READY TO FORGIVE

 PREAMBLES TO THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE STATES OF THE UNION - 

 A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDING FATHERS - George Washington:

 Quote of the Marquis de Lafayette - Defender of the American Revolution:

THE FAMILY ALTAR 

June 21.

"And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, that Israel

prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed."

Exodus 11:11.

Moses has grown old and feeble. He no longer can lead the

hosts of Israel in battle against their enemies. He therefore re-

signs his command to Joshua in the war with Amalek. But Moses

is not too old and feeble to pray to God for victory. While the

battle rages, he lifts up his hands in fervent prayer, and every

time he lets his tired hands sink, the battle turns against Israel.

Xow he has Aaron and Hur hold up his hands until the going

down of the sun, when the enemy is routed and the victory com-

pletely won. What an inspiring example Moses here gives to our

old Christians who no longer can actively engage in work and

often complain about being so useless, and impatiently wait for

death ! Ah, you dear old fathers and mothers in Israel, stop your

grieving and complaining, and follow the example of Moses here.

If you can do nothing else, you can all pray; and you know the

apostle says that fervent prayer availeth much. (James. 5:16.) Em-

ploy your lonely hours by praying, praying for your loved ones,

for your Church, for your missionaries, for your dear country,

for the poor and the sick and the dying. The great church father

Augustine was a wayward boy in his youth. But his old mother

Monica persisted in praying for him and beseeching God for his

conversion. One day her pastor, Bishop Ambrose, said to her:

"It is impossible that a child of so many tears and prayers should

not be saved." And God did finally hear Monica's prayers, and

her son became a faithful confessor and mighty defender of Christ's

saving Truth. 0 how many glorious examples there are of the

great saving power of persistent and interceding prayer! The

battling Church of Christ needs nothing so much in these restless,

stormy, evil days as the effectual earnest prayers of its faithful

adherents. Then let all of us, and especially our old Simeons

and Annas, pray, pray Christ's cause on to victory.

If you cannot be the watchman

Standing high on Zion's wall,

Pointing out the path to heaven,

Offering life and peace to all,

With your prayers and with your bounties

You can do what heaven demands,

You can be like faithful Aaron

Holding up the prophet's hands.