New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-28
~ DEAL PRAYER-MEETING.
.rsrrrrRF BY HENRY WARD BEECHER.


S,.,t Of Yale at New-Haven. The lecture was
80 10 w an unusually large number was more in
-tng and received greater applause than either Of
u.yious he began in this way:
,mppose there Is hardly another part Of church
mai ts regarded with little estimation ia the
y IT large as the PRAYER meeting and think facts
N tear out in saying that tins feeling partici-
I'd IN BY the church in regard 70 the greatest numbers
n members, and that nine out Of ten of the church
-nbers regard the prayer-meeting az per
- duty, but almost never rs
4 s.sure. II Is means OF grace. and they
a - shout IL as did when was hoy and was washed
Innings and had my hair cOmbed. II better than
,nc indecent but II was an exercise enjoyed.
"a vas heartily glad when it was over. In most
srrcbes think that is the feeling In regard TO the
rayer meeting; that it is dull and for the most part
,.sout edihcation; that in some mysterious way
e be blessed by the conversion OF souls but how they
sbT know.
me ideal pravermeeting is the voice Of the church
sling what IL has learned of God in its daily conflict.
Wv IL does not possible 70 the first place.
,st in hierarchical church there be any prayer
setting. because there can be church where the
Sce OF God is heard through do not object
3 a liturgy any more than banners on a house. II Il
fssses man. but 10 must not be as something that we
I'D until we have exhausted that which belongs to US
1 the developments Of the power that inheres in the
,ry radical idea a. the church among us; that God
rlit
thy mediation, but by direct impact and direct soul
,,rring that He thinks into men, and their thoughts
- the rebound OF His When shall have that 10 the
rrch II ven still complain OF leanness and barrenness
er hrng turCes, though think mixing the liturgy
Congrc sauonalsm Is the mixing OF foreign clements
AL don't 20 well together 1t is the patch the old
rrmen, or the other tears 10 don't make any diff
4 s-snos which, II is a hole. rI.aughter.l
A FAMILY MEETING
MS being the general ideal prayermeeting you viii
60 far 20 see what are its advantages and some Of It's
,,isranccs. On these things SHAH speak plainly to
"a and mostly I speak from my own observation and
srence in the matter. The ideal then OF the prayer
rssnc family meeting where all can tell what God
IN done for them. You can help TO do it by discrmi-
png leadership, by questions and methods OF
slng attention 20 things that might otherwise have
..sped the attention of the brethren.
In the first place this tends TO produce that unknown
,ssny OF which much said in the New Testament
uowship-a sort of joyful inspiration at the OF
fellow by your side-thst kind Of relation 10
,nosher which persons nave who meet together a
r,anEsgving OF Christmas when the household comes
t,spthcr Everybody is glad. Nobody can tell why.
rless IL s because II is my uncle. and my aunt.
and nv grandfather etc. There is that feeling
o. heart exaltation. and persons around
nd sueh because they feel so happy. Well gather
church together, ana bring them into such relations
t al feel that yearning for and that gadness and
4 ong as yon people apart in pens. set them up
r-sight and make Il a sin 10 look another
oty speaks above a whisper You cannot produce that
.sng OF fellowship So But II there Is joyful ana
"a element you will produce the feeling OF fellowship
lner little while tins kills uncharitableness.
