THE FIRST WAR PRAYER

In the beginning, the elohim created skies and earth.

     Welcome back.  Let's think about Mark Twain's "The War Prayer.

     Last time I posted, I shared President Roosevelt's national radio prayer that he prayed the night our troops were storming Normandy, France during World War II.  

     The prayer was an intercessory prayer.  Americans turned to God and were involved in the war effort.

     However, I would be remiss if I do not write about the true meaning of a prayer to arms.  No one has captured this meaning as well as Mark Twain's "War Prayer."

     The nation was about to go to war.  Everyone's excitement reached a feverish pitch as bands played, troops mustered, and churches prayed.  

     The story takes place in a church where a stranger appeared who claimed to be from heaven.  He told the congregation that their prayer had been heard. 

     Below is the first part of the story.  Tomorrow, I will post the rest.  As you read, recall President Roosevelt's prayer.  Do you see any parallels?

     It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. 

     It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

     Sunday morning came -- next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams -- visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! 

     Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. 

     The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation

     God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!

     Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. 

     The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory--

Blessings...