The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-03-25
six Thousand at a Prayer Meeting.

[
IF ever, since Paul travelled the road
TO Damascus, the direct voice of Heaven
audibly called sinners to repentance,
that voice may be heard at the Union
Prayer Meeting, now being held at
Jaynes Hall in Chestnut street. Our
reporter again visited the Hall on yes
terday, and found that, so far from di-
minishing, the interest is increasing;
and that, too, without any excitement,
any ranting, or any Of those boisterous
demonstrations Of penitenoe or rejoicing
which we sometimes find, during
seasons among the illiterate and unen-
lightened
Before going farther, however, it may
be news to a good many if we show how
this prayer meeting was FIRST organized.
1t was organized by a young man, under
twenty-one years Of age, but a very Tim
othy in point Of zeal for the service of his
Divine Master. This youth was in Now
York at the time when the first "Busi-
ness Mems Prayer Meeting" was open
cd. He thought that as good had re-
suited there, q similar movement in
Philadelphia might also share Gods
blessing, and be instrumental in the con
version of many souls.
Having succeeded in interesting sew
eral other persons, they applied to the
trustees of the Central Methodist
Church, corner Of Fourth and Arch
streets, for the use of the meeting house.
Their wish was cheerfully gratifod, and
/ the meetings we're conducted every day
at noon, the attendance averaging only
from twenty to thirty persons-never
higher than thirty-siX The meeting
was commenced on November 23d.-
The pastor of the church feeling, per-
haps, that he ought to have been con
suited in the matter--a fact which the
young men had overlooked-obiected
after a time to the further use of the
church, when application was made to
DR.. Jayne for the ante-room to his spa
cious hall. DR.. J. being a Christian
man, complied Instantly with the re-
quest, and on February Sd, the first
meeting was there held. The dows Of
Heaven in answer to the earnest suppli-
cation of the participants, fell upon the
meeting, and the interest gradually in
creased, until now not less than six
thousand persons each day spend from
five to sixty minutes each at the hour
Of exercises in this Union Meeting.
The scenes of the occasion yesterday
we're awo-inspiring and impressive
The congregation was the largest we haC
yet seen there, while the exercises were
even more spiritual in their character
than before. The audience comprised
mainly business men, clerks and ladies
Many of the latter appeared to have
stepped in from motives of curiosity, al
they carried bundles--the results Of thu
shopping tour. Yet in the whole vas
audience we did not witness the smalles
demonstration of levity or thoughtless
ness after the brief but solemn opening
prayer had been made.
The prayer closed, two verses of
hymn were sung to an old but familia
Methodist tune, such as we had no
heard before since our childhood. ThI
hymn was this
Rock Of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!
Let the water and the blood,
From thy side healing food, &c.
, The effect Of this simple harmony
swelling from the uplifted voices of thre
thousand earnest people, was electrical
and utterly beggared the meretricious
semi-operatic music that has 80 lament
ably displaced congregational singin
in many modern churches.
The leader then said he wished it dis
tinctly understood, that if there wer
any persons present who desired lik
blind Bartimeus to receive their sigh
if they would signify it by holding u
their hands, they would be prayed fo
by the congregation. About twent
persons-that we could see-responde
by elevating their right hands Sever
al of these were ladies, two Of whom ou
reporter saw giggling as they entere
the hall just in advance Of him. The
had parcels in their hands at the time
and apparently came to the place ct
laugh, although they remained to pray
The prayer that followod-we do nc
know who offered twas most feI
vent supplication; lifting up the pen
; itents upon the arms Of love and fait
to meet the descending blessing. 1t wa
q prayer couched in language at ono
earnest and simple-just such langUag
as a guilty man should use when ad
) dressing his Creator, and not the Ian
guage Of a prize essay or high soundin
J.