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PRAYER

ON OCCASION OF

LAYING THE FIRST STONE OF ST. MARY'S CHAPEL,

BRIDGE TOWN, BARBADOS.

And subsequently used, with alterations, on similar occasions.

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, look down from heaven Thy dwelling place, and bless the undertaking of Thy humble servants. We desire to raise an edifice to Thy honor and glory, and the good of our fellow-creatures; wherein high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, may meet together to worship Thee, their common Father and Redeemer. Incline, we beseech Thee, every heart to this work of piety and love. Give skill to our architect and strength to our laborers; and grant, if it be Thy good pleasure, that all we, assembled this day before Thee, may live to behold the completion of our work in its solemn dedication to Thee, our God. Thou dwellest not in temples made with hands; as saith the Prophet, "Heaven is Thy throne, and earth Thy footstool"-yet didst Thou command Solomon to build Thee an house. Prosper then, we pray Thee, the work of

our hands upon us, O prosper Thou our handywork. Graft in our hearts the love of Thy name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and of Thy mercy so keep us in the same, that, perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment, and built up on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, we may grow unto an holy temple in Thee, an habitation of God through the Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, in whose most perfect prayer we conclude these our imperfect addresses.

Our Father, &c.

INSCRIPTION ON THE PLATE.

D. O. M.

Hujus Ædis

Beatæ Mariæ Virgini

Dicatæ

Impensis partim Britannicis,

Partim vero Colonicis,

Extructæ,

Assistente Præside Senatuque

Faventibus omnium votis,

Gulielmus

Insularum Caribbearum

Episcopus

Primum lapidem posuit.

VIII. Kal. Aug. a. D. ciɔ. ɔ. cccxxv.

PRAYER

ON THE OCCASION OF

LAYING THE FIRST STONE OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL,

IN BRIDGE TOWN, BARBADOS,

PREVENT US, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help, that in this and all our works, begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy name, and promote the present and everlasting welfare of our fellow-creatures, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty Father, who by Thy beloved Son, hast said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven," hasten, we pray Thee, Thy kingdom, and grant that this Institution, which we are this day met to found for the maintenance and religious education of the daughters of our poorer brethren, may be the happy means, under Thy grace, of bringing many to Thee; that rooted and built up in Christ, stablished in the faith, habituated to every good word and work, and abounding ever more and more in thanksgiving to Thee,

and to these their benefactors, they may walk in Christ, and in the knowledge and obedience of Thy word, and finally obtain everlasting life, through His atoning merits, who with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O Lord, Who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth, &c.

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FORM OF PRAYER

TO BE USED EVERY MORNING ON A PLANTATION.

Let the MORNING HYMN be first sung.

Then let one say,

"Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the

evening."

Then, all kneeling, let one devoutly say,

LET US PRAY,

O LORD our heavenly Father, Who givest life and health and all things, we offer Thee our most humble and hearty thanks, for that we laid us down and slept, and through Thy goodness have risen this morning to see another day. We thank Thee for our health and strength, for our food and clothing, and for all the comforts of this life, which by Thy great mercy we enjoy but above all, we bless Thee for Thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory.

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