Luck chain letter (published). Ancient Prayer. Bishop
Lawrence. US, 1908?
Oh! Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal God, have mercy upon all mankind.
Keep us from all sin and take us to be with Thee eternally.
This prayer was sent to Bishop Lawrence, recommending
that it be sent to nine other persons; it must not be signed; he who will
write it for nine days, commencing the day received, distributing it to
nine different persons, and sending one each day, will on and after the
ninth day experience a great joy.
Oh, Jerusalem, at the feast it was said; he who will
write this prayer will be delivered of every calamity. Please do not break
the chain and please copy as received, trusting that the blessing of God
may rest upon you and on whom sent to by you.
From: Fogel, Edwin M. 1908. "The Himmelsbrief."
German American Annals, vol. 10, p. 307.
"The 'Endless Chain of Prayer' is the most most modern from of this rubric
[referring to the Madgeburg Himmelsbrief?]. There are two versions,
a longer and a shorter, which differ materially as to content. In
the longer form, the prayer is longer, more elaborate and rather rhetorical,
and it also contains a curse on all those who refuse to obey the directions
indicated in the 'Prayer.' The Bishop, to whom reference is made, was one
of the Bishops of the Methodist Church, if I mistake not, who however refuses
to countenance or sanction the sending out of such a letter." Fogel then gives
the shorter form above. Bishop William Lawrence was actually an Episcopalian.
The above may have had a title. Note "commencing" as a synonym of "starting".
le1908up_ap_lawrnc
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