha.. ling continued, "and the inevitable result has followed. But l am not afraid for I know through courtesy. con fidence and close adherence to justice one will have at his call the grea, minds and intellects in this great re> public, and with their truth, advice and direction we cannot go wrong
 So far as Marion is concerned, the ccnfc, cree of best minds" virtually came to an end today. A few ''bes, minds are expected early next week but Senator Harding during the great CT part of the time he remains here will be settling up many of his per- sonal and business affairs. By the end of next week he should be under the sunny skies of Florida. The skies out here have been leaden for a week or more. witl snow flurries every now and then. The weather has help ed to depress the senator, and he will be glad to blow off all cares and worries for time and get the bre nth of southern pines and palms in hls lungs.
 When he leaves Marion, the sen ator does not expect to return, here except possibly on one occasion dur ing the four years he is to be in the White House. He has promised tc run back in May to attend MasoniI festival. To some of his fellow Masons of the local chapter. he said:
 ''Trust that in the four, years hat are to come I shall be worthy of. the honors conferred on mes and that will come back and look you in the face and be able to say I have kept th5 faith'"