HomeMy WebLinkAboutPrayers and Creeds that caught Francis eye. DEAR J.: Send him this
quote from a letter that
Thomas Jefferson wrote to IN MEMORY OF A MOTHER
Mrs. H. Harrison Smith in
1816: "I never told my own I remember the in this solemn hour,
my
religion nor scrutinized that dear Mother. I remember the days when thou
of another. I never attempted
to make a convert, nor wish- didst dwell on earth, and thy tender love
ed to change another's creed. watched over me Zike a guardian angel. Thou
I am satisfied that yours
must be an excellent religion hast gone from me, but the bond which unites
to have produced a life of Our souls can never be severed; thine image
such extmplaryf y; �et and lives within my heart. May the merciful
' For` if _ in our` Father reward thee for the faithfulness and
not from semords kindness thou has ever shown me; may He lift
up the light of His countenance upon thee,
judged." and grant thee eternal peace! Amen.
And J., if your friend is as
intelligent as you say he is,
he will get your message and
act accordingly.
•
MY CREED
by Dean Alfange
"I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to
be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever
talents God gave me — not security. I do not wish to be
a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state
look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream
and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter in-
centive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the
guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale
calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficience
nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before
any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heri-
tage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act
myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the
world boldly and say — This, with God's help, I have
done.' All this is what it means to be an American."