Return this book on or betoe the University of Illinois Library PRAYERS DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEMBERS' OF THE FORTY-THIRD ASSEMBLY OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE wmmr of Q ^ 9 * v 1 Y Ji V |w BY REV. ROBERT L. McARTHUR, S.T.B Pastor First Methodist Episcopal Church Woodland, California % Printed at the request of the Assemblymen California State Printing Office yv* 264 ;/ ' ✓Vl / / p To the members and attaches of the forty-third Assembly of the California Legislature, who have always been kind and courteous to me and whose companionship I have greatly enjoyed, I dedicate this little book. Robert l. McArthur, Chaplain. LsJ DC EB CD CONTENTS. PRAYERS Page Opening Prayer 5 Sorrow 5 Thanksgiving 6 Forgiveness 7 Blessings 8 Guidance 9 Eight on Social Problems 1 0 A Sense of God’s Presence 11 Gratitude for Friendship 12 God’s Right of Way 13 Consolation 14 For Help 15 Home 15 Easting Peace 17 Before Recess 18 Blessings By the Way 19 In Touch With the Infinite 20 Worth While 21 Acquaintance 21 Industrial Peace 22 A Christian Heritage 23 Going With God 24 Birthday 25 God Calling 27 Community of Interests 28 Our Week-Day Congregation 29 The Manly Thing 30 Christian Privileges 31 God’s Nearness 32 Worship 33 God’s Holiday 33 Page Eeaning God’s Way 34 Sympathy With the Unfortunate 35 Aspirations 36 Waiting on God 37 Eord’s Prayer 37 The Needy Ones’ Friend 38 Communion 39 God Calling 40 Right Thoughts About God 40 Joy of Out of Doors- 41 Prayer by — Dr. Franklin D. Mather 43 Human Need 43 A Wireless Message 44 The Joy of Helping 45 Christian Ideals 46 Eife’s Stress 47 Keeping Right 48 Our Goal 49 Our Mishap 50 Death 51 Motherhood 52 Right Words and Thoughts 53 Joint Responsibility 54 Patriotism 55 Rest and Peace 56 Joy — Rove — Unity 57 Calvary 58 The Shadows 59 Easter Joy 60 Closing Prayer 62 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE FORTY-THIRD SESSION PRAYERS OPENING PRAYER (January Sixth) O H God — God of our fathers, we are glad that Thou hast never betrayed our sacred trust in Thee, and so with con- fidence we come, asking Thy blessing upon us. We pray for our nation. Grant all those in authority wisdom and help in their daily work. May they be true to their trust and sensitive to the best interest of all con- cerned. May Thy guiding hand direct the destinies of the nations of the world so that Thy kingdom may come, bringing peace on earth and good will among men ; and to Thee we will ascribe all the glory forever. Amen. * * * SORROW (January Seventh) O UR Heavenly Father, while we forget not Thy holiness and wisdom and power, we are drawn to Thee this morning because of Thy heart of love and sympathy. 5 There are so many lonely hearts today. Our nation is sad. The whole world weeps. If it has not been the cruel hand of war, it is the pestilence that walketh at noonday. All the way, from those great in national affairs to the humblest cottager, there are heartaches. Teach us the meaning of it all so we may say, gladly, Thy will be done. Graciously send the promised Comforter and help us to bear each other’s burdens, so that no one may weep alone. In the name of Him who suffered for us all we present our petition. Amen. * * * THANKSGIVING (January Eighth) F ATHER — Our prayer this morning is a song of thanksgiving. We thank Thee for the morning light — emblem of eternal light and life. We thank Thee for the dawning of a new era of world-wide brotherhood. We thank Thee for our nation, and the principles for which our people stand. We thank Thee for our own beloved California, with its sun-kissed valleys, its snow-capped mountains, its beauty every- where that reveals the handiwork of a Master Workman. 6 We thank Thee for great hearts who are willing to “live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.” We thank Thee for homes, where children laugh and play, and wife and mother greet us with a smile at the end of the day. We thank Thee for every institution that puts hope and cheer and right aspirations into men’s lives. We thank Thee for the example we have in Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * FORGIVENESS (January Ninth) O UR Heavenly Father, Thou hast said in Thy word, “If we confess our sins Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” If we have ever transgressed Thy com- mandments ; If we have ever brought discredit upon the great family of God ; If we have ever made hearts ache; If we have ever caused our brother to lose faith in men ; If we have ever turned any from paths of virtue or integrity ; If we have in any way cast a shadow over the pathway of our fellow men ; 7 If we have ever turned aside from the highest Good; forgive as we forgive each other. Amen. * * * BLESSINGS (January Tenth) O UR Father, we come this morning! with outstretched hands and upturned hearts, seeking material blessings and spiritual gifts. Bless the rivers and the valleys, the forests and the mountains, so that they may yield abundantly the things that are essential to our material well-being. Graciously enrich our lives with noble ambitions, pure motives, and abounding joy. Give us a faith in God, our fellow man and ourselves, that saves ; a hope that sings in the shadows ; a love that suffereth long and is kind. Give us a heart that sympathizes with everybody; a mind that runs parallel with Thine own; a soul that claims kinship with Thyself. Give us a courage that laughs at difficul- ties and a vision that sees the highest good, so that we may measure up to the perfect stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Amen. 8 GUIDANCE (January Thirteenth) O UR Father, as we begin the duties of another week, we look to Thee for guidance. We desire not to live unto ourselves alone, but unto Thee. Thou hast promised to lead and guide Thy children into all truth. Gladly we would follow Thee, believing Thy way is best. Guide us in our relations with others so we may not thoughtlessly or needlessly bring sorrow or disappointment to anyone; but may we help Thee heal the hurt of the world. Guide us in the tumult and struggle and noise of our daily life so we may not go astray. Guide us to that place where the sunshine of Thy smile is ever seen and the warmth of Thy love is ever felt. Show us Thy face. Help us to behold Thy beauty and glory here and finally bring us to Thy everlasting kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen. 2—45658 9 LIGHT ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS (January Fourteenth) F ATHER, often we have prayed “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” — Heaven is the place where there are no tears — no sorrow — no heartaches — no sickness — no hunger — no failures. What have we done to have our prayer answered ? What have we done to dry the tears that continually blind the eyes of so many? What have we done to turn the sorrows of others into joy? What have we done to remove the things that make men’s hearts bleed? What have we done to make it harder for disease and sickness to fasten itself upon us? Have we shared our plenty with those less fortunate, so that none cry for bread ? Have we stayed by the fellow who has failed and failed again in the struggle for manhood, for character, for self-respect ; have we stood by not only with our good wishes but with all we possess, ready and anxious to help? Father, show us the path wherein duty lies in all our social and economic life, and help us to answer