Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1910 — A Prayer. [ARTICLE]

A Prayer.

At an annual meeting of conductors and engineers some time ago, Rev. George R. Stuart, one of the favorites of the railroad men of the South, was asked to take part and open the meeting with prayer, says an exchange. He was loudly applauded as he entered the hall and stepped upon the platform to offer prayer. The railroad men with their wives and daughters present reverently bowed their heads and George Stuart, with trembling lips and deep emotion, offered the following prayer, and as he left the platform a dozen men gripped nis hand and a tear from their eyes: “O Lord, we meet as a body of railroad men, with our wives and daughters, to consult for our wives and daughters, to consult for our interest. We are reminded that life itself is a train and the road to heaven a railroad; God’s truth the rail; God’s love the fire, and his promises the signal "lights. 6 Lord, we Recognize thee as the General - Manager of our road, the Superintendent of our train and Chief Dispatcher. Thou didst survey the right-of-way, and Thy Son purchase it with His blood. Thou didst lay the track and ballast the road. Thou hast furnished the Rolling stock; Thou art the owner and controller of all. We look to Thee for all our orders, and Thou must sign the checks for our daily bread. Be merciful in handling our human mistakes and blunders and do not discharge the unworthy. We are grateful for the Bible, Thy book of rules and instructions; be merciful in our examinations and look with charity upon our failures. Thy promises and warnings are our headlights and hand lanterns; help us to use them so as to save our train from wreck. Deliver us from broken rails, blind switches, false signals and mistaken orders. Be with us on every sharp curve of emergency, as in every tunnel of trouble let the light of Thy promises shine out bright. Grant us passes for our wives and children and let them go with us. W hen the storms of temptation and trial come, save us from the fatal slide and washouts that have wrecked so many trains on the road of life. Let our way be kept secure by Thy guardian eare, always show the steel rail and rock ballast, and be solid and firm add-free from obstrne-

tion. Deliver us from the snares of our enemy. May the headlight of Thy truth shine bright on a thrown switch, false signal of fatal obstruction placed for the wrecking of our train. May the emergency brake of a strong will save us. A? we make cur last run, header homeward, if i r be Thy will, order our tiain in or, time. Let the light of Thy promises burn bright to light the law dark tunnel ,of death. As we run through it to the Grand Centra! Station of the Skies, may we have the approving smile of the General Manager and Superintendent; sign with joy the pay roll, receive our wages, and have an eternal lay-off with God and the loved ones at home. And we will praise Thee forever. Amen.”