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

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.

66

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,

by a few of our Western college presidents, among the number being our own Dr. Bradley, whose efforts later resulted in the establishment of the Carnegie Foundation." (Conference voted that this article be placed in the hands of the Ohio delegates to the National Council.)

From Missouri Congregational Conference, Sedalia, May 12,

1910:

"A Memorial to the National Council from the General Association of Congregational Churches of Massachusetts, and recommend that the Missouri Congregational Conference concur therein:

"1. We recognize the importance of the committee of the National Council on Religious Education, and in view of the present opportunity recommend this committee be continued and that it seek to establish the closest possible relations with all the churches, to the end that religious education may receive adequate attention.

"2. We suggest that a similar committee be appointed in every state conference to consider the problem of religious education in all its bearings, to recommend to the churches more effective procedure, to coöperate with all educational institutions, especially state universities, colleges, and theological seminaries, and with the educational agencies of the church at large.

"3. We urge that the Committee on Religious Education of the National Council plan an effective system for the training of Sunday-school teachers, through institutes, correspondence courses, and local classes; and that they make use, so far as possible, of the existing agencies of the churches, such as the Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society, the Committees on Religious Education of the state and local bodies, and also the various education institutions.

"4. We recommend that the coöperation of the colleges, universities, and theological seminaries be enlisted so far as possible to the end:

"(a) That courses of study in the Bible, comparative religion, and pedagogy be offered to young people of our colleges,