the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. Amen. 10 A SENSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE. (January Fifteenth) O UR Heavenly Father, we would like to feel that Thou art near. We would like to know that Thou art interested in us individually as well as collectively. Touch our lives some way so we may feel and know that Thou art God. In the morning may we see Thy smiling face ; at the noon- day may we be refreshed by Thy bounty; at the evening time may we receive Thy bene- diction, and while we rest at night may we feel that we are in the care and keeping of Him who never slumbers nor sleeps. Oh Thou who can heal all our diseases ; who can comfort every broken heart ; who can give strength for every burden ; Thou who can help us overcome temptation ; may we feel that Thou art so near that when we call upon Thee Thou wilt answer us right early. If we should grow weary in well-doing lure us to the hill country of Christian holi- ness, where the dew of heaven freshens the morning hour, where the sun of righteous- ness brightens the noon-day of life, and where the quiet stillness of the twilight hour makes Thy presence felt, while through it all comes the vigor of eternal life. li When our labors are all ended may we fall asleep in Thy keeping and not be afraid. Amen. * * * GRATITUDE FOR FRIENDSHIP. (January Sixteenth) F ATHER, we thank Thee for the friend- ships of life, friendships that link us up with yesterday, today and tomorrow. We thank Thee for the friendships of youth ; for the boys and girls who stood by us in our work and in our play, when we were good and when we were bad, with a devotion akin to His who said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Forgive us, our Father, if sometimes we get a bit homesick for the old home and the friends of yesterday. We thank Thee for the friendships of today ; for friends who will share with us everything they have ; for great hearts who would sooner suffer themselves than see others suffer; for friends who rejoice with us when we rejoice and weep with us when we weep ; for friends who correct us with a tenderness and love akin to mother’s ; for friends whose great personality calls forth the best in us. We thank Thee for the friendships that link us up with the eternities. Some of us 12 have more friends yonder than here. We are glad that neither time nor space can obliterate or even dim the friendships we have one with another and with Thee, our Father, and with Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. * * * GOD’S RIGHT OF WAY (January Seventeenth) F ATHER, we would let Thee have the right of way in our lives today and every day. We believe we get the most out of life when we do what Thou wouldst have us do and be what Thou wouldst have us be. We would walk in Thy ways, believing that “Thy ways are ways of pleasantness and all Thy paths are peace.” Yea, we would run in the ways of Thy commandments, anxious to gain, here and now, the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus and anxious to gain, bye and bye, the crown of life that fadeth not away. May our citizenship not only be in heaven, but may we have such a vision of the mean- ing and worth and glory of Thy kingdom that we will exclaim, with the psalmist, “I delight to do Thy will, oh my God !” Incline not only us but all mankind to walk in Thy ways through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 13 CONSOLATION (January Twentieth) O UR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the sunshine and the rain, the light and the shadows. We are so glad that Thou art mindful of all our needs. Thou art not only present in our joys, but the dark clouds can not hide Thy blessed face. Help us all to feel and know that God does care for His own. We remember those of our number who are sick. May they feel that we are interested in them, and that they are in Thy care and keeping. Bless the means used to restore them to their wonted health and strength. Guide the hands that minister. Comfort the hearts that are anxious and inspire all with abounding hope and joy. Stay very near to those who are lonely and sad because those near to them have said a last good-bye on earth. Buoy us all up with the eternal hope that in Thy brighter and better kingdom we may be unbroken families — and meet again those whom we have loved long since, yet lost awhile. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. 14 FOR HELP (January Twenty-first) O UR Father, come near to us this morn- ing and bless us so we may be better fitted for the duties of today. Teach us Thy way; help us to walk in Thy truth. Incline our hearths to fear Thee and our lips to praise Thee. Give us a love that would befriend everybody. May we be a friend to those who, through ignorance or temptation, have wandered into sin. Guide our footsteps in the shadows, so that we stumble not. Help us to live day by day, so that this old world will be better because of our presence here, and others, seeing our good works, will be inclined to serve Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * HOME (January Twenty-second) F ATHER, we pray today for our homes. May Thy benediction be upon the homes of our land and every land. Grant, our Father, that the motive that makes men and women plight their lives each to the other may be, not so much a desire for 15 material gain or selfish pleasure, as a faith that worketh by love. God save us from a confidence and hope misplaced. May every member of the family have such an interest in the integrity and purity and happiness of the home that temptations to betray or (be untrue will lose their power. May our domestic burdens be lightened by every member bearing his share of the load. May our homes foster every good motive, holy purpose and high ideal. Bless the babies. How their smile drives away dull care ! Bless our youth. Shield them from things that harm. May they experience the holiest joys of life, and have a vision of the highest good. Bless the wives and mothers. May their kindly ministrations be rewarded by the love and devotion of every member of the household. Bless us who are fathers. May we set a good example, and may our shoulders be made strong to carry our burdens. Comfort the aged and infirm. Keep us from things that harm in any way, and may we honor Thee and love one another as Thou hast loved us. Amen. 16 LASTING PEACE (January Twenty-third) F ATHER, we pray for the time when righteousness and peace shall cover the old earth "as the waters cover the face of the mighty deep.” So much material wealth has been de- stroyed ; so many hearts have been broken ; so many hopes crushed; so many children made to suffer; so many homes left deso- late ; so many of our noblest have been slain; so many are sad and will not be comforted; surely the world has paid the price of an enduring peace. May the world not only be free from the cruel ravages of war, but may it be free from the unrest of industrial strife. To this end guide those woh sit around the tables of the "Peace Conference” of nations. May the nations of the earth learn to "do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God,” so that, being properly related to Thee they may have a right attitude toward each other. And “While for all mankind we pray — For every clime and coast — Oh, hear us for our native land, The land we love the most.” And in our individual life may the peace 17 3—45658 of God which passeth