American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-04-01
PRAYER MEETING.


II ever, since Paul travelled the road TO
Damascus, the direct voice OF Heaven aud
IDLY called sinners to repentance, that voice
may be heard at the Union Prayer Meet
ing now being held in Jayne's Hall in
Chestnut street. Our reporter again Wis
tied the Hall on yesterday and found that
so far from diminishing the interest is in
creasing; and that too, without any excite
ment, any ranting or any Of those bolster.
GUS demonstrations Of penitence or rejoic.
ing which we sometimes find during revi
val seasons, among the illiterate and unen-
lightened.
Before going further, however, it may
be news to good many five show how
this prayer meeting was first orgauized.-
1t was originated by young man, under
twenty one years Of age, but very Tim
ethy in point Of zeal for the service of his
Divine Master. This youth was in New
York at the time when the first Business
mems Prayer Meeting" was opened. He |
thought that, as good had resulted there,
similar movement in Philadelphia might
also share Gods blessing, and he instru
mental in the conversion Of many sous. o
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 cheer
fully gratifed, and the meetings were con-
Quoted every day at noon, the attendance
averaging only from twenty to thirty per-
sous-never higher than thirty-six. The
meeting was commenced on November
23d. The pastor Of the church feeling,
perhaps, that he ought to have been con-
suited in the matter "a fact which the
young men had overlooked-objected af-
ter time to the further use of the church,
when application was made to DR.. Jayne
for the ante-room to his spacious hall
DR.. j being Christian man, complied in
slanty with the request, and on February
81, the first meeting was there held. The
dews Of Heaven, in answer to earnest sup
pcation of the participants, fell upon the
I meeting, and the interest gradually increas
ed ultil now not less than six thousand
; persons each day spend from Eve TO sixty
, minutes each at the hour Of exercises in
this Union Meeting.
The scenes of the occasion yesterday
were awe inspiring and impressive. The
congregation was the largest we have yet
seen there, while the exercises were even
S more spiritual in their character than be-
fore. The audience comprised mainly
e business men, clerks and ladies. Many of
g the latter appeared to have stepped in
a from motives of curiosity, as they carried
s bundles-the probable results of a shop
0 ping tour. Yet in the whole vast audience
e we did not witness the smallest demoIstra- a.
s ton Of levity or thoughtlessness after the
d brief but solemn opening prayer had been
: made.
IS The prayer closed. two verses o. hymn
d were sung TO an old but familiar Methodist
e tune, such as we have not heard before
$ since our childhood. The hymn was this
a Rock of ages, cleft for me,
}. Let me hide myselfin thee
n Let the water and the blood
From thy side healing flood, &c.
The effect of this simple harmony, swell.
. ling from the uplifted vo, ces of three thou
:, sand earnest people, was electrical, and
h utterly beggarded the meretrioious, and
semi operate music that has so lamentaby
n displaced congregational singing in many
= modern churches.
= The leader then said that lie wished it
- distinctly understood. that il there were
/, any persons present who desired like blind
:, Bartimeus to receive their sight. if they
:. would signify it by holding up their hands
, they would be praydd for by the congre
h cation. About twenty persons that we
i could see--respoDded by elevating theil
i right hands. Several of these were ladies'
10 two Of whom our reporter saw giggling as
- - they entered the hall just in advance o.
" him. They had parcels in their hands a
,, the time, and apparently came to the place
- "tO laugh" although they remained tc
h pray. The prayer hft folowed--we dc
- =, not know who offered twas most fer
:. vent supplicalion; lifting mp the penitent'
a upon the arms of love and faith to NEE
- the descending blessing. 1t was prayer
coached in language at once earnest anC
IN simple--just such language as guilty mar
should use when addressing his Creator
to and not the language of prize essay o.
Id high sounding oration as we find many
Or prayers.
The 916th hymn followed, beginning
le Plunged in gulf of dark despair,
TO We wretched snnersl lay,
nj Without one cheerful CLEAN OF hope,
Or spark Of glmmerng day.
10 Alternate prayer and exhortation follow
10 ing until one O'Clock AS soon as a speak
"a er had taken up the allotted FIVE minutes
: bell was struck as a signal to cease, sucl
& being the rule Of the meeting At its clos
,e it was announced that if any person de
sin ed sDecial instruction or counsel AM
minister present would receive and con
in verse with such persons in the area behint
lg the platform. Some forty or fifty person
he acted accordingly.
EF The Utah expedition foolery is grea
,r, gain to the Administration just now. Th'
k N. Y. Times Washington correspondent
says:
There are some Eve millions of dollars
worth IF contraots in Conneotion with tn