ALFRED DEAKIN'S PRAYERS
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ALFRED DEAKIN, 1856-1919 Alfred Deakin was the man mainly responsible for
the passage of the Australian Constitution through the English House of
Commons. He became Australia's second Prime Minister, after Edmund Barton who
himself was inspired to enter politics by his Presbyterian Minister, Dr.
Robert Steele. The fourth Prime Minister, Sir George Reid, was also inspired
to enter politics through Dr. Steele's influence. Deakin, a native born
Australian was nurtured in his faith by his mother. It was Deakin who
seconded the motion of Sir Henry Parkes for the proposed Federation of the
Australian States. Deakin kept a Spiritual Diary and from 1884 to
1913 wrote a "Boke of Praer and Praes" containing nearly four
hundred prayers, many relating directly to major decisions in his public
life, revealing his utter dependence on God. (For a brief time he joined the
Theosophy Society but resigned in 1896). Deakin prayed over the proposed Australian
Constitution continually and was delighted when the Constitutional Convention
unanimously carried the preamble inclusion "humbly relying on the
blessing of Almighty God". In the concluding words of his book The Federal
Story Deakin remarks that Federation and the Australian Constitution
were 'providential' and were secured only 'by a series of miracles'. In his notes in 1905 Deakin remarks
"sufficient to say that the religion of Jesus Christ is the life of the
present, the light of the future and the hope of the world." Many years later he stated: "A life, the
life of Christ, that is the one thing needful - the only revelation required
is there... we have but to live it." A Christian statesman, he was the first Attorney
General of the Commonwealth, and as such, founder of the High Court of
Australia. He served three times as Prime Minister when a considerable amount
of the Commonwealth's initial legislation was commenced. As Prime
Minister he founded the Arbitration Court, the Australian Navy, as well as
choosing Canberra as the nation's capital. The following prayers illustrate his burden for
the nation of Australia, as well as for holiness and obedience in his own
personal life. ALFRED DEAKIN'S PREFACE TO HIS
"BOKE OF PRAER AND PRAES" Almost always I realise the existence of God -
always I believe in Him with my intellect and turn to Him with my heart but I
am anxious for a closer and more permanent relationship. Almost always I believe in the spiritual
efficacy of prayer and often I am inclined to pray; sometimes the power to
put my cry in words will come - sometimes it will not come. I shall write those prayers I can express so as
to open the channel wider and enable me to recall past prayers when I cannot
uplift fresh appeals. Let me know my wants if I can know nothing else. DEAKIN'S DESIRE TO PRAY 1. 3.8.84 "O God teach me to pray - give me the
impulse to prayer, give me the sense of Thy nearness, give me that insight
into Thy nature which shall quicken me to faith, give me the feeling of
absolute isolation from the world and from my lower self that I may realise
and reap the fruits of communion with Thee." "O God I approach Thee in spirit and in
truth with but dim knowledge and indefinite expectation and confessed doubt
but with a longing for Thy inspiration, with a craving trust in Thy will and
power to help Thy creatures and with a frequent though faltering reliance on
my own intuitions." "O God teach me to pray." 2. 9.8.84 "O God teach me to pray - for to pray is to
acknowledge Thee and Thy influence upon my soul and to bow my pride to
beg of Thy bounty somewhat to satisfy my thirsty spirit. 3. 10.9.84 "O God teach me to pray - to pray for the
knowledge of Thee who art beyond all knowledge in Thy Self but who hast
revealed Thyself in Nature and in the Soul. 4. 17.8.84 "O God teach me to pray and to realise the
true nature of prayer. There is nothing that Thou canst' grant me so precious
as thine inspiration. Within me is the reality of things as it is with the
universe upon which I look. Make that pure, holy and serene and as far as
there can be happiness in self the world shall not touch me and I shall be in
perfect peace. The discords there are the only discords I can dread. There is
for me the devil and all his angels. Mine also the hosts of Thy ministers
struggling for my salvation. From without come rumors, disquietudes,
temptations, and failing of heart and from without also hope, confidence,
strength and the trumpet tongues of Thy messengers. But all meet within -
there is the battle of life - there is my fate decided and there I must fail
miserably if I find not Thee. I pray O God for no earthly gift whatever it be
Thy will that I should endure I am contented. I would say also Thy will be
done in what shall please Thee to give me in the way of spiritual gifts. But
yet I cry for light. I cry for sympathy. I cry for assistance - because it is
Thy will that I should cry. But I cry only for Thy Spirit and from my spirit
and continue crying O God teach me to pray." 5. 23.8.84 "O God I pray for certitude. I would fulfil
