Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-06-10

lNS DuStHtSS -itH , hOo"-Duy L A'"y"
Z Meeting Its History and Mode Of Ope
ration tor Day. Samson Street Bop
tia Church.. Geo. Dubield, Jr... Georyt
, H. Stuart. ...John Chambers. Kingston
Goddard. Rec Mr. Cdrciea.. and others
Correspondence of the Star chrOniclel
PHILAnA., May 30, 1859.
One Of the "Institutions" of our city, is the
Noon-Day Prayer Neutrality-suspicious. one OF
the best known establishments in the coun-
try, as well as one of the most interesting
and as your readers generally have not an op-
portunity of attending that meeting, it may
interest them TO know something about 1t.
The Noon-Day Prayer Meeting for Business
Men, was established Nov. %, 1887, and has
never been omitted a single day since, except
on the Sabbath. 1t is destined TO continue
for ever, or, at least, as long as prayer eonfia-
ttes TO be needed. The meeting is conducted
I by the Young Mems Christian Association,
and its hour is from ~ TO ! o'clock. The
present place of meeting, is in the Samson
Street Baptist church, a circular edifce which
: stands exactly in the centre of Saians king
dom Perhaps no church in the world has
| Just such neishbors. 1t is in the very middle
/ of a block which contains two theatres, at
least Il dozen taverns, several gambling hels,
a horse market, the new "Butler House.,
few first class stores, and a variety of abomi-
nations which my pen refuses to put down.
| Precisely at twelve, every day, the leader
of the day is on his feet, and after singing a
iry m,I n un cuiircuun which mas grown
out of the meeting, and the reading of the
Word of God, some one is generally named
10 lead in the first prayer, after which the
meeting is open 10 all either TO pray or speak.
The rules limit each one to three minutes,
which is regulated by a sand glass, and cut
off in lengths by little spring bell-the abom-
ination OF certain long wlnded gentlemen,
who, when once on their feet, never dream
that there are any others but listeners around
them. Although at frs, a little odd 10 hear
the bell interrupt prayer, one gets accus-
toned TO il, and those who speak or pray
soon learn how to condense their remarks
and petitions, and the bell is rarely required.
But the most beautiful thing about these
composed. Here, in Christian communion,
are Episcopaians, Presbyterians of every
name, Baptists, Methodists, Disciples-every
thing! all singing the same song, all uniting
in the same prayer, and there is but one way
in which you could even guess to which
name any one of them belongs-and that is
the different postures in prayer. But, kneel-
ing or standing, all eyes centre on one P ONT
and all hearts are around one common mercy
seat; and when some petitioner introduces
the Lords Prayer, every voice unites.
One might suppose that such meetings
would assume a sameness and monotony,
which would break up the interest in them
gradually; but nothing can be further from
the truth. While you see many of the same
faces every day, and hear many of the same
voices, and many things reiterated, there is
always something new, to lead the expecta-
ton on and to interest the mind. New facts
are being continually brought TO light, and the
| Association, like the man behind the wall who
fed the fire, which SO surprised Bunyan's Pill
| grim, with an activity which never tires bring
| into the field every available resource from
all quarters. The singeness Of purpose exis-
| ting creates harmony, and that harmony an
energy, against which nothing can prevail.
The first object which meets the eye on 60
| ing into the house, is the motto-"This meet
! ing is PERMANENT INSTITUTION" and when
you look around at the large throns gathered
there at high noon, not from idle curiosity,
but humble worshipers and ardent rejoicers,
you feel tha, the placard speaks the truth.
| Go with me one hour 10 that meeting, my
friend, and III show you around. Wen take
our seat here if you please, to the left OF the
pulpit, where We can see aud hear. The
| iron tongue of the State House bell tolls off
twelve, and young man rises at the desk and
! announces the opening hymn, which IS sung
with will. There are no silent voices in
all this acknowledgement perceive. The Scrip
| ture is read, and although you do not catch
the name of the brother who is called on TO
pray, can tell you by tho voice-clear, ,rem-
bling, and earnest-lhat it is Rev. Geo. Dui-
field Jr. he kneels in prayer, although Pres
byterian. That's him,just rising-iali, round
shouldered, lean-faced, dark.skinned, and with
his long hair as black As jet {: not very pre-
possessing, you perceive. IN appearance, but
a capital. good man, ani-an active! And
now the meeting is thrown open to all-"Mr.
Charman-you turn quick, for The voice Is
just at your ear, and you look surprised 10 see
no one up; look over to the other side, the ex-
treme side of the house, and there is the
speaker on his feet. You forget the room is
ed across there, travels over The vaalted cell
iGg, and comes down the wall directly at your
ear. Now you see who is talking, and, after
yoa have got over your surprise, loOa 4. h..a. |