SUPERSTITION BOILED DOWN.
By Editor
A SISTER sends us the following letter: "_, Wash., Aug. 9, 1906.
To Mrs. _:
"Endless Prayer Chain.
'O Lord Jesus Christ: We implore Thee, O, eternal God to have mercy on all mankind. Keep us from sin by Thy precious blood, and take us to be with Thee eternally. Amen.'" "This prayer was sent by Bishop Lawrence recommending it to be rewritten and sent to nine other persons. The one who will not do this will be affected by some misfortune. One person who paid no attention to it met with a terrible accident. He who will rewrite this prayer for nine days and send it to nine other persons, commencing the day this is received, will, on or after the ninth day, experience great joy. At Jerusalem during the holy feasts it was said that he who would write this prayer would be delivered from every calamity. Please do not break the chain." The sender of this letter writes to the sister who sent it: "The above was sent to me by a friend, and I think if every one will earnestly pray over it, it would deliver our country from much evil.
"From Mrs. ____." Now the only Bishop Lawrence that we know in this country is Bishop Lawrence of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Massachusetts. We question very much whether he gave the prayer. Certainly there is nothing particularly commendable about it, either in its comprehensiveness or clearness. We question still more whether he ever sent it out to be repeated in this way, and still more we question whether he has had anything to do with the threats or promises connected with it. The very promises attached to the mere mechanical repetition of it and the foolish threat or anathema pronounced upon him who disregards it is on a par with a thousand other medieval and pagan superstitions. The apostle Paul has told us to pray "for all men." 1 Tim. 2:1. And we think this authority is as good as any human authority now; but he has connected with it no such dire threatening of calamity as is appended to this alleged prayer of Bishop Lawrence. There will be thousands of Christians who are praying for every one and everything the spirit moves them to pray for who will pay no attention to this prayer-form sent out so widely over the country. We beg to assure our readers that they need expect no such blessing from the mere repetition of it, and they need not fear the calamities threatened. This diversion breaks the chain, but let no one be alarmed; the Good Book tells us, "The curse causeless shall not come."