PRAYERS AND THE WEATHER
SIR,-It is now (1946) demonstrable that what we call " the weather," meaning thereby the amount of sun heat and water condensation and precipitation experienced in a given locality over a period of time depends on natural causes, terrestrial, solar and (probably) cosmic as well. Not all of these are as yet fully understood, but enough is known of their nature for us to be certain that they are as much part of the "nature of things" as are gravity, electricity, radiation and atomic energy, and there- fore entirely independent of and unrelated to the morals, desires and necessities of the human race. This we now know as our not so very remote forefathers did not ; and knowing must adjust our religious practices and thoughts accordingly. Secondly, it is becoming increasingly clear that this particular planet receives (and will continue to receive
for hundreds of millions of years yet, but not for ever) a "ration" of sun heat and light adequate in every way for the maintenance of physical life on its surface, provided man uses to the full his intellectual powers. in the development of the resources nature places at his disposal ; and pro- vided also that he brings his moral nature into action in the " scheme of things entire " in obedience to the " law," which every fact of life confirms, that we are " members one of another."
In the Kingdom of God, as envisaged by Christ, nature would continue to discipline mankind with her immutability of causation and effect, but no individual, family or state would go hungry, whatever local conditions of " weather " might be, because a humanity, purged of animal selfish- ness, would see to it that what nature provides for all was shared by everybody. It is at very least doubtful if the petitionof the Lord's Prayer justifies prayer for fine weather. " Epiousios'" bread—whatever the phrase means—does not mean " daily bread" (the stuff now rationed by Mr. Strachey) save in so far as it is one of the essentials of our continued existence. And that is a petition to the answering of which must go our own co-operation, and our own moral surrender to the will of the Father of us all. There indeed is room for " prayer for fine weather "; only it must be for the "sunshine and the rain" of grace in our hearts, and not for a change in meteorological conditions for the passing benefit of the inhabitants of one area of this globe.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
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