The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-03-31
ifor The Massachusetts Spy.)
PUBLIC PRAYER MEETINGS

TCBLlC PRAYER MEETINGS.
MR.. EDITOR In the Spy of March 10, noticed
an article over The signature of"P W. upon the SUBJ
Jee' o. pubic prayer meetings, which 10 my mind is as
unsonnd IN principle as it is unhecomng firm; Re.
lever in the Bible.'
Whatever might have been the views of DIR Scott nm.
on The utility o. such meetings in bis day it is more than
probable were he now living he would be amour the
foremost in support of these interesting and Important,
occasions To the sincere and devoted Christian sucb
seasons are precious, and although he does not find an
explicit command in the Bible, 10 meet with the disc
pies during the week TO spend an hour in conference
ana Prayeyet he is unwilling to orego the PRIVILEGE
ana lose the blessing vouchsafed to the faithful who
nave conscientious regard for the performance of ev
cry known duty.
Your correspondent says, "Where there is no explicit
command for any thing that we conceive to be duty
then we are to be governed by good Judgment and
the teachings of experience" But, Mr.. Editor. wba,
are the teachings of experience in relation to this mat,
ter Is it not fact that those professors who bv their
CONSISTENT walk have been an ornament TO the Church
and by their example, bright and shining lights IN the
world, are those persons who have been most punctua
IN sustaining weekly prayer meetings. Is it not fact
hat those professors have been most exemplary il
her external department and most devon. in perfor
hg secret and family duties those who have been
most constant and firm in support Of The weekly PRAYER
meetings OF the church. Such meetings NAV with pro.
preiy be considered the thermometer of the cbprcb h
which 10 estimate the amount of spirlt,iatv enovoJ
from time 10 time by It's members and the spiritual
cohuliion OF church may in great measure be deer
m'heo ny The punctual or nfrequent attendance upon
the stated seasons OF social PRAYER.
However faithful and devoted pastor NAV he in
performing the duties oi his office the interest in snch
meeting will " decline and run down." whenever sprt
OF woridIneSs comes over the church and the spr of
vital piety departs from It's members
Your correspondent p W." is in favor of occasional
Dut opposed to weekly prayer meetings for he be.
leves they cannot well be sustained " for want of Semi
lure authority and because they clash with plain and
POSITIVE duties" II is difficult to conceive bV what
process OF reasoning il can be made 10 appear that
public prayer meeting held " once month F." would he
blessing, but if held week would not onv q he
unscnptual, but productive of evil" Until there is
TOTAL change IN the tenor of the Bible and until such
meetings have been viStt with signal dspIeasnre hv
the great Head Of the Church. ii must be The height Of
folly to draw the inference that they are "unscrntural
and productive of evil" think "P w" will find upon
careful examination OF the scriptures some outhorit,
and many examples for holding such meetings We
read IN MalachIhen they that feared the Lord snake
often one to another; /" according to DIR. Scouts com.
meh'ay ms was at conference meetings. and if be-
hevers spake often one TO another, could not have
been " once month" There are various other mas
sages OF scripture that shed light upon this subject
Will notice few OF them. "Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another that We NAV be heal
ed mot forsakiug the assembling OF ourselves TO-
gethe as the manner of some but exhoring one an
other and so much the more as We see the lime an
preaching" "Let the word Of Christ dwell in Won
richly IN all wisdom; teaching and administering one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs sing
irg with grace in your hearts TO the Lord" "Contn9e
IN prayer and watch in the same with thankSolv.ng"
These all continued with accord in PRAYER and
supplcatlon, with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and his bethren"
From the above quotations it is plain that such meet
ngs are not only not ''unSefpural" but have the au
tbonty OF The Apostles and the sanction of the example
OF Christians in the early ages of the church However
rigid we may be in interpreting those passages of scrip
lure which may favor our personal views secular in
ieresis should never lose sight of the fact that Io
glonty our Maker is The great end of our being.
The object Of this article is not 10 seek Controversy
with r w ." but Simply TO express feelings and views
upon this subject as entertained by LAymAN
Sturblidge, March 26.