Peter Marshall (1) (1902–1949)

You can heard Peter Marshall's voice while reading these sermons. He had such a heart for God and God's people. Even though these sermons are over 60 years old they still resonate with the ills of man and society that exist today.

In considering the general place of PRAYER in political and public assemblies, this document may serve to highlight the question.

Reprint of the Prayers provided for the Senate of the United States by its chaplain, Rev. Peter Marshall, 1947-1949.

After Chaplain Peter Marshall died, one of his contemporaries, Clyde W. Park, wrote the final "Prayer on Capitol Hill" also reprinted in this volume. "Peter Marshall's prayers mean something; they appeal not only to the mind, but to the heart and show more spirit as well." [95]

Noting that the chaplain was a former steelworker and engineer, and his "pretheological experience included some work in a newspaper office", the eulogy notes the duty to speak as "the collective conscience of the assembly", and includes some highlights of humor. I select a few examples:

"We pray for some evidence in what is done here that Thou has been given a vote, and that men have yielded to thee."

"Hear us as we pray for this blundering world, in which nations never seem to learn how to live as brother."

"Spirit of God, come into our hearts and make us sensitive to the sufferings of other people. We think of the victims of flood and mishap and all those who have heavy hearts today. may we so grow in grace that the sympathy we feel for friends may also be felt for strangers."

There was a saying, once reputed to be of general knowledge, that the Chaplain looks at Congress and then prays for the Country. show less

I love this collection of sermons and prayers by Peter Marshall. I incorporated them into my daily quiet time, and was so encouraged and blessed by each of them. It's no wonder Marshall was drew such crowds when he preached. He obviously has a God-given gift for sharing the Word.

Favorite sermons:

- The Rock that Moved
- Keepers of the Springs
- The Saint of Rank and File

Favorite quotes:

"The oyster has leaned - by the will of God - to turn grains of sand into pearls, cruel misfortunes into show more blessings . . . pain and distress into beauty. And that is the lesson that we are to learn along this pilgrim way. The grace of God, which is sufficient, will enable us to make of our troubles the pearls they can become. It is not mere figure of speech. It is something more than a simile to say that one enters Heaven through pearly gates. One enters into the presence of the Lord through gates bedecked with pearls, and every pearl - a trouble, a pain, a heartache, a misfortune, which, by the grace of God, has been changed into a beautiful, lovely thing."

"It is a far, far better thing in the realm of morals to be old fashioned than to be ultramodern.
The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith. The world has enough women who know how to be smarts. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct." show less

The vitality and burning conviction of this native Scot led many to liken him to his namesake. He became well known to millions through the writings of his wife Catherine. These sermons were preached from his pulpit at Washington, DC's New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, and the prayers were given in the U. S. Senate, where he was the beloved and inspired chaplain from 1938-49. OCT 2005