Thy will and obey Thy law but it is not in the nature Thou has given us to
find Thy Will and Thy law so that we can rest upon a sure foundation. To all
the trials and temptations to which we are subject there is none that we may
not hope to face and conquer if only we can be certain that we are not
crucifying ourselves for a false thing. The mists that encompass us keep many
who would wish to be of Thine army apart because it is hard to find which are
Thy banners and which those of the other ignorant or darkened ones who resist
Thee. Out of all these straits there is deliverance. Thou O God in Thine own
way are seeking to deliver us - for the trials Thou givest strength and
for the doubt faith - insight which is so clear that it carries its own
assurance with it - insight into Thy nature which we can then trust
utterly when even perhaps we cannot understand. O God give me this faith,
this insight and add to it the knowledge of Thy Will and Thy law - give me
the certitude of these and then without other measure of Thy Grace I could
subsist and expand and bear better witness to Thy Glory. I pray for many
spiritual gifts O my Father but first of these give me Faith, give me insight
and the certitude of knowledge of Thee." 72. 6.7.90 Deakin's desire to be in His perfect Will to
serve his family and nation. "Gracious and Merciful enable me to fulfil
my daily duties with patience, meekness, humility and cheerfulness. Grant me
the sincerity of soul to slight nothing, neglect nothing, and spare nothing
that may enable me to be just and kind to all about me. If my life cease now
or my public career come to a speedy end; if all large or notable work be put
beyond me let me at least as son, brother, husband, father, friend and
citizen carry into all these relationships and to all my private life the
spirit of sacrifice, of self-conquest, of aspiring zeal and of true
unselfishness. Give me of Thy great eternal and all-embracing Love enough to
guide me in my home and business to make them worthy of Thy constant
presence." 76. 27.7.90 "God grant me the knowledge of such Truth
as may be useful to me, enable me to live aright and serve Thy purposes.
Grant me the courage to declare, defend it and be governed by it in all
contingencies; grant me the solace of it in my failures and the strength of
it in my trials; let me minister to it with unselfishness and zeal without
regard to its favor or success but with tact and judgment so as to offend
none that may advance its cause and win to it from those who oppose it.
Servant of Thy Truth grant me only the means, power and opportunity of
service; to seek for no other reward or consolation but to sanctify through
it my life, speech and utterances. O God I humbly pray for this great
grace." 77. 3.8.90 "God my Father whose mercy has succoured
and shielded me so that my weakness has not been shamed nor my frailty rent
asunder I look back upon a past in which I have sinned deeply against Thy law
and Thy love and know the root of my iniquities still living in my breast. I
beseech Thee that it may be withered in me by the force of Thy consuming
fires rather than remain with me to the end. Youth is past and manhood
unfolded to its full but I find myself still feeble, still doubting, still
uncertain of my life and part, still a scholar learning little and all unfit
to rise or rule. The place I occupy belongs to me nor by right nor by
qualification and I covet it not or seek not to covet it. My home happiness,
my joy in my children, my loving parents and sister, my worldly ease are
blessings to which I can feel no claim. Not just to me but gracious and
generous has Thy dealing been and I am too poor in soul even to appreciate
it. That I may be nerved for the tasks, strengthened for Thy duties, buoyed
in the self control and self command and guided in my aims and actions in my
coming life is my earnest prayer O God. I would wish to retain the hope, the
enthusiasm, the trust of youth with such ripeness as my nature permits of at
its maturity. I would wish to serve those I love and make them happy while
most ministering to bring them nearer to Thee and Thine. This above all
things O God. I would also crave to do something for my country and my kind
if ever so fractional and pray to be shattered and crucified rather than aid
anything contrary to Thy Will and their elevation. Let me serve somewhere and
somehow Thy purposes and for myself I seek no more. Yet will I rejoice to
receive glimpses of insight into Thy Being and Thy Nature, yet will I glory
in the visible manifestations of Thy Power and Thy Love; yet will I drink
deep of all those delights which my home, wife and children and all loved
ones bring me and kneeling thank Thee for them day by day. Make me O God
sincere in all things but above all things in my devotion to Thee. I ask
neither prize, nor remission of penalty, but only to serve Thee and if
possible to know that I am serving." Prayer 79 16.8.90 Prayed after Lord and Lady Hopetoun's opulent
ball of 17.7.90 '...without God the world would only know spiritual failure,
intellectual barrenness and a fruitless round of existence.' 79.
