A Prayer for All Sorts and Conditions of Men

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy Church Universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and may hold the truth in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.1

A Prayer for the President and Civil Authorities

O LORD, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; most heartily we beseech thee with thy favor to behold and bless thy servant, the President of these United States, and all who make or execute our laws; and so replenish them with the graces of thy Holy Spirit that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endow them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.1

A Prayer for Our Country

O God, who art the hope of all the ends of the earth; remember the whole creation, pity our race, and save the world from sin. Protect our land from whatever threatens her welfare, so that religion and virtue may flourish more and more. Give the spirit of wisdom and godly fear to thy servant the President of the United States, and all who are in authority over us. Give humility to the rich, and grace to use their riches to thy glory: bless the people in their callings and families, and be thou a refuge to the poor in their distress. Make every home a shelter from temptation and a nursery of noble youth; take also the homeless beneath thy protection. Cleanse and sanctify the church which thou hast loved, and reveal the spirit of thy Son through the life and service of thy people. Enlighten all who are perplexed in faith, support those who are tempted, awaken those who sleep, comfort the afflicted, and encourage such as are ready to faint. Encompass with thy favor all whose lives thou hast bound up with our own, and, if there be any who do us wrong, remove all bitterness from our hearts while we pray for thy blessing upon them. Give peace, O Lord, in our time, and unite all hearts in the love of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.2

1 Common Prayer.

2 Book of Common Worship, by permission of the Presbyterian Board of Publication.

For Deliverance from National Sins

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, defend our land, we beseech thee, from the secret power and the open shame of great national sins. From all dishonesty and civic corruption; from all vainglory and selfish luxury; from all cruelty and the spirit of violence; from covetousness, which is idolatry; from impurity, which defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit; and from intemperance which is the mother of many crimes and sorrows; good Lord, deliver and save us and our children, and our children's children, in the land which thou hast blessed with the light of pure religion; through Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and King. Amen.1

A Prayer for the Church

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; we pray thee to inspire the Church Universal with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord. And grant that all who confess thy holy name may abide in the truth, and live in unity and godly love. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and living Word. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present, that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succor all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we bless thy holy name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.2

A Prayer for Missions and Missionaries

ETERNAL FATHER, who art loving unto every man, and hast given thy Son to be the Saviour of the world; grant that the pure light of his gospel may overcome the darkness of idolatry in every land, and that all thy lost children, dwelling in far countries, may be brought home to thee. Revive the spirit of missions in thy church, that all thy people may earnestly desire the conversion of mankind; and so quicken our hearts that there may be a larger outpouring of prayer and gifts and personal service, to advance the worldwide triumph of thy kingdom. Protect the messengers of the gospel amid all perils; guide them through all perplexities; give them wisdom, strength and courage, to make known by word and life the grace of our Lord Jesus; prosper all that they do in his blessed name, to serve the bodies and the souls of men; and hasten, we beseech thee, the promised day, when at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.1

1 Book of Common Worship, by permission of the Presbyterian Board of Publication. 2 Common Prayer.

An Evening Prayer

LIGHTEN our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thine only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.'

1 Common Prayer.

RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS.

The following resolutions and memorials have been received for presentation to and consideration by the National Council:

Extracts from the Minutes of the One Hundred and Eighth Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Congregational Conference, held in Springfield, May 17, 18, 19, 1910:

Page 19.

"The recommendation . . . that . . . etc. was adopted, as was also a recommendation that the secretary collect statistics of the Brotherhoods, and that the National Council also be asked to print Brotherhood statistics."

Page 22. "Voted, that the Committee on Missionary Work be authorized in behalf of the Conference to memoralize the the National Council at its next meeting to make such changes, beginning with the year 1911, in the methods of securing statistics of contributions to the seven societies as shall make possible the efficient use of those statistics by apportionment committees."

From the Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine, May 6, 1910:

"The Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine puts itself on record as favoring a change from the present order whereby the various missionary and benevolent societies connected with the denomination close the fiscal years upon different dates. It would urge upon the National Council that a committee be appointed to confer with each of the societies looking to a speedy acceptance by them all of December 31 as the date upon which the books shall be closed, the fiscal year for all alike thus extending from January 1 to December 31."

The resolution was accepted and our delegates instructed to bring it before the National Council.

The Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine believes that the time has come for bringing all our missionary and benevolent work under one management.

"It believes that if the Apportionment Plan is to be made a success, every denominational society, whether of men or women, making appeals to our churches, should be brought within the scope of the plan.

"It believes that the plan can never be made a success if the various societies are allowed to make their appeals as they will, and prosecute them as they may, regardless of each other's interests.

"It believes that the only way to secure success is for the state bodies to develop systematic and proportionate giving among all of the churches, and not by the pushing of the interests of any one society by local committees at the expense of other societies.

"It believes that the end can only be attained by gathering all the societies into a federation under the direction of a representative committee to be elected by the National Council, or in such way as shall meet all legal requirements, the societies in reality becoming bureaus of work and holding corporations for invested funds.

"It, therefore, asks that the National Council appoint a committee to make thorough investigation and prepare a workable plan whereby the desired end may be attained, the same to be submitted to the various bodies at their annual meetings not later than 1912, and to become operative when a majority of them shall have approved of the same."

This resolution was accepted and adopted.

From Ohio State Conference, Kent, May 17-19, 1910: "Second: We, as a State Conference, memorialize our National Council to join in an effort having for its object the creation of a board under the Federated Council of America, or otherwise, which shall seek to secure for the ministers of America a pension fund, similar in aim to the Carnegie Pension Fund for Teachers. This, it seems to your committee, would be one of the greatest strides forward, and would be a recognition of the altruistic character of the ministerial profession. It does seem as though a board could be created, and funds provided, on a similar plan with that already established by Mr. Carnegie for college professors; and we remember how a movement was started a number of years ago,