knowledge remain and abide with us ever more. Amen. * * * BEFORE RECESS (January Twenty-fourth) O UR Father, before we separate for a little while, we would publicly express our appreciation of Thy tender care and good will. Thou hast shared our joys and helped us bear our burdens. Thy chidings have been tempered with love. Thy magna- nimity has called forth our admiration and lured us to noble deeds. In sickness or in health, in joy or in sorrow, we have not been afraid, believing we were in Thy care and keeping. Grant to every member and attache of this Assembly a happy home coming. May all our homes be places where laughter is heard ; where health and strength abound ; where plenty smiles ; where hope inspires ; where God is honored and prayer is made. If there are any who have no family rela- tion, may they at least be privileged to live in the atmosphere of an ideal home. Bring us all back again with renewed energies, eager and willing to serve our constituents, our country and our God. Amen. 18 BLESSINGS BY THE WAY (February Twenty-fourth) F ATHER, we do not come to renew our acquaintance with Thee, but to bless Thee. Whilst we have been separated from each other we have always known that Thou wert near by. Thy power hast kept us. Thy smile hath cheered us. Thy hand hath led us. Thy wisdom hath inspired us. Thy love hast won us. Thy glory hast encircled us ; and so with united breath we would exclaim “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.” The privilege of gathering around our own fireside has made life sweeter. The hearty welcome and handshake of those who know us best strengthened our faith in human brotherhood. Help us gladly and with courage to meet our new duties and opportunities to serve. Bless our President ; guide aright the afifairs of our nation. Bless our Governor; may citizens of this state have a foretaste of heavenly citizen- ship. Bless every member and attache of this Assembly, and may all feel the sacredness of the trust committed to them ; and when 19 this session is ended may we all hear Thee say, “Well done, good and faithful servant/’ Amen. * * * IN TOUCH WITH THE INFINITE (February Twenty-fifth) O H God, we thank Thee that around and about us continually are Thine ever- lasting arms. During our unconscious slumber Thy guardian angel broods over us. During our play the laughter of heaven cheers us on. During our work we are assured that Thy grace is sufficient for us. Thou canst heal all our diseases, and help carry our burdens. Thou canst dry our tears and scatter our gloom. Thou canst enlarge our hearts and increase our joys. Thou canst enrich our minds and enhance the meaning of life. Thou canst thrill our bodies with the exhilaration of eternal youth. Thou canst waft our souls into the very presence of things eternal and holy. Gladly we would put our hand in Thine and say, “Lead Thou me on,” until we come into the Christ likeness. Amen. 20 WORTH WHILE (February Twenty-sixth) O H God, help us all to put forth every effort to “make our calling and elec- tion sure.” Thou hast called us to be noble and good and worth while. We would like Thee, oh Christ, to be a partner with us in the great business of life. At the close of each day we would like to have a balance on the side of righteousness. May we be interested enough in honor and virtue and brotherliness to invest some- thing in these staple articles. Help us all to live so our neighbors will like us. Help us to be as kind to others as Thou art to us. Make our lives so wholesome and sunny and real that we will always help and not hinder. Take away from us that contagious thing which when other people get they have heartaches, for Christ’s sake. Amen. * * * ACQUAINTANCE (February Twenty-seventh) W E thank Thee, oh God, that Thy mercies are new every morning ; and Thou art mindful of all our needs. Thou art generous and kind and helpful always. 21 We would like to get better acquainted with Thee, so that we might never feel etnbarassed in Thy presence. We would like to feel that Thou hast taken us into Thy confidence and art willing to reveal to us the things of God. Thy treasure houses of knowledge, of love, of power, are so great we revel in the thought, and yet we read in Thy word that all things are ours and no good thing wilt Thou withhold from those who walk up- rightly. Truly ours is a goodly heritage. Grant us an attitude of mind and heart capable of appreciating the best things of earth and heaven, — and Thy name shall have all the praise. Amen. * * * INDUSTRIAL PEACE (February Twenty-eighth) F ATHER, we pray for a contented work-a-day world. Instead of the rough note of discord in the industrial world, may we hear the music that comes from the harmony of voices tuned by God himself. We long for the day when women’s work shall be a joy, and men shall sing and whistle as, in office or shop or field, they do with their might what their hands find to do. Hasten the time when everybody shall feel that right prevails. May the work that has to be done for the welfare and happiness of us all be so divided that no one's lot will be so hard as to make him bitter or despondent. May the dark and stormy night of discon- tent and selfishness among rich and poor, high and low, soon end, and may the dawn of a new day have written on the horizon : The peace of God ; the righteousness of heaven ; the brotherhood of man, has come ! To this end we hope and pray, in Christ's name. Amen. * * * THE CHRISTIAN HERITAGE (March Third) F ATHER, we thank Thee for the heritage of a Christian faith. A faith that makes us children of God himself ; A faith that makes us heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ to the best that heaven and earth afford ; A faith that removes mountains, changes the course of rivers, shapes the destinies of nations ; A faith that turns men's hearts after God ; A faith that leads our thoughts out into the workshop of the Almighty ; A faith that brings our souls into fellow- ship with eternal verities ; A faith that takes God by the hand and walks with Him out into the fields of science, across the brook into the power house of the ages, over the meadow land into the garden of eternal beauty, beyond the river of life to God’s joyland, the glories of which “Mind can not conceive nor tongue express, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things God hath laid up in store for those who love Him”; while God in us whispers all things are ours. For this faith we bless Thee now and always. Amen. * * * GOING WITH GOD (March Fourth) O H God, we would begin the day with Thee. Thy morning smile is worth while. It makes the springtime and sum- mer and autumn and winter of life all alike bright and beautiful. We would like to go with Thee all the day, and behold Thy ministrations; learn Thy wisdom; enjoy Thy companionship; feel the impulse of Thy great personality ; see things from Thy standpoint and learn their relative value. 