"Merciful and Just and Loving in this world
Thy presence is an ideal; Mercy and Justice and Love are daily crucified.
Those who most desire that Thy Kingdom should come must most despair of it
and doubt its coming if they rely upon the testimony of their senses or trust
to the records of distant horrors. Heaven is where these Thy qualities reign
and our only foretaste of Heaven lies in the belief in it coupled with some small
realisation of it granted to us in our narrow circle of experience. My lips
fail of thanks and praise not because these are not daily due from me.
Judging by my own life there is more than justice and mercy; there is
inexhaustible love, pity and tenderness; there is hope for all and there is
already joy and peace to be received and rested upon. It is the shadow of a
general gloom of dimly perceived wrong, of the boundless and endless
inflowing and outflowing tide of human misery that weakens and saddens and
petrifies my song of praise. If I put this vision of the outer world far from
me and regard it as a pageant played in a theatre; if I trust but to my own
life and my own thought I should be afflicted only by my spiritual failure,
intellectual barrenness, and fruitless round of existence. I should
rejoice in simple pleasures and in undeserved content. I should enfold myself
in my home and musing remaining a grateful and a glad if idle and selfish
worshipper. Let me do right and service and win faith O God by a true life
and sincere effort to know and do my duty." Prayer 81 30.8.90 Prayed after industrial conflict during the
great strike of 1890 and formation of Labour Defence Committee by the
Industrial Defence Council. Rallies in Sydney's Domain on 17 August, and
Melbourne's wharves on 24 August. 81.
"God grant Thy spirit to us. Let it be
poured abroad and awaken all men to their better selves so that in these
hours of strife and industrial conflict peace may be preserved and right triumph
by means of reason and conscience. Let the enfranchisement of the many
receive no check; let the bonds of labour be loosened for the free growth of
humanity; let private worth and private life and even possessions be
preserved from harm but let them become consecrated more to the service of
the race. Strengthen the weak, comfort the poor and rule the members by the
law of love and justice. Grant me O God Thy grace of wisdom to discern the
needs of each hour that I may act with power and promptitude to suppress
violence and with mildness and moderation so that all possibly avoided
suffering may be avoided." 82. 6.9.90 "God have mercy upon us and guide us
through the toilsome ways of strife and discord. Thou hast been pleased to
protect us and compose our bitterness under a surface of order. Oh God
beneficient and mighty establish that order upon sure foundations all the
world over and in this continent enable it to be based speedily in liberty
and peace. Let us raise the worker with band and the worker with brain to
lives pure, wholesome and peaceful and build of their true lives a noble
State as a temple to Thee and Thy glory in humanity. Let us be as Thy
children obedient, trusting, loving one another. In thanks and praise I cry
for light and power to enable me to fulfil unflinchingly my part of this
great task." 101. A Prayer of Repentance 20.10.90 "God forgive my trespasses by enabling me
to avoid and resist them in future. Purge me within and let the circle of
consequence of my life embrace me only in its penance. Grant where my
influence is not for good that I may be deprived of it and of all that could
convey that influence. Let my errors be made manifest to all so that others
may escape them. Let me prefer the pillory to the pulpit unless I can preach
repentance in sincerity. If my moral development be incompatible with that of
others I leave the issue in Thy hands. It is not for me to believe that this
is possible in Thy universe but if it be a condition of this imperfect world
I submit myself to Thy purpose and ask nothing that is not best for
all." 119. 22.11.91 In November 1891 Deakin decided to return to the
bar, since immediate Federation was unlikely, and prospect gloomy. Many of
the prayers at this time centred around this theme. "In meditating a change of pursuit I pray
to be delivered from selfish aims, or mistaken estimates, grant O God that my
judgment may be swayed by conscience only and let me be guarded from peril to
my soul's health or growth. If I count for anything in Thy purpose let me be
turned aside from prosperity or power and live only for Thy service in all
deeds and thoughts in that walk and way which shall most fulfil Thy
Will. In all sincerity and trust I cry for aid and guidance. There is
nothing but my reason to which I can turn. I stand alone amid baffling and
bewildering events - feeble, unworthy, inconsistent, strained and impaired as
I am I have aspired and do aspire to sink myself and serve Thee in that I may
serve those I love, my country and my kind. God forgive my past and use my
future. Prayer
120
28.11.91
and Prayer 121 2.12.91 Prayed after the collapse of the City of
Melbourne Building Society in November 1891. Deakin was the chairman of
directors, and the collapse severely affected his financial position and self
respect. Victoria was in a general economic crisis at this time. 120. 28.11.91 "Disaster has overtaken me at last O
God: and upon me lies in some degree the responsibility for disaster to many
others. Grant that it may be mitigated for them. It seems idle to pray
for individuals or masses carried down the sweep of events and it seems
selfish to pray for oneself. My capacity for public usefulness is diminished
and my possibilities of literary work limited by this failure which appears
to push me back into private life and professional drudgery. Let none of
these things weigh upon conscience or purpose divert me from the best work
that yet remains for me. If I could understand I should be encouraged.
