A Victorian’s Religious Beliefs
Transcribed from the writings of George Burgess (1829-1905)
WHAT PRAYER CANNOT DO
Prayer cannot alter the course of Nature. It will not change the weather, Calm the Storm, make the fields fruitful. It will not prevent the shipwreck, assure safety from disaster, win battles for the weak nor lose battles for the strong. It will not stay the operation of ay natural law that relates to the natural processes on any department of Human Existence. If prayer did any of these things, and brought what millions of clashing Spirits ask for then the World would be in universal disorder, and could not continue to exist.
George Burgess, August 1899