24 We would like to be with Thee alone on the mount where the wild flower and the tall pines whisper Thy praise. We would like to be with Thee in the busy marts of life and behold the greatness of Thy soul, as none is turned away who look to Thee for help. We would like to be with Thee where men pray and see the love light in Thy eye, the eagerness of Thy sympathy, the swiftness of Thy strong right arm. Oh Father, we would like to begin and continue and end the day with Thee until we know Thee perfectly, through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * BIRTHDAYS (March Fifth) O H God, we thank Thee for man’s noble parentage. “In the beginning God created man in his own image.” May none of us forget our family relation so far as to bring discredit upon the household of God. May the passing years not dim our vision of the eternal worth of right living. May none of us sell our birthright for a mess of pottage. We thank Thee for everything that helps to keep us true to our high calling. For 4 — 45658 25 everything that makes us’ ask ourselves: Are we busy with the things we ought to be busy with? Are we keeping away from the things we ought to keep away from? We thank Thee for that something that makes us sensitive to evil so that we may shun it; and sensitive to good so that we may pursue it. We thank Thee for birthdays that make us feel we are a little nearer the end of the journey and a little nearer giving an account of our stewardship. Bless the speaker of this Assembly. Touch his life this year and every year as the spring sunshine and showers touch the ripening grain in the field and the rosebush in the garden. Bless the mothers, who press to their loving hearts babies whose first birthday fills their soul with joy unspeakable. And as these babies grow to manhood and womanhood may each succeeding birthday bring a holier joy to the mother's heart. Bless the fathers, whose hopes run high as they see their boys and girls grow up with clean hands and pure hearts, enriching the world by their noble deeds and conquer- ing spirits. 26 Bless us all. Give us many birthdays, and grant that we may all be born anew in Thy kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * GOD CALLING (March Sixth) O UR Heavenly Father, we bless Thee for our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are continually calling to Thee. We have so many wants. We need Thy help so much, that is why we continually call to Thee ; but Thou art calling to us. Thou art calling to us to go Thy way. May we know Thy call. May we heed Thy call. In the din and noise of life may we not mistake Thy voice. The poet says “it’s like music that charms our fears and bids our sorrows cease/’ Thou art continually calling us to some- thing better. Ever and anon from some vantage ground we hear Thee say : "Come on / 5 “Jesus calls us o’er the tumult Of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, ‘Christian, follow me.’ “In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease — Still he calls, in cares and sorrows, ‘Christian, love me more than these.’ ” 27 a Gladly we would follow Thee. Help us “to run, and not grow weary ; to walk, and not grow faint” ; until we reach Thy goal. Amen. * * * COMMUNITY OF INTERESTS (March Seventh) O UR Heavenly Father, we pray for a community of interests in our physical and moral make-up. If we have discord in our own life we will be apt to have discord in all our earthly relationships. Forbid that we should get so busy think- ing about laws and things that pertain to our material life that we will beggar our souls and leave them hungry and naked, to our shame and sorrow, when God calls us to give an account of the spiritual life He lias intrusted to us. Help us to remember that the observance of God’s laws is more important than the observance of any man may make that are out of harmony with God’s programs. As lawmakers making laws to govern man’s well-being, we might do well to get in touch with Him who made us ; and that wisdom that knows man’s purpose and des- tiny ; and that love that is neither selfish nor partisan; and with that justice that is 28 always kind ; and that mercy that is from eve r lasting to everlasting. May we be willing to learn of Him Who knows the law that puts the rosy cheek on the apple and the fragrance in the flower to the music of the songbird, Who makes planets intermingle with planets to the music of the stars. Thou Who knowest the eternal fitness of things and the way of harmony and pro- gress, reveal Thyself to us, we humbly pray. Amen. * * * OUR WEEK-DAY CONGREGATION (March Tenth) F ATHER, we thank Thee for this our week-day congregation. They are just about as human as our Sunday congrega- tions. They are just as dear to our hearts as anybody, and they are just as dear to Thy heart as anybody. We pray that Thou wilt bless them all. Forgive their sins, strengthen their good desires and holy ambitions. Implant hope in their hearts if they get discouraged. If their burdens are heavy give them a lift. May there be a gleam of sunshine in their souls every day. 29 May the smile of heaven kiss every loved - one in all our homes today. May we all come to know Thee whom to know aright is life eternal. Amen. * * * THE MANLY THING (March Eleventh) F ATHER, we know as well as Thou dost that we are not as perfect as we might, be. Our education has not always been such as to give us the right perspective of life. Sometimes the goal set before us was belittling to children of the Great King and beggared our souls. Sometimes it was wealth ; sometimes it was power ; sometimes it was pleasure ; and we must win the goal if we would succeed. The game has been played with lessening enthusiasm, and the goal has been a bit disappointing. We have been misled and have lost the way of life sometimes, and yet our faces are turned toward the east. Our true selves call for Christian democracy, world brother- hood, the kingdom of God on earth. We know there are a lot of things that ought to be done, and unless we do them this old world will be a wreck upon the shores of time. 30 Oh Thou divine Christ, show us the way out ; show us the manly, womanly, brotherly, righteous thing to do, and we will give Thee our hand and pledge Thee our faith until Thy kingdom shall come, and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. * * * CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES (March Twelfth) O H God, we thank Thee that Thine ear is open to our prayers ; Thy heart is responsive to our love ; Thine arms are outstretched to receive us. Sometimes we forget our privileges and wander away from our Father's home. We get into the far country and the night of sin o'ertakes us, and then our hearts cry out for the good things of our heavenly Father. Oh God, we want to be obedient children of thine. We want a place at Thy table. We want to be on good terms with all our brothers and sisters. Forgive us if we have made Thee anxious for our well-being. Forgive us if we have not appreciated Thy fatherly goodness. Forgive us if we have not listened to Thee. Make us hungry for the bread of life. Make us thirsty for the water of life. Make us lonesome for our Father's home. Make us homesick for heaven. For Thy name's sake. Amen. * * * GOD’S NEARNESS (March Thirteenth) E thank Thee, oh God, that Thou V V art not an absentee God or a far away God, but one who is near by. We see Thy providence in the growing grain and the budding trees. We see Thy beauty in flower and shrub, in mountain and valley. We hear Thy voice in the roaring torrent, the rippling brook, the sighing wind. We see Thy power in the mountain pine, the rainbow, the dewdrop. We see Thy love in the gift of Thine only Son. We see Thy footprints in the busy marts of life ; on the lonely mountain trail ; in the valley where the shadows lengthen ; yea, every place where men need help. We see Thyself in men giving themselves for others in deeds of love and mercy. May