1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

R5020 : page 148But the repetitions which our Lord had in mind andwhich are specially reprehensible in the Lord's sight areformal prayers merely. To illustrate: the Chinese aresaid to have a praying wheel, which enables them to makemany "vain repetitions" without the trouble of speaking aword.It would seem that our Catholic friends also aregiven to a great deal of repetition in prayer. They repeat,"Hail, Mary!" and believe that God will save them fromsuffering in purgatory for their repetitions. Some of thepoor creatures say, "Hail, Mary!" as often and as fast asthey can.So with the Mohammedans. They say, "Great isAllah! Mohammed is His Prophet! Great is Allah!Mohammed is His Prophet!" again and again. We donot know what good they are doing, for they are surelywasting a great deal of valuable time to no purpose. Wedo not wish to make light of these people nor of their conduct.But we are bound to think that with those who areintelligent such prayers are only form. With those whoare not intelligent it is different. We believe that they aresincere; and so our course is to think sympathetically ofthem, but not to do as they do, not to pray as they pray.Prayer in private, in our own room, may be as long aswe please; but prayer in public should be short and to thepoint.====================R5020 : page 148TRUTHFUL WORDS--POLITE SPEECH--MAY 26.--MATT. 5:33-37; JAS. 3:1-12; 5:12.--"Putting away falsehood, speak every man truth with his neighbor:for we are members one of another."--Eph. 4:25.IN OUR LAST study we contrasted the teachingsof Jesus with those of the Phariseesrespecting obligations to the Law. Ourdecision was that "never man spake likethis man." In today's study we note thecontrast between His teachings and thoseof the religionists of His day. Others attemptedto limit the habit of swearing, butthe Great Teacher said, "Swear not at all."How foolish is swearing of every kind!We are not, of course, objecting to solemn affirmations orlegal oaths as required by law.Truly Saint Paul declares that those who receive theSpirit of the Lord possess the "Spirit of a sound mind."They soon begin to realize the senselessness and vulgarityof swearing or of supposing it necessary to substantiate