Edward McKendree Bounds Quotes
It is only when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends, for none but the earnest man gets access to the ear of God.
Bounds, Edward M. Purpose in Prayer. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1920, p. 55.
What is particularly interesting about this quotation is the date. As late as 1932, a governor of a major state, was declaring a State holiday for a particular religion, and in his official capacity was recommending fasting and paryer within a Christian context. Although the Proclamation violated the First Amendment, at the time few people would make the effort to go to court to challenge what had been a long tradition in America of declaring Christian Holidays official and the keeping of the Sabbath with criminal penalties for those who did not. However, it took time, effort and money to challenge these practices in court, and the majority community did not treat those people well socially who challenged custom as unconstitutional even when the courts agreed and restrained the practice. Even into the 21st century there were still a few legal battles about prayer in schools and promulgating Biblical passages in public buildings. From the late 1800s to the latter part of the 20th century, it was the Democrats who attracted most religious Americans while the Republicans were the party who advocated a non-traditional but Constitutional approach to religion. See {623322}
Edward McKendree Bounds prominently known as E.M. Bounds, was an American author, attorney, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South clergy. He is known for writing 11 books, nine of which focused on the subject of prayer. Only two of Bounds' books were published before he died. After his death, Rev. Claudius (Claude) Lysias Chilton, Jr., grandson of William Parish Chilton and admirer of Bounds, worked on preserving and preparing Bounds' collection of manuscripts for publication. By 1921, Homer W. Hodge completed additional editorial work.
