Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/7



The Court—The court will come to order. The Rev. Cartwright will open court with prayer.

The Rev. Cartwright—Oh, God, our divine Father, we recognize Thee as the Supreme Ruler of the universe, in whose hands are the lives and destinies of all men, and of all the world. We approach unto Thy province this morning, we trust with that degree of reverence that is due unto Thy supreme majesty, and with the consciousness of the fact that every good and every perfect gift comes down from Thee, Father of Lights.

We praise Thy holy and blessed name, that Thou hast made it possible for us to approach Thee at all times and in all places, at the throne of Thy divine grace, with the assurance that we shall find grace and help in our time of need.

We are conscious, our Father, that Thou art the source of our wisdom, and of our power. We are incapable of thinking pure thoughts or performing righteous deeds, unaided by Thee and Thy divine spirit, with the consciousness of our weakness and our frailty, and our ignorance, we come to Thee this morning, our Divine Father, that we may seek from Thee that wisdom to so transact the business of this court in such a way and manner as that Thy name may be honored and glorified among men, and we, therefore, beseech Thee, our Father, that Thou will give to the court this morning a sufficient share of the divine spirit as will enable the court to so administer its affairs as that justice may come to all and that God's standard of purity and holiness may be upheld.

We beseech Thee, our Heavenly Father, that Thou wilt grant unto every individual that share of wisdom that will enable them to go out from this session of the court, with the consciousness of having under God and grace done the very best thing possible, and the wisest thing possible. And to this end we pray that the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit may be with the jury and with the accused and with all the attorneys interested in this case.

Oh, God, in the midst of all, help us to remember that Thou art on Thy throne and that Thou knowest the secrets of our hearts, and that Thou art acquainted with the motive back of every act and thought; and may we also be conscious of the fact, our Heavenly Father, that there is coming a day in which all of the nations of the earth shall stand before Thy judgment bar and render an accounting for the deeds done in the body, and grant, our Father, that we may have kept in mind the great truth that we are amenable to God, and that Thou wilt search us, and that Thou wilt reward us according to our deeds.

Hear us in our prayers, our Father, this morning, for the cause of truth and righteousness, throughout the length and breadth of the earth, and Oh, God, grant that from the President of the United States down to the most insignificant officer thereof, that the affairs of church and state may be so administered that God may beget unto Himself the greatest degree of honor and glory.

Hear us in these our prayers. God help us to be loyal to God, and loyal to truth, and in the end of life's tremendous trouble, may we so have lived and so have wrought in this world, that we may be admitted into the grace of Thy kingdom and honor, and there, amongst the resplendent glories of a living God, offer praise to Thy glory and grace for ever more. Amen.

State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes.