The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-05-09
CE \ T r A L
An Active Church,

The LAFAYETTE Avenue Church, Brook
Ign, is now enjoying a season of extra
ordinary religious interest. We take the
following from letter over the signature
of its pastor, Rev. 7. L. Cuyler, pub |
lished in the Neag York Evangelist:
BROOKLYN, April 20, 1866.
We are now in the fifteenth week Of
the revival in the Lafayette Avenue
church. The number of new cases OF
awakening has fallen off; but hopeful
conversions are reported at nearly all the
meetings-which continue crowded.
Twenty-Five were received last Sabbath
from our Cumberland street Mission
chapel, and ffty-One have already been
examined for admission at the coming
communion in May; the whole number
enrolled in the church since the COM
mencement of the revival is two hundred
and two. They would make an average
sized church in rural region.
One word, in passing, in regard to a
method of church action which we have
found very advantageous in large con-
gregation; it is working the church by
sections and divisions, or what the mill,
tary men call brigading the army.
This system brings about personal &C
ouaintance and social intercourse; itsets
all classes at work, and reaches every age
and condition in the congregation. Let
me giveyou theprogramme of one weeks
work during this revival and you will see
the idea. On Monday evening the
"Young Peoples Meeting > is-hrtd,;
+l;, boS Bon described in IHe EedR9eI-
est already. On Tuesday evening the
Mission chapel service is held, and also
the boys (ranging from twelve to seven
teen years old) have a meeting fol con-
versation and prayer. On Wednesday
afternoon the Superintendent holds a
prayer and inquiry meeting for the Sab
bath School. In the evening a general
preaching service for the whole congre-
CATION is held-followed by an inquiry
meeting in the adjoining pastors study.
On Thursday evening of each week the
Session meet, and occasionally hold a
Joint meeting with the nine deacons to lay
out work of personal visitation and con-
versation with the impenitent. On Fri
day afternoon a meeting of mothers and
wives is held in the lecture-room; and in
the evening a general prayer meeting
followed by a gathering of inquirers in
the study. This PRAYER meeting has of
ten been attended by from 500 to 900
persons. 1t is led by the elders in rota-
ton; the young converts take promi-
nent part in conducting it. On Satur-
day afternoon, two meetings are held for
young girls, and in the evening very
spirited meeting is held by the young
men, from the age of eighteen to that of
twenty-five. Other meetings of the
teachers, benevolent society" temper
ance society, &C., l neednot specify. By
this system of subdivision, a large num-
Der of efficient meetings are held, and yet
no one class are required to come out too
often. The whole congregation sreached;
and it divides itself naturally into ''sets
and circles who become interested in,
and attached to each other. do not
thrust forward this system as a perfect
model for all churches; but we have
found it successful. We have never found
the plan of "church-sociables " worth a
rush; several hundred people come to-
gether and are introduced, and then go
away, and straightway forget "what
manner Of persons - they have. met
The only legitimate way tJ promote
Enthusiastically is to get the people to-
gether for prayer and definite agork. A
church-sociable " commonly offers no
deyotons for the deyout, or work for the
Industrious not even a cup of tea for
the old folks, or games and sports for the
young, and so it replenishes neither head,
heart, nor stomach.