I cannot understand, let me not be discouraged, weakened in faith, or more
excluded from righteousness than I would have been." 121. 2.12.91 "Merciful God in the midst of trial and
weariness I have been sustained and protected so that my heart overflows in
thankfulness for this personal mercy. I crave now wisdom and courage to
temper the blow to those upon whom it is falling and guidance to enable me to
assist to rescue them in the best way. Let calmness and confidence be found
among all so that our country may reap only good and useful lessons from its
privations. Let us fulfil Thy purposes even in our pleasures and learn even
through material vicissitudes to attain a purer and higher spirit of public
and private life. Thanks and praise Oh God for these mercies to me - enable
me to act and to submit so as to do my duty unflinchingly and
judiciously." 127. 31.1.91 Written when the Federal cause was at its
lowest, and after the collapse of the City of Melbourne Building
Society. "Gracious God more than ever do I need
guidance - more than ever I crave for it - not by miracle but by the
enlightment of my faltering judgment - not to success of any kind - but to
the best service possible to me. About once more to change my walk of life
and embracing a new task I do so despairing of usefulness in my public life,
waiting for further developments of events which are subject to Thy Will, and
also in the faith that this divergence may fit me in the general opinion and
in some degree in actuality for a return to larger responsibilities under
more auspicious conditions. Let me be fearless, impartial, earnest, and
devoted to the highest causes. Grant me wisdom and courage to scorn all other
considerations except that of furthering Thy Will for the benefit of my
fellow countrymen." 223. 6.3.97 Prayed two days after elections to choose
delegates for the People's Federal Convention. Prayed after Deakin's election
as a Federal Convention delegate. The first of several prayers to do with the
convention. Deakin was returned third amongst the Victorian delegates "Unguided save by sense of duty grant O
Gracious God that the voice of duty in me may be ever and wholly in harmony
with Thy Will. I have partly learned to accept events with
composure as being the outcome of Thy designs. Grant that this submission may
not enfeeble my devotion to the highest I can see, my energy in serving the
light, or my courage in resisting the wrong. Seeking to embrace in a limited
and imperfect judgment a great field of human activity and to affect potent
causes operating for far distant times grant O God that I may have sufficient
clearness of vision or sufficient antagonism or failure to avoid injuring the
cause of true progress towards Thee and Thy Kingdom on earth. I seek but to
serve and pray that my service be solely for the best. Shatter me rather than
see me err." Prayers 224 and 225 4.4.97 Prayed the day of Deakin's election as a Federal
Convention delegate. Most of the prayers during the next year were written in
the context of the sitting of the Federal Convention. From it emerged the
draft Constitution, after months of debate and soul searching. 224. 4.4.97 "Infinite Spirity of Unity, Order and
Harmony, be present with us in our gathering of representatives fitting us
our words and works and aims utterly and absolutely to Thy Divine Will for
the best results to Thy people here and elsewhere to all Thy peoples
everywhere and to the coming of Thy Kingdom. Subordinate the personal, the
selfish, the aggressive, the obstinate in us that we may fulfil Thy larger
purpose and fuller service and may succeed or fail, stand or yield, concede
or refuse as shall be right in the broadest sense and produce a fruit
acceptable to Thy Divine purpose. For myself O God obliterate me thoroughly,
shut my self and my interests from my sight,or consciousness, in my surrender
to Thy will as thine instrument for any office however mean or poor in the
opinion of others or in my own so that I subserve Thy Beneficience - Thy
Justice and Thy Love." "What are thanks O God to Thee fitting for
Thee and from me; What is praise O God Thou cans't receive and I offer; What
is gratitude for grace and favour and mercy and pity and tenderness and
unnumbered blessings showered upon me, upon my wife, children, mother and
sister. Sheltered, protected even from myself and from my deeds, for the time
from my deserts. Upon the sacred anniversary and for sustenance in the
Convention I would offer O God whatever in me is in sacrifice and
