The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-21
Mr. McMechen's Position In Regard
TO Street Praying.
BENwooD, April Is, 1874.

BENwooD, April 10, 1874.
Editors Of the Intelligsnccr.
Mr. McMechen and differ about The
propriety Of praying on the streets. The
subject narrows down to this point: VIZ
II Is either right or wrong Tor tho women
10 pray on the streets. Mr.. McMechen
taxes the negative Of this, and / hold tho
affirmative.
Mr. M-says that Christ "advised as a
general rule that privacy and retirement
should be sought for Ia prayer" This
admit yet | believe this like every
other general rule has It's exceptions,
and street praying Is one Of them. Did
not Christ promise his disciples that,
"Mhere TWO or three arc gathered TO-
gether In my name there am In the
midst Of them; Matt. 1S, 90, no pldes
specified. And cannot two or three ineet
n the name Of Christ on the street,
What II men do oppose, and the Tabble
on the streets jeer and prosecute, II God
approves, and through the merits Of Christ
VINO promised, vi two .ol YOU ehall
agree on the earth as touching nvthinO
that they shall ask, 1t shall be done foP
them Of my Father which Ia In HEAVIER"
10 you suppose that our heavenly Father
would refuse to answer sincere PRAYER
lraught with faith because It was uttered
on the street, when he has Commanded
MS creatures 10 pray everyWhereP Il.
lin, ID and Sth.) No, God will hear and
answer prayer at all times, ct all places
and under all circumstances, II offered In
believing faith. .,.--.-.'-'- -
It Is doubtless the novelty Of the scene
called street-prayiDg that makes II re-
pulslVe to some persons who are particu-
lar 10 preserve propriety, and whose
moderation iS known 10 all men,"
we think there are good reasons why
prayer should be made on the streets and |
In saloons. One 10, the saloonists and
men that frequent the saloons rarely i'll
ever go TO church. mean the majority |
Of them. They scarcely ever hear The |
name Of God, only when blasphemed, and |
instead OF hymns and psalms they have
the bacchanalian songs. y |
some Of the saloonists have said, when
they want to hear singing and PRAYING
they will go to church. We know how
much they go to church, at least a great
many Of them. Sunday is not their day
Of going to church. II 1t was we would
not read OF indictments Tor selling liquor
contrary to law on that day. How are
VIC TO reach them religiouslyP BY pray.
ing 10 our closetsS No; we are to 20 10
them; and l believe that II Christ were on
earth, as he was when incarnated, he
would lead the way 10 these saloons and
pluck men from the jaws Of death and
ne!l; II seems 10 me that these seli.sac-
rihctpg women, who kneel on the cold
interceding Tor these men, ex- F
Rmplily the lite OF him who went
apout, doing good" more than If they
stayed In their closets. A religion that
mus prompts women 10 make such sac
'ihces, bears on It's front broad, bright.
stamp Of divinity.
Again, we are TO show our faith bv our
WORKS. Yea q man may say "Thou hast
attn and | have works, show mo thy
alth without thy works and l will show
hee my faith by my works" So James
s9ys, and he is good authority. Inow ask
lr. McMechen how long 1t would take 10
convert tho heather nations, If ali chris.
ians were simply to go and pray in their
;:losels for their salvation, without put
ing forth any other efforts, such as send.
ng the gospel among them we might {
ray till dooms day aud they would be
Icathens still. God proposes to work BY
means and through instrumentalities, He
Vofks In us, and by u.s. Our religion has
lot become so weak yet, that we have to
ieep 1t indoors for fear It cannot stand
Xposure. Give it fair chance, and The
Goliath OF Elm will fall beneath the sling !
-four youthful, rudy David. The ladies
ave my prayers and sympathies.
L. L. STEWART.