Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-25

The Union PRAYER MEETINGs-There was
apretty general attendance upon the exercises of
the 5 O'Clock, p. m, prayer meetings at the Eng
lish Lutheran Church, corner Of Eleventh and
ii. streets, yesterday. Revs. DIR. Smith, Butler,
Sunderland, and others, were present, and took
part in the exercises
After the singing of hymn, beginning
$40 day, If We will hear his voice,
Now Is the time to make your choice
Kew DIR. Smith announced the special object
OF prayer for the evening, which was " PRAYER
for the rich blessing of God upon the means en-
ployed for the instruction and conversion of the
young
Prayer was then made, in pursuance of this OBJ.
Jeet, by Rev. DR. johnson; after which portions
Of the Scriptures were read
Rev. DIR. Butler then read several REQUESTS
among which was one from a young lady as fol-
lows IL wanted very much TO stand az and be
prayed for at the meeting yesterday, but could
not don't know whether shall be 1T the meet
ing to-day or not, but whether shall be there or
not, want all the Christians present to pray for
DIR. Sunderland then addressed an earnest and
affecting prayer to the Divine Power In pursu-
ance with the several requests
Some Interesting remarks were then made by
Rev. Mr. GuTley upon the subject of the prayers
which had bsen made, and gave some appropri-
ate suggestions upon the moral condition Of the
young, and upon the subject OF their religious
culture
Other remarks followed, and prayers Of more
than usual feTvOT were addressed to the Almi"L-
y IN behalf Of the young.
the religious power Of a well-instruCted little
child over men
At7A o'clock, p. IN a meeting was held here
under Inc auspices of the Young Mems Christian
Association Of this city. An especial object of
this meeting was TO hear en- account given by
Kew DR. Sunderland, Of his late trip to several
oil the Northern cities, and more especially of his
observations and experience in the great PRAYER
meeting movements in Philadelphia.
The exercises were opened by Rev. DR.. Gurley,
who read portions of the Scriptures, and ad-
a In he n1yip..
was sung, commencing
: Blow We the trumpet, blow,
The gladly solemn sound -
After which, DR.. Sunderland was introd need
TO the congregation, and proceeded to give an ac-
count Of his observations Of the religious move
ments going forward in Philadelphia. After
speaking Of the manner In which, in apostolic
times, the brethren travelled from place to place
and inteIchanged words Of encouragement and
comfort, he said that now it was the blessed priv
1Iege OF Christians TO 60 from place to place and
hear similar tdings Of the work of grace which
was now going on throughout our land. As he
looked back upon the scenes through which he
passed during the ten or twelve days of bis alb
sence, u seemed to be a great moving panorama
OF sovereign grace. Every day introduced new
scenes, and almost every hour new objects of in
teIest and Of thdnkSg living. Ii would be impOs-
slole for any Haa TO give anything like a full and
correct account or impression Of the working of
the Spirit of God, as il was being demonstrated
In the city of Philadelphia.
The speaker then proceeded to give an account
OF the manner in which the great daily prayer
meetings were conducted at Jayne's Hall in
chestnut street. These meetings were held
under the auspices of the Young Mems Christian
Association of Philadelphia The hall is per-
maps the largest in Chestnut street, and but few
steps from the GiraTd House, and the PRAYER
meetings are held during the honr from II IN to
p. IN. The loom will hold perhaps four thou
sand people, and every day at about i've minutes
to ~ O'Clock crowd OF business men might be
seen rushing up TO the house of prayer. la few
moments there would be a congregation of from
hlleen hundred TO two Thousand persons about
half Of them ladies' and then the PRAYER mretiap
would begin. The exercises are led princi pally
by the laity-One dar perhaps by d eman an
other day by a lawyer. and again by merchant
or oy scientific man. This arrangement adds
interest and variety to the meetings The PRAYERS
ana exhoTtdtlons are limited TO three minutes
each, aud not moment Of time is wasted; eyery-
thing moves on with order and regularity aud
no noise or confusion mars the d-corum and pro-
pretty which always prevails. The three minute
RUE Is indispensable IN congregations so large
nose gathered there each day, In order nOcNo ex-
cIade any one from the privilege Of speaking.
d. then proceeded to give d detailed ac-
count Of the origin of the Jaynes' Hall prayer
meeting, tracing II back 10 the exertiOns of a sim
gle mana member of the Young Mems Chris
ton Association of that city To provide for the
wants Of class who were entirely destitute of
religious influences, vino never attend a church
Tom motives Of pride, or enmity or indifference
these young men had caused TO be constructed
three monster tents, capable Of holding from four
10 I'VE thousand people, which they had pitched
In the suburban portions of the city and "a which
prayer meetings held every mig ht and
preaching every Sabbath. In this manner the
DEMENT'S Of the Gospel had been extended to /.
class Of people among whom were persons who
had not, perhaps, been inside the Church of God
los many years, and perhaps had never attended
divine worship, aud the amount of good Effected
Oy thelf agency Was incalculabie.
But the most interesting movement however
was among tue seventy two IRE companies there
twenty two daily prayer meetings are held under
the direction Of the Young Mems Christian A.
sociation, generally from live TO six o'clock in the
evening aud so successfully has this work zone
io'wau that u Is ex peced that they will be able
10 establish the prayer meetings in every one of
these engine houses. remar kabe feature of the
effect OF the power OF the Spirit of God upon n
converted fireman Is exhibited In the zeal with
winch ne works In the cause OF salvation. lie
goes into II with the aIdoT and i'm petuositv
which he would manifest in running to a fire 10
save burning house from the destroying flame,
and this spirit has brought the fremen into the
prayer meetings, and tue conseq uence Is that in
some OF the companies as high as forty members
have been converted. The speaker went on to
say that he believed this work but lust be-
gun, and that the responsibility Of Christians
everywhere In relation 10 IL was great, particular
ly In the city Of Washington.
Upon the conclusion of his remarks PRAYER was
made by Rev. Mr.. Butler a hymn was sung
ana alter Few appropriate remarks by Mr. L. J
tldL.uder, the benedictiOn was pronounced by
Tue he'- MI sampson.
ihE STREET DISTRACTIONS. IL was whispered
about the streets adj icent TO tue Centre Market
tina; the Mayor had ordered the police 10 have all
distractions in the streets and avenues ,eu,o,.d
and to prevent such distinctions in future Thr
hrst tangible evidence Of any such order that we
have seen or heard Of, was notice 10 an aucriop
eef's salesman not to offer any goods for sale on
the space ia front Of the Bank OF W ashington A
bailin, however, was placing goods the,e for
sale, and he bad received no notice. The reno.
val Of distinctions from the streets will probably
be approved 81 by all, Il the law is strictly en-
forced Mdny have violated the law on this sub
Jeet, for yeas past, merely brcause others have
been permitted TO DO IT, but IL the law Is enforced
= without respect 10 persons, no one will object.
III the Ofdrr has bern issued the police win have
something 10 do for a few days, Tor the obstruc-
tioAs are numerous, add some Of them have bt en-
created at considerable expense. The obsttuc-
lions do not, however, consist altogether Of
goods, boxes, siynboards, &c Of the business
mrn and merchants There are other obStruc-
Hons AT the crossings AID >tfeet corErfs 10 which
the ait iiioh 81 thu ani ol,eS has been freq lrnt-
lJ directed, PuniShabl- under the fifth and sISfL