For Lucifer
Prayer of the Governmentalist.
Our Government which is in Washington—hallowed be thy name!
May thy Kingdom become, and thy will be done, in America even as the Czar’s is in Russia!
Give us this day a chance at some big fat office, and remit to us our taxes according to tho amount we have loaned thee on thy bond, with interest, and grant to us favors in consideration of our efficiency at election times!
Lead us not into Liberty, and deliver us from Anarchy; for behold, we are altogether too stupid and greedy to comprehend or endure them!
For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory; and ours is the serfdom
the poverty, and the infamy, forever (or as long as we are fools enough to stand it.) Amen!
J. Wm. Lloyd.
J. Wm. Lloyd, “Prayer of the Governmentalist,” Lucifer the Light-Bearer, New Series, 4 no. 23 (September 3, 1886): 2.
