Old Paths In Portrait

“He would probably have lived longer and done better work, had he been more careful of his own bodily needs. There was but one burning passion of his soul, and that was to foster the great causes to which he had give his life. An insight into Rice’s prayer life may be had by a reference to his habits, contained in a letter to a brother minister:

I have adopted it as a rule to observe, as generally as circumstances will permit, seasons of prayer seven times a day. At midnight, and at daybreak, private, before breakfast with the family {with whom he might be staying}, at twelve o’clock and at evening twilight, private, after supper with the family; just before going to bed, private. Also observe the first and third Mondays in each month as days of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; the second and fourth as days of thanksgiving and praise. The monthly concert of prayer for missions the evening of the first Monday in every month, the concert of prayer for Sabbath schools, the evening of the second Monday in every month; and I have concluded to appropriate a season in the evening of the third Monday in every month for special prayer for Columbian College, and for a revival of religion in Washington especially and in other cities in the District, and in the country round about. Some of the objects for which he regularly prayed are indicated in his diary:

Make it a point to pray for every family where I tarry a night, or call in the day, for every person individually who makes a contribution for any object for which I receive funds; for everyone I converse with in the day; for every person I see during the day; all as particularly as practicable. I think this course tends to keep alive religion in the soul.”

- About Luther Rice   An American missionary to India and founder of Columbia College, Washington, DC  (1783–1836)

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