The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-10-09

the Disciples but its spirit had been
born out of the experience of Jesus
in relating Himself to God and to
man.
There must be no selfishness in its
phrasing. To pray for ones self
only is to become selfish, so all the
pronouns are plural. 1t is our, we
and US, and the man who really prays
it must be willing that every other
have as much as he himself receives;
not only willing, but eager that it
shall be so. His relationship comes
next, and that is expressed in Father;
he is a child and God is related to
him in most vital and loving fashion
so that he may speak confidently and
trustfully. And other children of
that Father make up a great world
family so that new spirit enters all
the earth, for brotherhood is born
only of Fatherhood. His first concern
is for the affairs of his Father, for
they are far more important than
those of any one child. First things
were always first in the thinking of
Jesus and the spirit of democracy
was in all His expressions. The
rights of the many whose interests
were the Fathers were larger al
ways than those of the one. That
His name, His kingdom, His will be-
come the expression of earth life as it
is of Heavens is far more full of
meaning than that l should have my
breakfast in the morning. Don't
think the State will tip up if you hap
pen to go to the other end of it," was
the word of Lyman Beecher to some
graduates, and Jesus was phrasing
the same though in other fashion.
But Father is as interestedin me as
in any other, so l may ask for bread
for breakfast sure that it is worth
His attention, and my debts and my
temptations are His concern and l
may ask with full certainty that
things that are vital to me alone are
as much within His care as those
that are vital to other children. And
to travel over such road is to find
joy in the journey.
KILL-JOYS
One is cross-eyed-ness "Why don't
you look where you're going?" one
victim of a collision demanded of an
other. "Why don't you go where
you're looking?" was the reply as
the other glanced at the squirting op-
tics. This is the difficulty Jesus was
inveighing against. To all appear
ances one is devoutly praying, but al
the time the eyes are seeing man.
ward instead. what will they think
of me-" is the controlling idea what
ever words or attitudes may be used.
There is never a jos load. Another
thing is confusion. Seek a quiet place
even if it is closet in the heart of
the house and hold tina. place for the
time when prayer shall we'll up like
a spring of water in the soul No
Interruptions are to be considered in
such an interview, nor must the door
be open for business or pleasure, or
next weeks planning to walk in and
take possession of the time that be-
longs to our Father. Some pray lon
ger than others. 81 can do big things
with my Heavenly Father in two min
utes" expressed a fact in the life of
an earnest Christian, but time enough
must be allowed to get one in tune
with the throbbing notes of infinite
melodies. Your need and His are the
ones to be reckened with and an I'M
hurried bit of time is the require
ment for bringing JOY into the prayer
road. Nor is it in the mere wordiness
of it. If that were true the man who
puts written prayer in a little wheel
and sets it going and gains merit the
| longer it runs is wiser far than the
Christian. A monograph would be
as satisfactory. Or parrot. The last
is the unforgiving spirit that asks
something for self that one will not
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