a sense of Thy nearness help us to keep Thee in our thoughts more; for our good and Christ's glory. Amen. 32 WORSHIP (March Fourteenth) O UR Heavenly Father, we pause just a moment to worship Thee. May Thy glory overshadow us. May the mantle of Thy love fall upon us. Give us the true spirit of communion. We bow our heads and hearts in humble adoration, for Thou art holy. May we have Thy blessings. May we hear Thy voice. May we see Thy face. May we feel Thy presence. We seek the help that comes from being linked up with the Almighty. May our morning sacrifice be acceptable to Thee. Journey with us today. At evening time grant us Thy peace, through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * GOD’S HOLIDAY (March Fifteenth) O UR Heavenly Father, Thou hast said in Thy word that Thy ways are ways of pleasantness and all Thy paths are peace. May Thy ways be our ways. May Thy paths be our paths. May our experience be such as will enable us to say, “I delight to do Thy will, oh my God.” 33 We thank Thee that the Lord of all the earth hath declared holiday one day in seven, and has invited us all to be His guests. He hath prepared a feast of good things, and says, “Come, for all things are now ready.” May the day of rest be helpful. May Thy sanctuary be attractive. May the fellowship of saints be ennobling. May our hearts and minds and souls be so strengthened by the day of rest that we will be better fitted to serve Thee and one another — for Christ’s sake. Amen. MM* LEANING GOD’S WAY (March Seventeenth) W E thank Thee, oh God, for this company of men and women whose faces are turned toward the light ; men and women who are willing to pause a moment in the busy treadmill of life to acknowledge Thy sovereignty, to seek Thy blessing, to a^sk Thy guidance. Anticipate their heart longings after Thee by the kindest providence ; heart longings that some, as yet, have not expressed in words. 34 May they all feel that all their interests are dear to the heart of Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps. Talk to them when they are lonely; Chide them when they are wayward ; Gird them when they are storm-tossed, and finally bring us all to the desired haven, through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * SYMPATHY WITH THE UNFORTUNATE (March Eighteenth) F ATHER, we pray this morning for those who are not as well situated as we are. We would not be selfish. Show us our proper attitude toward — Those who are hungry for bread ; Those who are hungry for sympathy ; Those who are hungry for fellowship ; Those whose courage almost fails them because they have no work to do ; and those whose strength almost fails because their work is so exacting. Give us sympathy for those who, because of sin, have been robbed of their birthright ; those whose minds are feeble; those whose wills are weak ; those in whose hearts noble purposes have died. 35 Forbid that any of us should wreck our own souls by trying to make profit out of those less fortunate than we are. Give us all the spirit of Him who said “Bear ye one another's burdens." In His name we pray. Amen. * * * ASPIRATIONS (March Nineteenth) O H God, stay near us today and every day, and may we all be conscious of Thy nearness. Our thoughts, our words, our deeds, are influenced by those who are near us and see us and understand us. May our long acquaintance with Thee not make us careless or indifferent, as it sometimes does with earthly friends. Guard our thoughts so that passion or envy or untruth may not rob us of a happy disposition. Guard our words so that there may be no misunderstanding or needless heartaches. Guard our actions so that none may be led astray or have his ideals lowered. Help us, oh Thou Divine Christ, in this our struggle after right living. Amen. 36 WAITING ON GOD (March Twentieth) O UR Heavenly Father, we read in Thy Word “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run and not be weary ; they shall walk and not faint.” We want our strength renewed; strength of body, strength of mind, strength of soul. We want strength to rise above trifles, above difficulties, above clouds. We want strength to run in the way of Thy commandments and not weary in well- doing. We want strength to walk even down through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. Oh my soul, wait thou upon the Lord, for He hath said none that wait upon Him shall be ashamed. Amen. * * * LORD’S PRAYER (March Twenty-first) O UR Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and for- give us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 37 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and .the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. * * * THE NEEDY ONES^ FRIEND (March Twenty-second) O H God, a ray of light divine shines into our souls when we read in Thy Word ; if we call upon Thee, Thou wilt answer us. And we do not even have to express our desires in so many words to get Thy ear, or Thy sympathy, or Thy help. We bless Thee for this fact. No tears fall, no hearts throb with anguish, no noble struggles go on in men’s souls but God hears and answers right away. No mother sings a song of hope, as she rocks the cradle, that God does not hear. No father’s heart heaves a sigh for his wayward child, that God does not answer. No lonely heart sighs for helpful com- radeship, that the Son of Man does not draw near. No sinner feels his need of a Saviour, that the great High Priest does not minister to him. 38 No heart sighs for relief from life's heavy burdens, but God says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We thank Thee for an answer to our prayer, uttered or unexpressed. Accept our thanks, in Christ's name. Amen. * * * COMMUNION (March Twenty-fourth) O H God, our Heavenly Father, ere we begin the duties of another week, we would pause a moment to commune with Thee. Give us the wings of the morning that we may rise, above the noise of the city, above the clamor of men's voices, above the morning's fog into Thy eternal sunlight, and there stand alone with Thee, just for a moment, with all the world shut out. If we can but see Thy face and hear Thy voice, and behold Thy beauty, and feel the presence of Thy great personality just for a moment, life will mean more to us than ever before, and our work will seem worth while. Gladly we stop long enough to recognize and greet Thee, and hear Thee say good morning. We wait Thy blessing in the Redeemer's name. Amen. 39 GOD CALLING (March Twenty-fifth) O UR Heavenly Father, while we con- tinually call upon Thee, expecting an answer, we remember that Thou art calling to us. As individuals Thou dost call us to repentance, to faith, to forgiveness, to holy ideals, to hold council with Thyself, to sing with the angels, to suffer with men. Thou art calling nations to recognize Thy leadership, to obey Thy laws, to love Thy ways, to pay their vows. Thou hast called the world to do Thee homage, to acknoweldge Thy sovereignty, to exalt Thy throne, to bow at Thy foot- stool, to seek to establish Thy kingdom of brotherly love, righteousness and peace. We would heed Thy call. We would measure up to Thy expectations. To this end help us, we pray, in Christ’s name. Amen. * * * RIGHT THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD (March Twenty-Sixth) O UR Heavenly Father, help us to have right thoughts about Thee. Forgive us if our finite minds have little thoughts or wrong thoughts about infinite justice and