THE MINISTER'S PRIVILEGE
A minister should attempt 70 md ont IN this way
vbat Is going on among his people. aud thus you VIII
nd couuterbalance 70 the pulpit itself Most people
M apt 70 believe the pulpit Is ectureship. The min
ser gives out the hymn and 10 sung by the choir. and
e congregation hear il; the prayer Is made aud the
grecat0n hear Il; the is delivered. and the
sngregauOn-those Of them who are awake-hear II,
and 20 home. In all this they recipients. Every
ang has been done for them. uDOn them, 10 them
thy nothing Now there ought TO be cOunterJalance
&C al tins
T is putting all the power into the pulpit. But
o. the things that should the power Of the
Julpit IL the magnitude OF living power which II
oeFsODs among the congregation There are gifts that
ls hidden ID the church and tie themselves don't
nOw 10. The IDEA mostly thai II men speak IN meet
ns thev must speak expoatorily or hortatorallv
10Th hereses IN prayer The latter IS especially the
80 nOir 10 meetings. II is the devil that ought
% be exercised IN the beginning Laughter men
~ I have nothing 70 say, thinking they must speak
Ks the minister that he must discuss point or unfold
adOctrnal truth Now II you GET rd OF tha Ihere art
great many men that have great deal % say -
A. for INSTANCE the value o. patience Is UP, ana
- - l.,ve ~ a 9riIy - foi,r h5svs TeV
al died drunkards didn't thcyl he rises very slowly, IS
very broken IN his Language aud ne says 1es. IAey
Inherited . through our ancestors: Di9 you AAg J.
vsrv easy 20 bear With " NO. mo- When my nrst
boy came home 10 seemed 20 NE could pull my house
down over his head, for an hour or two was an
afrs and so goes and tells about u s and bears
ls % your saze. There be nae been 20 years
bg-yng those BOYS holding 20 them. while they bring
Vrttcheduess upon hin. There Is the grand epic OF
Patience wrought out by one man
wOMES's PLACE At PRATER-MEETING.
believe In women's speaking and praying in meet
hg as we'll as lecturing and voting. / feel as
Rough the Church lost just Ouehaf Of lis best power
L the exclusion Of the sisterhOod But IN revivals
-+sviya.s know no laws and consequently when you
have REVEALS the sest churches allow mothers 70 ask
81; PRAYERS and when their feet you car GET some
yJ coOd silver and gold nshout Of lher mouths Mhen
thY open thelf mouth tHro" ~ a Sst4oIa. 49,
20 that way 4 have frequently zone via.
sister, IA, are doing the great work Of life must not
Ede the lght OF their experience unlef DusHeI. ~
las T0Wu too precious 20 be lost We are signing loI
De % OF lust such material and yet, on a mere
sudiy leaving u out OF our pray 80
~ have bean poles Of proprety Dut n9I q lI9Ing
cory. bo-.Omlug around them Tor The glory OF God-
iAPpauseI - ,..o,,,, .-oros
q ~ relation the individual man. the unvefsaIty Oh
a. ne multItuduOusness Of 70, the richness th5 Wonue
y; power that s ~ u, when YOU come 20 stuo! ~ ~ nc
relation ~ mems wants. Ike what Nature is Wnen you
study don't you begin TO ieel ashamed t@s
la become one OF the Lost Arts g. think the cbuIch
q apt % 1--we longer time that piyots on the prayer
81 ~, mo, 1rdervaI1e preaching at all That also Is
preaehing-OnlY split up 4AeIe - also ~ s .tbs
sa tom tune 70 time upon outsiders spectators. Al
1rs IL 4 the tres hness. Yelness that brings men 10 u
Your meeting Will De crowded after wnle You tahe
epsctators into an ordinary meeting II y tIe
sn5st dangerous place / should Ike " take them 20 II
Jfoduces upou them very much the sense OF prison
Il s gaIev work They don't Ike n, ana the luta VI
song m Id the trouble Of being converted II order 70 gel
no The uravef-neetiEg rather discOuragng, ana
NOT sav don't blame them. But make the prayer
ueetiue fresh and and sparkling and social, ana
uel Who come iu Responding will 90 out eXhliarated
Acyer bet man that there are any there put SIN
nefs II j. the actual sight Of what We mean Dy pety
that Influences ana touches II s the sight OF lMper
lection i s the hearing Of grOans, the sght OF tears
TOE recital OF i0vs TO faith hope, love, fellowship
kepessnessuO In any OF their grdnder pOetical forms