oblation." Prayer 232 2.4.98 In Bendigo on 15.3.98, Deakin spoke for the Bill
to pass the draft Constitution. This sealed Victorian acceptance for the
Bill, but ambivalence came from David Syme and the influential 'Age'
newspaper. 'Age' endorsement was vital for the cause. 232. 2.4.98 "To pray to Thee O God I must - seeking
humbly a closer and more intimate relation between Thy Will and my obedience
and yet I hesitate to pray - since all I can utter is an aspiration towards
Thee and submission in Faith to Thee. "Nearer O God to Thee" -
"Thy Will be done". To praise Thee I cannot for sheer incompetency
and ignorance. Yet I would that I could glorify Thee in speech, in thought
and in life. To serve Thee is all my aim, including all other aims that are
pure, noble and good. My serving I would to be not that of a mere bidden
slave but of a son full of love, gratitude and reverence, freely uttered and
forgivingly received. Prayer and praise, trust and love, infinite veneration
and finite meekness and modesty I crave to use, to realise, to brood upon and
to express. Merciful Father aid me." Prayer 233 4.6.98 Polling day in N.S.W., Vic. and Tasmania was
Friday 3rd June 1898. By midnight Deakin knew that Victoria had approved the
bill by an overwhelming majority, that Tasmania had done likewise, and that
the majority in New South Wales had not reached the minimum number required
for the adoption of the Bill. Hence, Deakin prays here "God
preserve this people and grant its leaders unselfish fidelity and courage to
face all trials for the sake of brotherhood. Thy blessing has rested
upon us here yesterday and we pray that it may be the means of creating and
fostering throughout all Australia a Christlike
citizenship." 223.
"Father of Nations, receive our psalm of
thanksgiving. Enable us to pursue the cause of unity in spite of the
obstacles which at present appear to beset our path elsewhere. Guide us to
appeal to that which is best and purest so as to make its development and
mastery sure under our forms of government. Aid us to purify ourselves by our
labours for the general weal and to invoke spiritual and moral principles so
as to link us with our brethren on the highest plane to which we can at
present attain. God preserve this people and grant its leaders unselfish
fidelity and courage to face all trials for the sake of brotherhood. Thy
blessing has rested upon us here yesterday and we pray that it may be the
means of creating and fostering throughout all Australia a Christlike
citizenship." Prayer 235. 16.6.99 In late June, the amended Federation Bill was
approved after a second referendum in N.S.W., following a hard fought
campaign. Victoria, South Asutralia and Tasmania greatly increased their
majorities. In Queensland Deakin had campaigned with Barton, and by September
Queensland had decided on Federation by a narrow margin. Federation was now
possible, with Western Australia free to join later if it so desired. Hence, this prayer was prayed on the eve of the
2nd referendum:- "Infinite and Eternal God thro' Thy intermediaries
or by any means I humbly crave that cleansing and clearing of mind which
shall enable me to choose my course of life and pursue it faithfully. Guide
my judgment so that I may discern the path in which I can be of best service
to my kind and most fulfil Thy Will according to my weakness and to existing
needs. If I see it strengthen my resolution to take it and keep it despite
all temptations and trials. The tasks of the time be all around me but doubt
of my own capacity and of their relative importance hamper and harass me. In
whatever lot I may be cast I trust to make the true welfare of my dear ones
my incessant care but beyond and outside the home I lack light and leading.
My powerlessness perplexes and the multiplication of many calls tends to
confuse my aims for strong faith in trials. They are of widely varying
efficiency and permanence. I wish to choose the best - not from my own point
of view nor even that of my family, but from that of the All-Seeing
All-Loving and All-Outlasting. I desire to do a man's work and ask no other
rewards or recognition. Let me but see it. Let me be but sure of it and with
Divine aid I will undertake it without a murmuring, a revolt or a regret. God
bless my dear ones and enable me when all things means of blessing to them.
God bless my country and my race and all that lives and grant that I may trust
Thy Will and live so as to serve their best needs to my best
ability." |