Frontier Prayers

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

This prayer is attributed to a relatively prominent old west (Texas) character.  Who's prayer was it, and to what battle was he referring?

"O Lord, we are about to join battle with vastly superior numbers of the enemy, and, Heavenly Father, we would mighty like for You to be on our side and help us.  But if You can't do it, for Christ's sake don't go over to the Mexicans, but just lie low and keep in the dark, and You will see one of the dangest fights you've ever seen."

NOTE:  Big Hext is excluded from this contest, 'cause I'm pretty sure he's seen this fairly recently.

[Russ T Chambers]

This prayer is attributed to a relatively prominent old west (Texas) character.  Who's prayer was it, and to what battle was he referring?

"O Lord, we are about to join battle with vastly superior numbers of the enemy, and, Heavenly Father, we would mighty like for You to be on our side and help us.  But if You can't do it, for Christ's sake don't go over to the Mexicans, but just lie low and keep in the dark, and You will see one of the dangest fights you've ever seen."

NOTE:  Big Hext is excluded from this contest, 'cause I'm pretty sure he's seen this fairly recently.

Ranger Captain Jack Hayes, just before the Battle of Palo Alto.  Quoted this just before our August shoot this year.  Not sure where I got it from then.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Old Russ T's not only fast on the draw, he's might accurate too.  Nice goin'.

Hamp

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

All of the excerpts I am posting in this thread are from the 1964 Doubleday book, Bible in Pocket, Gun in Hand, The Story of Frontier Religion, by Ross Phares.  Parenthetical text is mine.

Sometimes (Clay) Allison was called on to lead in prayer at meetings.  But sometimes he turned evangelist and organized his own meetings.  One morning in the 1880s he walked into the Lone Wolf Saloon in Pecos (Texas), laid two pistols on the end of the bar, and told Red Dick, the bartender, that he intended to turn the saloon into a church for a couple of hours.  And he did.  He stepped out into the street and rounded up all passers-by and herded them into the saloon—cowboys, merchants, freighters, gamblers, and thugs.

The opening prayer was reported in this fashion:
"Now fellers, we'll pray.  Everybody down!"
Only a few knelt.  Some regarded the affair as a sacrilege, and others resented dictation.  But a slight sweep of Allison's six-shooter brought every man of them to his knees, with heads bowed over faro layouts and monte tables.

"O Lord!" began Allison, "this yere's a mighty bad neck o' woods, an' I reckon You know it.  Fellers don' think enough o' their souls to build a church, an' when a pa'son comes here they don' treat him half white.  O Lord! Make these fellers see that when they gits caught in the final round-up an' drove over the last divide, they don' stan' no sort o' show to git to stay on the heavenly ranch 'n less they believes an' builds a house to pray an' preach in.  Right here I subscribes a hundred dollars to build a church, an' if airy one o' these fellers don' ante up accordin' to his means, O Lord, make it Your pers'n'l business to see that he wears the Devil's brand and ear mark an' never gits another drop o' good spring water."

"Of course, I allows You knows I don' sport no wings myself, but I want to do what's right ef You'll sort o' give me a shove in the proper way.  An' one thing I want You to understan'; Clay Allison's got a fast horse an' is tol'ably handy with his rope, and he's goin' to run these fellers into Your corral even if he has to rope an' drag 'em there.  Amen.  Everybody git up."

While he prayed in the most reverent tone he could command, and while his attitude was one of simple supplication, Mr. Allison never removed his keen eyes from the congregation.

And who is there to say of this how much was prank and how much worship?

[Silver Creek Slim]

So, how much money was raised for the church?

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

So, how much money was raised for the church?

Slim

Ask GOOGLE.

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

euuuuuuu!  Good one Capt.!  Happy to see ya back posting again!  Looking forward to some more historical brain teasers from you.


BB

[Silver Creek Slim]

So, how much money was raised for the church?

Slim

Ask GOOGLE.

I am trying to go "cold turkey". 

Slim

[Delmonico]

Ya ever try "Cold Duck."

[Silver Creek Slim]

I've never et duck. I have et goose, though. 

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

This one is attributed to Texas Judge Robert M. Williamson, better known as "Three-Legged Willie".

"O Lord, Thou divine Father, the supreme ruler of the Universe, who holdest the thunder and lightning in thy hands, and from the clouds givest rain to make crops for thy children, look down with pity upon thy children who now face ruin for the lack of rain upon their crops; and O Lord, send us a bounteous rain that cause the crops to fruit in all their glory and the earth to turn again to that beauteous green that comes with abundant showers.  Lord, send us a bounteous one that will make the corn ears shake hands across the row and not one of these little rizzly-drizzly rains that will make nubbins that all hell can't shuck."