A Prayer in Time of National Bereavement

     Almighty God, thou Friend and Comforter of mankind, who doest all things well and dost not willingly afflict thy children, out of the depths of our sorrow and need we cry to thee. East and West, North and South are weeping and lamentation [sic]. Help us in the midst of our distress to say, thy will, not ours, be done. We thank thee for the pure life and triumphant death of thy servant our President. May the memory of his gentleness and strength, of his patience and fortitude abide in this land as an inspiration to noble living. Let not his blood have been poured out in vain. Chastened by our affliction, may we turn in penitence to thee, the God of our fathers. Deliver us from bondage to low ideals, from the feverish pursuit of material gain, from the love of pleasure more than the love of God. Come near to us in mercy as well as in judgment and establish thy laws in our hearts so that henceforth we may be a people through whom thine own blessed purposes for the race shall be accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.