Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-11
What Prayer Meetings are for.

WnOm IIymOuIn Cnurcn Is mecca, anu
Mr.. Beecher beloved prophet, gathered
with Joyful hearts in the lecture room on
Friday night of last week, to greet their
pastor. The room, always cheerful, has
now still brighter appearance, the walls
having been freshly tinted, new carpet
put in place of the old one, and various de-
sirable changes have been made. At eight
o'clock the room was well filled, and all
eyes were watching for the entrance of Mr..
Beecher. Presently he came in with his
usual WHAT y-hand- fndeth- to-do-do-it-
with-thy-might air, glanced at the congre-
cation, at the flowers, looked over the no.
tees left on the table, and gave out hymn
in a voice slightly affected with "hay fe-
ver." After the prayers and singing, he
said:
/ desire to express my great satisfaction
and pleasure in being once more with you.
There is no sweeter sound on earth to me
than the singing and prayers in this room );
no place where my heart, in other days,
has been carried nearer the throne That
part of religion which is social and devo-
tional, is best. Our ethical religion we
carry out Of doors, into our houses, into our
families, but we experience our best hours
when we come together, and in the pres
ence of God let that which is noblest and
purest in us ascend to him. The prayer
meeting of the church may become what
the ritual is to the ritualist, what the Tenn
pie is to the Pharisee. The moment that
you act from routine you are Pharisee.
If you go to church because you are in the
habit of going, you are a Pharisee If you
come here from habit, so far you are ri
tualist in the worst sense.
The prayer meeting is environed with
another danger. Do you know that it is
possible to be selfish in moral experiences
as well as in social? A man may come to
meeting because he is happy here, Anoth-
er may enjoy operate singing. In both
cases it may be mere excitement of the
nerves, So the enjoyment of the prayer
meeting may degenerate into self indul
gence. Then men become fastidous. The
/ praying must be just right. The singing
must be harmonious. They go for thesakt
Of enjoyment; moral profit does not ente
into their consideration. The meeting
must be like harp.
We come together as a group of familie
to recognize the Righteousness of God
mercy, and to render unto him an olIerin,
of thanksgiving. But besides this, tn
prayer meeting has an important persona
relation to us. Every village has its black
smith. If any tools are dull or broken, il
the neighborhood, they are carried to hin
for repair, for sharpening. Now the praye
meeting of the church should be forge
and when any tools get dull, here should b
the place to get them to an edge. W
should.have Friday night before US all tn
week, and when it comes we should say
"Well, what do 1 want to get sharpened tC
night?" That is the right spirit. Here
the place, the fire, the anvil, the file. Whe
you look at the meeting in this way, whl
difference it makes. You do not thin
E so much of how the speaking and prayin
f is done, as Of your own needs, and of whi
you can get from the meeting to satist
them. We are to bring our tools here f
all repairs. Now every one should kno
where he is weak and needs strengthening
+ where he is impetuous and needs toniu
down; where he has lost and needs repai
, This is the place for repair and resuppl
+ For instance, when a sick person has ca
, ried a sick friend on his heart for days ar
J weeks, and this burden has colOred b
o whole life; when he has not been able
I rise above depressing circumstances; i'll
comes to the prayer meeting weighed dow
but saying, 81 hope l shall find somethir
r that will help me to carry my burden
o if he comes longing for the spirit of Go
+ he will be apt to find what he needs.
Others feel that they have let 90, al
they come desiring help, and they getsuc
an impetus toward eternal things, that tn,
are strengthened the whole week. Othe
= have a quick temper, tendency whit
has much good if not allowed to overa
y =. and carry one into irrltation-for tho
who have quick tempers are apt to be quit
in other things, and they come here for T
straint, and to be made softer and ten
erer.
Sorrow and care is the lot of all. The
is no one here who does not carry q sadd
! on his back; we may hide it with an owe
! coat, but it is there all the same. No o
>, can say, 81 have no trouble, no need
. help" All need the inspiration that
i can get by social prayer, and the blendil
4 Of our needs and desires. If you real
= Feel your need, and are driven hither
# your necessities, you will avoid MAXI
~ this place ofself indulgence.
10 And now as the year opens, my earn(
: desire is, that the Friday evening meeti
70 shall be, in the main, what it has been, t
If very gate of heaven; and my prayers a
To- laboFs shall be to this end. / want you
E. come here to be educated, to have 20
Of consciencos reused, so that our walk m
Il be more worthy of him whose name
bear, and in whose service we have emil
q. ed.