love. As we come before Thee we lift our 40 voices and cry “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"; so purify our hearts and enlighten our minds that we may feel the significance of our words. May we walk with Thee, and talk with Thee, and journey with Thee, yea, even toil and suffer with Thee, until we come to know Thee aright, whom to know aright is life eternal. May our thought life here be such that we will always feel at home in Thy pres- ence, and when this mortal shall have put on immortality, and our souls wing their way across the fields of endless day, may we know even as we are known, and to Thee we will give the glory forever. Amen. * * * PRAYER (March Twenty-seventh) By Rev. S. Fraser Langeord, D.D., Chaplain of the Senate. * * * JOY OUT OF DOORS (March Twenty-eighth) O H God, Thou art good. All Thy creations are good. The world of nature bid us such a happy good-morning ' 41 it (seems as though we could gladly bear any burden our daily round of duty might present. The splendor of the morning sun chased away all the darkness. May we open the windows of our souls so the Light of the World can shine in. The tiny flower and budding tree by the way smiled to us a happy good-morning. The sweetness that fills the air, the diamond dewdrop as it sparkles on flower and shrub and meadow-land, tells us the great High Priest has sprinkled His incense everywhere. The meadow lark sang and then soared, and then sang again so sweetly it seemed as though all heaven would stop and listen. “We thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast made The earth so bright; So full of splendor and of joy, Beauty and light. w So many glorious things are here, Noble and right.” Accept our thanks for the inspiration of it all. Amen. 42 PRAYER By Franklin D. Mather, Member from the Sixty-seventh Assembly District. (March Twenty-ninth) O UR Father who art in heaven; at the beginning of the work of the day we would pause a moment for communion with Thee. We would lift up our eyes to Thee, whence cometh our help. Because Thy loving' kindness is better than life our lips shall praise Thee. Because Thou hast been our help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will we rejoice. We read in Thy Word that it is better to trust in Thee than to put our confidence in men. We believe it, for Thou art all-powerful, and with Thee there is no variableness nor shadow of turn- ing, and Thou art more interested in us than it is possible for us to be interested in one another. Wilt Thou this day preserve us in integrity and uprightness and lead us in the way of truth and righteousness, for Thy name’s sake. Amen. -K * * HUMAN NEED (March Thirty-first) F ATHER, we look to Thee this morning for help and courage and light. We are encouraged to do this because we believe Thy Word, which says : “My grace 43 is sufficient for you.” We are encouraged to look to Thee because Thou hast heard and answered our prayers in the past. We want to be helped out of our littleness and selfishness toward the Christ likeness. We want a courage that will go through Gethsemane and climb Calvary. We want a light that will reveal to us the rocks upon which character is wrecked, and the slough of despond in which souls lose hope. We want Thee to reveal to us the glory of the soul that climbs toward God. And as we look to Thee may we see Thee coming toward us. Amen. * * -k A WIRELESS MESSAGE (April First) O UR Heavenly Father, we want to send a wireless message to Thee this morn- ing, and some of us are not real sure that our hearts are in tune with Thy heart, and after our cry goes out we wonder if God hears. We know that Thou are holy and just and full of mercy and truth and love, and unless our lives are sensitive to and in harmony with these things our messages will not 44 come nigh Thee, and the needed help will not come. Oh Thou Divine Christ, send a message to every heart this morning so we may know we are in touch with Thee, and know that all heaven stands ready to assist us. Sometimes we are storm-tossed and need Thee right away. Sometimes our burdens press us sore. Sometimes we just want to tell Thee that we love Thee. But day or night, on land or sea, we want to know that we are in touch with Thee. This gives us a power and confidence and peace that we can get nowhere else. We bless Thee for the privilege we have through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * THE JOY OF HELPING (April Second) W E thank Thee, our Heavenly Father, for the joy of doing something for others. Our best days are the days we have helped someone by our words of cheer, our sympathetic smile, and our kindly deeds ; the days we encourage someone who is about ready to give up ; the days we give others laughter ; the days we share the best we have with others ; the days we play the 45 part of the Good Samaritan; the clays we win someone to his better self. These are the gala days in our memory now. They will be our hearts' stay when our hand leans upon the staff. They will be our crown of glory when the judge of all the earth shall say “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethern, ye have done it unto Me." May we not miss the joy of laboring with Thee to heal the world's hurt. Amen. * * * CHRISTIAN IDEALS (April Third) O H God, Thou who art holy, just and good ; teach us Thy way. Help us to properly relate today to tomorrow. Show us the relation of morality to world con- quest, to community betterment, and to soul development. Help us to shun the lusts of the flesh that drag us lower than the beasts of the field. Give us hearts in every thought renewed. Give us lips that refrain from uttering unclean things. Give us minds that run parallel with Thine own. Give us souls that climb Godward. 46 Give us a zeal for everything* that makes homes happier, gives children a better birth- right, makes the Bible Thy Book, puts Thy laws in men’s minds and writes them in their hearts. Give us as our goal the kingdom of God on earth, where purity and truth and peace flow like a river. These things we pray for, in Christ’s name. Amen. * * * LIFE’S STRESS (April Fourth) O UR Father, feeling the responsibility that rests upon us, and knowing our weakness, and how impatient we become, and how we must rely upon someone for support and aid and sympathy, we come to Thee, and in the language of the poet exclaim : “Oh Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; Teach me thy secret — help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care.” Thou hast the secret that supports when friends fail us, when our hearts fail us. Thou hast the secret that sustains us when temptations press us sore, when 47 enemies plot against us, when Satan laughs at us. Thou hast the secret that sustains us when the load is heavy, when the day is dark and there is no sunshine anywhere. Help us to remember that in the secret of Thy presence there is rest, sweet rest; there is peace, sweet peace. Hide us in Thy pavilion till the storm passes and the day is bright again, and our lips shall praise Thee. Amen. * * * KEEPING RIGHT (April Fifth) O H God, our Heavenly Father, we pause just a moment, to acknowledge Thy claim upon us and to seek divine aid. Forgive us if we have sinned against Thee. Forgive us if we have cast a shadow over the pathway of any of our fellowmen. Forgive us if we have sinned against our own soul’s eternal welfare, and love us freely and lead us in the way everlasting. Grant us wisdom today so the path of duty may be plain. Give us strength to abide by our convic- tions of duty and of right. May what is done here today be pleasing in Thy sight and helpful to all concerned. 