It appears prayer before Nacogdoches City Council meetings has come to an end.

According to an article in Sunday's The Daily Sentinel, Mayor Roger Van Horn said the tradition will be no more.

This action came about after a "humanist celebrant" from Jacksonville in a series of emails had asked City Manager Jim Jeffers that secularists be included in a rotation of those offering prayers before council meetings.

The newspaper article said Jeffers said City Attorney Rob Atherton told him the city council has two options: Offer people of different faiths and beliefs to pray or do nothing.

The mayor chose the latter.