1884. J WINTER MEETING. 11 



all these things come of thy great plan, which embraces us 

 all. We recognize thy goodness, we lo(jk up to thee as our 

 faiher, and we pray, God, that thy fatherly love may be 

 continually recognized by us, and that we may learn to live 

 as thy children. 



We pray, heavenly Father, that thy blessing may be upon 

 the Board of Agriculture of this State, and that thou wilt be 

 in ihe midst of Ihis Convention which they have called 

 together, so that every word that is spoken may be spoken in 

 the right spirit ; that we may have wisdom, that we may have 

 the spirit of peace ; that we may have the spirit of the 

 learner, desiring to know more and more of those great laws 

 by which all things are governed, and desiring to bless the 

 society in which thou hast placed us. While we prize these 

 gifts of the earth, may we consider that the thing to be prized 

 above all is human life, human society, human progress, and 

 grant that we may so cooperate as to secure the progress of 

 this Commonwealth, and especially progress in the farm life 

 of this Commonwealth ; so that the old foundations may 

 remain unmoved ; so that the people of the country as well 

 as the cities may flourish like the grass of the earth ; so that 

 if there be " a handful of corn in the earth on the tops of the 

 mountains, the fruit thereof may shake like Lebanon." 



Our heavenly Father, wilt thou bless all those to whom are 

 intrusted the interests of this organization ; be with them in 

 all that they do ; fill their hearts with thy love and peace ; and 

 may this Convention be a blessing to this city, to those friends 

 who have come together, to our Commonwealth, and to this 

 land which we love. 



Hear us, God ; forgive all our sins, and accept us as thy 

 children, for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