48 At the end of the day may every member and attache of this Assembly have Thy smile and approval. Graciously hear and answer the prayer we make, in Christ’s name. Amen. * * * OUR GOAL (April Seventh) F ATHER, we would begin the week with Thee. We thank Thee for this new day. We thank Thee for yesterday, with its opportunity for soul culture. We thank Thee for the privileges of the sanctu- ary, the place “where heaven comes down our souls to greet, While glory crowns the mercy seat.” We thank Thee for the joy that is set before us, — the joy expressed in the words “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We bless Thee for the challenge that comes to us to be bigger than self, to be stronger than temptation, to be mightier than the forces of evil. We feel honored in being called to help shape the destinies of our nation. Keep our faces ever set toward Jerusalem. May none of us be a disappointment to Thee this week, but may tomorrow find us, 49 not only a day’s march nearer home, but a little nearer the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. To this end help us, we pray. Amen. * * * OUR MISHAP (April Eighth) O H God, some of us have not read Thy Book as we should. Some of us have not communed with Thee as we should. Some of us have not listened to Thy mes- sengers as we should. We have listened to the sirens of sin and have been lured upon the rocks and into the quicksands, and unless Thou dost help us we will make shipwreck of life. Oh God, come to us and heal our broken bodies ; come to us and teach us the way of life ; come to us and regird our souls. Come to us and pilot our frail bark toward the promised land, and ere the sun goes down in the west may we enter the desired haven. Give us all a passport to the city of the Great King, — “Where the night shall be filled with music, And the cares that infest the day, Shall fold their tents like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.” 50 Amen. DEATH (April Ninth) E thank Thee, our Father, for every V V experience that enlarges and enriches our lives : experiences that clarify our vi- sion, broaden our sympathy, and strengthen our brotherly love. The experience of our Speaker this morning makes our thoughts run on and on to that country from which no traveler returneth. We would assure him of our sympathy and love. We would mingle our tears with those whose hearts are sad. Ever and anon — “Lest we forget, Lest we forget” — we are reminded that our times are in God's hands. We sometimes imagine that our times are in our own hands. We say today, “We will go yonder and get gain or pleasure”; and tomorrow, “We will return, so we won’t say good-bye.” But some morning soon, very soon, perhaps, for some of us, God will come and say : “Get ready, for at evening time thy soul shall be required of thee.” And we will say: “Wait a little; I am not quite ready. I have so many things to do.” But the impatient charioteer will say “Come on !” and we will have to go, and looking back we will faintly say a last good-bye : “Good-bye old earth ; good-bye money ; good-bye mother ; good- 51 bye sweetheart; good-bye my darling baby boy; good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.” As we think of that land where tears never fall ; where sorrow and pain and hunger never come; where all peoples and nations and kindreds and tongues mingle together, may we have a true conception of world brotherhood, the kingdom of God on earth. Graciously send the promised Comforter to all in sorrow. Heal our broken hearts and dry our tears by the eternal hope that we shall all meet again in Thy everlasting kingdom, and know even as we are known. Amen. * * * MOTHERHOOD (April Tenth) O H God, we pray for Thy blessing upon the mothers of our nation and of the world : Mothers who loved us into being, who rocked the cradle and kissed the hurts away ; Mothers who toil until their hands ache, who sacrifice until their hearts ache, who carry heavy burdens that their boys and girls may have privileges and opportunities that will fit them for life’s service ; 52 Mothers who pray that their sons and. daughters may be pure, may be noble, may be worth while ; Mothers whose devotion to high ideals never wavers in the face of difficulties, temptations, and the indifference of others ; Mothers who have faith in their own, who hope through disappointments, who love in spite of waywardness. God bless them all. Give them the assur- ance of Thy good pleasure here and a place near Thy throne in glory. Amen. * * * RIGHT WORDS AND THOUGHTS (April Eleventh) O UR Heavenly Father, grant that this day “the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may be acceptable in Thy sight. ” Keep us from saying unkind things. Keep us from saying untrue and impure things. Keep us from saying discouraging things. But help us to say things that will encourage and ennoble, and fill our neighbor's life with sunshine and laughter. Help us to think not only of how we can be happy, but how we can make others happy. 53 May we think not only of our own success but of the success of others. May we think of others’ burdens and disappointments and difficulties as well as our own. “Cleanse the very thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy holy name, through Christ our Lord.” Amen. * * * JOINT RESPONSIBILITY (April Fourteenth) O UR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this company of men and women who have on their hearts the welfare of this commonwealth. Men and women whom the citizens of this state have honored. May they all live and act as those who must give an account to man and to God. We thank Thee that women with their keen insight, their tender sympathy and love that passeth knowledge, have found their way into our legislative halls. May the presence here and elsewhere of noble women in the body politic help to ennoble, dignify and purify it all. Keep us all steady and true during the strain of the closing days of the session. 54 Guide us by Thy counsel, and at last receive us to Thyself in glory — through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * * PATRIOTISM (April Fifteenth) O UR Heavenly Father, we would be patriotic. We would be true to God and home and native land. We thank Thee for the Christian Church and the part it has played in putting Thy laws in men’s minds and writing them in their hearts. We realize that the men who made this nation great were men who believed in God, read the Bible, and said their prayers. We thank Thee for the products of our Christian homes ; for young men who count not their own lives dear to them when their country calls them to defend its principles and institutions ; for daughters and mothers and fathers who keep the home fires burning. We thank Thee for our native land, with a government founded upon the principles of Christian liberty. We thank Thee for great leaders of the past who loved God supremely and gave unsparingly of their best for their nation’s welfare. 