by Midnight Freemasons contributor
Michael Shirley
Harry Truman was not an overtly religious man. He was a
Baptist and read the Bible a good deal, but credited Freemasonry rather than
his church for prompting him to do so. He was far more concerned with making
his way in this world than with speculating on his place in the next. But he
was a man of prayer, and of one prayer in particular, which he recorded in his
diary on August 15, 1950:
"The prayer on this page has been said by me--by Harry
S. Truman--from high school days, as a window washer, bottle duster, floor
scrubber in an Independence, Mo., drugstore, as a timekeeper on a railroad
contract gang, as an employee of a newspaper, as a bank clerk, as a farmer
riding a gang plow behind four horses and mules, as a fraternity official
learning to say nothing at all if good could not be said of a man, as public
official judging the weaknesses and shortcomings of constituents, and as
President of the United States of America."
Oh! Almighty and
Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth and the Universe:
Help me to be, to
think, to act what is right, because it is right; make me truthful, honest and
honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right
and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be
charitable, forgiving and patient with my fellowmen - help me to understand
their motives and their shortcomings -- even as Thou understandest mine!
Amen, Amen, Amen
And Amen.
~MHS
W.B. Michael H. Shirley
is Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development
Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the
Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern
Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the
newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The
author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern
Illinois University.
We need more prayers ....
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