Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-27
2Relieio,ts Department.
Raw. ]. w. MALCOLM, Editor.
PRAYING BY PROGRAMME.

successive season since III was nrSt pro-
posed that Christians all the world
over should spend the first week of
the New Year in united prayer, has
multiplied the proof of the great good
resulting to individuals and to the
church at large. Daily meetings are
now expected to run long after the week is
ended, and revivals are looked for as a
natural result.
1t is highly proper, too, that the COM
mittee having the matter in charge
should carefully prepare an order of ex-
ercises, assigning to each day special
object, or objects, for prayer. One
should have a definite purpose in his
prayers, and the objects named are those
of general interest, that all christians
can heartily unite in praying for. Let
all things be done decently and in or
der.
But suppose it happens that a spec
ial religious interest becomes apparent
in meeting and souls are found to be
seeking light for themselves, shall we
persist in praying by programme, or let
the Spirit have free course?
This is what we had to ask ourselves
during the prayer-week of 1872. We
had been holding union meetings for
several days, when one morning after
the regular subject had been introduced
duly spoken of and prayed about, ten
dency toward matters of personal relig-
ion was observed. Gradually the ap-
pointed subject was lost sight of, and
prayer went up for an outpouring of the
Spirit on our village; remarks took
the same course, and the brethren grew
earnest in their expressions of desire
for the blessing, and in confession Of
sin. The solemnity increased and il
was felt by many that few more such
moments would bring awakened souls tc
their feet to ask for prayers
Just then arose well-meaning broth
er and gravely called the attention O.
the meeting to the fact, that it hac
wandered from the subject of the day
Inasmuch as these meetings were for thu
purpose of uniting prayer by Gods PEG
pie, for certain specified objects, h
thought it only proper that we SHOULD
adhere to the prescribed programme.
His words were effectual. The stray
ing sheep, that, hearing the Master
voice, had turned into the green pastures
came back into the dusty highway tn
spell was broken, and the meeting cam
to decorous conclusion.
No one asked for prayers.
Happily, man cannot limit the Spirit
power and at succeeding meetings tn
growing interest in personal religio
made for itself place. A good wor
was begun and continued through sever
al weeks, resulting in many conversions
and the warming of the hearts of a,
christians, and its influence is with u
still. The programme was very nearl
forgotten.
Now 1 should like to ask any thought
full christian: Did we do right in thu
switching off series of meetings frol
its legitimate track, and instead of pray
ing for worldwide objects, pray for oul
selves and those about us? think W
did. Mark you, we did not try to d
this-we were led to it. ''The win
bloweth where it listeth, and thou 8.
canst not tell whence it cometh an
whittier it goeth." But when it doe
blow we know it. And when the hea7
emily breeze bears down upon us, sha
we attempt to sail against, or, tackir
about, let it fill our canvas to the u
most and speed us on toward the etern
haven?
1t is a great deal easier to 60 by ru
than reason, and l suppose there is not
ing more common than to fall into 70
tine in religious matters-especially
prayer. We pray by programme t
much at home and in public, in the PIT
pit and in the closet. We cling to t
form of sound words that our lips a
familiar with, and lose the spirit al
freedom of true devotion.
Now the mistake seems to be hel
Forms are good, pre-arranged subjec
are good, but strict adherence to the
works evil. We should watch for t
moving of the Spirit, and when it seel
to lead another way, down with form
away with the programme, and let hes
speak to heart.
After all, the great end of prayer
to unite the soul to God, and what me-
can the most universal of prayer-me
ings seek for? If in such, while pr;
ing for the whole state of Christ's chu1
we find souls by our side seeking Hi
can We do better thing than to tt
aside and lead them to the Savior ?
WILLIAM H. COLEMAN in Christi
Weekly.
CoNsIsTENCY.-We are often puzz
and startled by the conduct of those
whose piety we thought we might pl
undoubting confidence, and whom