55 We thank Thee for our educational institutions, where all classes may mingle together in the spirit of true democracy. We thank Thee for our philanthropic institutions, where the needy and unfortu- nate are comforted. As true patriots we will be loyal to our Christian institutions. We will give our money, our prayers, our lives to preserve the eternal principles of the Stars and Stripes! To this end help us until' “Thy kingdom shall come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen. * * * REST AND PEACE (April Sixteenth) O H God, we come to Thee.weary in body and in mind. Forgive us if our devo- tions lag. We are not unmindful of all Thy tender mercies. They are new every morn- ing. Thou hast said “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Father, we come to Thee. Give us the promised rest. Touch each one of our lives so we may know that Thou art God, and that Thou art the rewarder of all those who diligently seek Thee. Father, we seek Thee. Hide not Thy presence from us. Turn again and bless us ; cause Thy face to 56 shine upon us and give us peace. Wherein we fail in asking, fail not in giving the things Thou seest we need so much ; and Thy name which is worthy shall have all the praise. Amen. * * * JOY— LOVE— UNITY (April Seventeenth) O H God, we remember this morning the words of Jesus to His disciples the day before He was crucified on Calvary. He told them how they might have abounding joy all the time; namely, by keeping God's commandments and abiding in His love. Then he commanded them to love one another, "Even as I have loved you," to the extent that they would be willing to lay down their lives for each other. Then, oh wondrous love, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and prayed that all His disciples might have eternal life, and that all who believed on the true God and on Jesus Christ through a study of the Bible might be one. We would continue this morning the prayer of our Saviour, that all Christians may be one in their fight against sin. That 57 all Christians may be one in their effort to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. We pray that the citizens of this country may be one in their love of justice, mercy and truth. Amen. * * * CALVARY (Good Friday — April Eighteenth) O H God, we bow our heads in shame when we remember man's part in the tragedy of Calvary. Men who drove Christ into dark Geth- semane, where the struggle with sin tore his heart cords from their moorings ; a hurt that nothing can heal until the strain of a lost world is lifted. Men who drove Christ to cross-crowned Calvary, where the bloodhounds of sin snarled at each other as they yelped for the blood that flowed from the pierced side ; while the rabble jeered “He saved others; Himself He can not save." But Christ did not come into this world to save Himself. He came to save others and win the world back to God. For us He went through dark Gethsemane. For us He climbed rugged Calvary bearing His cross. For us the nails pierced His hands and the sword His side. We will love Him. 58 We will honor Him. We will crown Him Lord of all. “Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all.” Good Friday is the best day this sin-sick world has ever known. It begets in every heart an eternal hope of eternal life in God’s eternal home. We bless Thee for the who-so-ever of the Gospel made possible by Calvary. It offers the world one common Mercy Seat, one common Father, ever God, one final resting place, ever heaven. Jesus speaks to us today through the cross, saying: “I gave my life for thee What hast thou given for Me?” Accept at this time our heart’s devotion. Amen. * * * THE SHADOWS (April Nineteenth) M OST gracious Heavenly Father, come near to us this morning, and gird us for the trying times of life. There are so many things in this old world that try men’s souls. So many things we depend upon fail us, we sometimes lose hope, and the 59 shadows fall across our pathway thick and fast. The pleasure and happiness we looked for with the accumulation of wealth and power have not come. Our life has been so full of toil and cares and disappointments that it seems hardly worth while. Those we loved best and depended upon most have been laid away in the silent tomb. The silver cord has been broken, and the mourners go about the streets. The dark- ness is everywhere and our hearts ache. Oh Master, we look toward the east ; send us the sunlight again and drive away the chill and dark and uncertainty of the night. Hear and answer us right early, we humbly pray. Amen. * * * EASTER JOY (April Twenty-first) O H God, we bless Thee for the joy of Easter time. So many things give us added joy at this time — the return of our soldiers who have fought in a noble cause ; the prospect of a lasting peace ; the prospect of the coming of Thy kingdom more fully in the world. We are glad Christ rose again and ever liveth. We too want to live forever. We 60 revel in the thought of wandering through eternity as long as eternity lasts. And Thou hast promised eternal life to all Thy children. We bless Thee for heaven and all its glory, and yet earth seems worth while since Christ rose again. Everything, every- body, sings for joy since death has been conquered. We bless Thee for the joy of nature. “The buds of trees peep forth and sing ‘I’m glad, I’m glad because it’s spring/ ” Nature is so happy that it lures us to the open. We love the chirp of the cricket and the croak of the frog, and the fragrance of the upturned furrow. We love the compan- ionship of all “Out-of-Doors.” “Oh blessed fellowship divine, Oh joy supremely sweet.” We bless Thee for the joy of little children. No music is so sweet on earth or in heaven as the laughter of children. We are glad Jesus took them in His arms and blessed them, and said, “Of such is the king- dom of heaven.” We all want to go where children laugh and sing and play, and sin with its sorrow comes not. We bless Thee for the joy that fills the hearts of Thy aged saints, as with hoary heads and bent forms and tired feet they 61 stand waiting, as the sun is setting, for their Father to take them back home to heaven, for their day’s work on earth is done. Give us all the purity and joy of child- hood, the hope and ambition of youth, and in old age the crown of glory. Amen. * * * CLOSING PRAYER (April Twenty-second) F ATHER, as we draw near the close of this session we ask o'urselves, “Have we been good stewards?” Forgive us if we have failed individually or collectively to measure up to Thy expectations. We thank Thee for Thy kindly provi- dences ; they have been more than we deserved. We rejoice in the good cheer and brotherly fellowship and spirit of fairness of all the members and attaches of this Assembly. We rejoice in the spirit of patriotism and the desire to promote the best interests of state and nation. We rejoice in the spirit of reverence that has marked our devotional hour. We are glad that as a nation we believe in God, and 62 believe that He hears and answers when men pray. Father, grant us our request when we pray that the influence of the quiet moments of prayer we have enjoyed together may be lasting and helpful. Grant that our experiences and associa- tions here may make us worth more to ourselves, our country, and our God. Bless our families. May our homes be our happiest and most sacred place on earth. Give to our Governor and all in authority wisdom and executive ability. When we separate we can hardly hope to all meet again here on earth, but we hope to meet and greet each other in God’s sum- mer land of song; the place where angels sing ; the place that men call heaven. Grant us our petition, we pray in Christ’s name. Amen. o 45658 5-19 175 63 A