"If all the Departments of the one Government thou hast ordained over our Union, and of the many Governments which Thou has subordinated to the Union be there represented; if all classes, relations and interests of our blended brotherhood of people stand severally and thoroughly apparent in Thy presence, we trust it is because Thou hast called us, that Thy blessing awaits us, and that Thy designs may be embodied in practical results of incalculable, imperishable good."
Rev. Thomas Hewlings Stockton, November 19, 1863
President Lincoln was not the main speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery 149 years ago today. There were two other famous orators on the platform who spoke before Lincoln. But they would mostly pass into obscurity in the memories of future generations. Until now.
The first was speech was given by the Honorable Edward Everett, who was recognized as the most accomplished orator of the day. He delivered the "principle" Gettysburg address which lasted over two hours.
The second was an invocation given by Rev. Thomas Hewlings Stockton, who was the Chaplin of the House of Representatives. Among his many accomplishments, Rev. Stockton was an ardent antislavery advocate and social reformer, often writing on theology, politics, and the nature of mankind.
By the time he gave the invocation at Gettysburg Rev. Stockton was 55 years old and in terrible health. A Chicago reporter noted that Stockton looked as if, "having communed with the Gettysburg dead," he had "just risen from the tomb to invoke the God of nations and liberty."
His poor health typically forced Rev. Stockton to sit while speaking in public or his church in Pennsylvania. This day however, he managed to stand. When he did President Lincoln stated that he "had never heard such an utterance from mortal lips."
With his head bowed Rev. Stockton began speaking a prayer which must be resurrected into the brilliant light of our nation's identity.
He began,"Oh God, our Father, for the sake of Thy Son, our Savior, inspire us with Thy Spirit and sanctify us to the right fulfillment of the duties of this occasion." He then recounted the history of the Gettysburg campaign and how the enemy had came "to cast the chain of slavery around the form of freedom." His prayer then paid homage to those who had fallen "for us and mankind." He continued, "As the trees are not dead, though their foliage is gone, so our heroes are not dead, though their forms have fallen..."
Those grieving for lost sons, husbands, fathers, sweethearts, friends - those grieving for lost countrymen - were comforted by Stockton's words. As he finished with the Lord's Prayer, those in attendance joined in spontaneously. By the end many were crying. Among them, President Lincoln.
Perhaps it was the realization of the full sacrifice these dead soldiers made, which Stockton described: "From the coasts beneath the Eastern star, from the shores of Northern lakes and rivers, from the flowers of Western prairies, and from the homes of the Midway, and the Border, they came here to die for us and for mankind. Alas! How little we can do for them!"
They died for us, for our freedom, our liberty, our equality, and all future generations. They did exactly what Jesus did for each of us on the Cross. He "came here to die for us and for mankind."
Alas. How little we can do for Him, except what He asks: Love Him.
This Weeks' Prayer
Rev. Thomas Hewlings Stockton's invocation at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863 - Full Text
O GOD our Father, for the sake of Thy Son our Saviour,
inspire us with Thy Spirit, and sanctify us to the right fulfillment of the
duties of this occasion.
We come to dedicate this new historic center as a National
Cemetery. If all departments of the one Government which Thou hast ordained
over our Union, and of the many Governments which Thou hast subordinated to our
Union, be here represented; if all classes, relations, and interests of our
blended brotherhood of people stand severally and thoroughly apparent in Thy
presence; we trust that it is because Thou hast called us, that Thy blessing
awaits us, and that Thy designs may be embodied in practical results of
incalculable and imperishable good.
And so, with Thy holy Apostle, and with the Church of all
lands and ages, we unite in the ascription: "Blessed be God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort,
who come forth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.
In emulation of all angels, in fellowship with all saints, and
in sympathy with all sufferers; in remembrance of Thy works, in reverence of
Thy ways, and in accordance with Thy word; we laud and magnify Thine infinite
perfections, Thy creative glory, Thy redeeming grace, Thy providential
goodness, and the progressively richer and fairer developments of Thy supreme,
universal, and everlasting administration.
In behalf of all humanity, whose ideal is divine, whose first
memory is Thine image lost, and whose last hope is Thine image restored; and
especially of our own nation, whose history has been so favored, whose position
is so peerless, whose mission is so sublime, and whose future is so attractive; we thank Thee for the unspeakable patience of Thy compassion and the
exceeding greatness of Thy loving kindness. In contemplation of Eden, Calvary,
and Heaven; of Christ in the Garden, on the Cross, and on the Throne; nay,
more, of Christ as coming again in all subduing power and glory; we gratefully
prolong our homage. By this Altar of Sacrifice, on this Field of Deliverance,
on this Mount of Salvation, within the fiery and bloody lines of these "munitions of rocks," looking back to the dark days of fear and trembling,
and to the rapture of relief that came after; we multiply our thanksgivings, and
confess our obligations to renew and perfect our personal and social
consecration to Thy service and glory.
Oh, had it not been for God! For lo! our enemies they came
unresisted, multitudinous, mighty, Hushed with victory, and sure of success.
They exulted on our mountains, they reveled in our valleys; they feasted, they
rested; they slept, they awaked; they grew stronger, prouder, bolder every day;
they spread abroad, they concentrated here; they looked beyond this horizon to
the stores of wealth, to the haunts of pleasure, and to the seats of power, in
our Capital and chief cities. They prepared to cast the chain of Slavery around
the form of Freedom, binding life and death together forever. Their premature
triumph was the mockery of God and man. One more victory and all was theirs!
But, behind these hills was heard the feebler march of a smaller but still
pursuing host. Onward they hurried, day and night, for God and their country.
Footsore, way-worn, hungry, thirsty, faint but not in heart, they came to dare
all, to bear all, and to do all, that is possible to heroes. And Thou didst
sustain them! At first they met the blast on the plain, and bent before it,
like the trees in a storm. But then, led by Thy hand to these hills, they took
their stand upon the rocks and remained as firm and immovable as they. In vain
were they assaulted. All art, all violence, all desperation, failed to dislodge
them. Baffled, bruised, broken, their enemies recoiled, retired, and disappeared.
Glory to God, for this rescue! But, Oh, the slain! In the freshness and
fullness of their young and manly life; with such sweet memories of father and
mother, brother and sister, wife and children, maiden and friends; they died
for us. From the coasts beneath the Eastern star, from the shores of Northern
lakes and rivers, from the flowers of Western prairies, and from the homes of
the Midway, and the Border, they came here to die for us and for mankind. Alas!
How little we can do for them!
We come with the humility of prayer, with the
pathetic eloquence of venerable wisdom, with the tender beauty of poetry, with
the plaintive harmony of music, with the honest tribute of our Chief
Magistrate, and with all this honorable attendance: but our best hope is in Thy
blessing, O Lord, our God! O Father, bless us! Bless the bereaved, whether
present, or absent; bless our sick and wounded soldiers and sailors; bless all
our rulers and people; bless our army and navy; bless the efforts for the
suppression of the rebellion; and bless all the associations of this day, and
place, and scene, forever. As the trees are not dead, though their foliage is
gone, so our heroes are not dead, though their forms have fallen. The spirit of
their example is here. It fills the air; it fills our hearts. And, long as time
shall last, it will hover in these skies, and rest on this landscape ; and the
pilgrims of our own land, and from all lands, will thrill with its inspiration
and increase and confirm their devotion to liberty, religion and God.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
