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Show ENDLESS CHAIN PRAYER IS HOAX Prayer Letters Sent Out in the Name of Bishop Lawrence Law-rence of Massachusetts Declared FaHes. BOSTON. Aug. 10. So much annoyance annoy-ance has been caused to the Right Rev. William Lawrence, Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts, by the flood of letters which has been pouring in for several months regarding the so-called "endless chain of prayer," alleged to have been started by him, that the bishop has found It necessary to issue the following follow-ing denial that he Is connected with the matter: "The endless chain of prayer, said to have been written by Bishop Lawrence, Is a hoax. Bishop Lawrence of Massachusetts Massa-chusetts never wrote It and knows nothing noth-ing about it. It Is the work of some demented or mischievous persons." Queries have come' recently from Florida, Flor-ida, Texas, ' Northern and Western States and points In Canada, while only this week a Query regarding It was received re-ceived by Bishop Lawrence from Paris, France. iue prayer begins with an Invocation far divine mercy on all mankind and says It was sent by Bishop Lawrence, who recommended It to be sent to nine persons. Misfortune was threatened to whomsoever failed to send it. On the other hand. It promises that "he . who will rewrite this prayer will be. delivered deliv-ered from every calamity." The Inquiries concerning the endless chain and comments on It which have been received , by Bishop Lawrence and by church and secular papers Indicate that the fears of many persons have been so worked upon by the mention of "dreadful accident" as the penalty for failing to comply with the conditions of the scheme that they have not only aided in the spread of the prayer, but have felt great terror lest they might meet with misfortune. |