Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-23
Silent Prayer, Impressive Music, and
Affecting D~iscOurses.
A Number Of Requests for Special
Prayer Announced.
Petitions Offered Up for a Church
Choir and the City Of Memphis.
Nearly Four Thousand Persons Pres.
ent at the Meeting Last Night.

IAAlEh AMI LAAA4oLs
The prayer meeting a. y O'Clock was
conducted By Mr.. Bliss, who led in several
songs Of praise. Prayers were offered ter a
wonderful work Of grace in this communi-
ty, and that all the uncOnverted might pos
sess the full light Of the truth and knOwl-
edge Of Jesus Christ. The audience were
requested several times to bow down in
silent prayer, and during these intervals a
sOlemnity was cast over the audience that
was the signal for many a prayer to be
silently offered up to the heavenly throne.
"Nearer My God to Thee was sung, and
prayer offered by Rev. Mr.. Phillips.
Mr.. Bliss, taking for his subject praise"
read several passages Of Scripture from the
old Testament and commented briefly upon
them. He showed that God Himself was
a singer, and said that singing was often
prostltuted to no good end and that such
singing was useless. But when the people
saw that The churches rejOiced truly in
God, then they would recognize the power
Of praise. The inspired theme Of true
praise was to praise God for Jesus.
SPECIAL REQUESTS o PRAYER.
He then called on all those who had re-
quests 70 max for persons desiring prayers
offered for them to rise and announce them.
DR.. Baird said that early in the morning
he met a young lady who asked him TO re-
quest the people to pray for her, that she
needed cOmfO-t very much in seeking the
Savior. He also said that just before he
left his study he was approached by the
ianitCr Of his church who wanted to be
taught the way to Christ and to be remem-
bered in his prayers. This looked as if the
work Of grace was going to begin in his
congregation with the %ianitor. He hoped
that these persons would be remembered
in the Prayers Of Christians.
DT. Brooks read a request from n grieved
and aged widow asking special prayers for
one Of her grandsOus who is far away from
home. She had many loved ones out Of
the ark Of safety, and her only desire was
that they might be true followers Of Jesus.
Requests were read from a number Of
persons, and as each one was read the con-
gegatiOu would bow their heads and ST.
lently send up the desired petition.
One request read, "PleaSe pray for my
two brothers, high ia social position, but
low in sin" Another read, "Please pray
for the foreman n L store Prayer was
requested for one ofthe ushers IN the build
Ing, for the SINGERS in one of the city
churches, for a child, an Incorporate son,
and for the city Of Memphis, which place
the Evangelists visit next.
Mr.. Bliss said that he was me by a
Catholic lady in the morning, who told HIM
she had been to the meeting the previous
night, and intended TO be present again
las, night, and thai she desired the prayers
Of the congregation.
ALL PRESENT, CHRISTIANS.
Ten or fifteen persons who had friends
for whom they desired prayers offered, rose
10 their feet, the invitation having been
given by Mr.. Bliss.
An invitation was extended to those who
wanted TO be saved to rise, but as none an
sWered TO the call, MI. Bliss remarked that
he supposed all the congregation were
Christians.
Another hymn was sung and the meet
ing closed.
SINGING REHEARSAL.
At > O'Clock in the afternoon, quite a
large number Of your ladies and gentlemen
met Mr. Bliss in The Exposition building,
for the purpose Of rehearsiHg some Of the
songs which are 30 be sung during the
meetings. One hour was thus occupied and
considerable progress was made by the
class. Mr.. Bliss is very anxious to have a
GOOD choir Of singers seated upon the plat
form. For this purpose the platform has
been extended several feet in length, the
work being done yesterday during the re-
cesses between the meeting hours.
BIBLE READING.
Before the singing class had finished its
rehearsal, PEOPLE began to gather into the
building. the hour appointed for the Bible
reading being near at hand. About the
same number that attended the reading
Wednesday afternoon were present, but
there was probably an increase In the num-
Der Of children present.
DIR. Brooks delivered a brief discourse On
"Himself," referring to passages in the
Bible to show what Jesus endured for the
sake of unsaved souls. He was satisfied
that if Christians would fix their thoughts
more upon Himself than %OuTself, there
would be much more happiness in the
world. If they wanted to be distressed
and depressed in spirits, let them look
within: and if they wanted 10 be distracted,
let them look around; but if they wanted
to be happy and joyful, let them cast
their ewes upward. A modern theory
had been advocated by some, that
Jesus would loose, or had lost, his
personal identity, that he had been merged
and absorbed into a divine nature. Ii he
Thought such q thing, it would break his
heart. The discourse was listered to very
attentively, and quite a large number OF
the audience exhibited a considerable de-
gree of emotion during its delivery. There
were many weeping eyes, and tears could
be seen trickling down the furTOwed cheeks
Of more than one whose memory was re-
called to scenes in by-gone days, by the IL
Illustration given by the speaker.
At the close Of the meeting, Dr.. Baird
requested the choirs Of the different church
es ia Nashville and Edgefeld to occupy
seats on the platform when they came to
the night meeting.
9Dr Brooks pronounced the benediction
and the audience was dismissed.
Last Nights Services.
Between thirty-fve hundred and four
thousand people assembled within the spa
ctuus enclosure of the Exposition building
last night to witness the progress Of the ne
vival. Representatives from some OF the
church chOiIs occupied seats on the plat
form and assisted in the singing exercises.
The services began at the usual hour aud
in the usual manner by song and prayer.
ANOTHER EEQUEsT.
Before reading the sCTIptural lesson, Ut.
Brooks said that he he'd in his hand a note
which had Just been handed to him and
VIII ch he desired to read. The note read
as follows: IL have 4 faithful servant who
IS struggling to be received unto Christ.
She Is constantly in prayer and always feel
ing unworthy. Please pray for Gods
blessing to rest upon her that she may lind
peace. She is here tonight"
SCRIPTURAL READING.
DR.. Brooks then offered a B. lief prayer in
her behalf and all others who were j n a
like condition.
lie then read portions Of the first and
second chapters of Hosea, in which the
p7ophesy Of Hosea is mentioned, and the
story Of the prophet taking unto himself an
adulterous wife for a sign TO the people, IS
told, the restoration and union Of Ju-ah
and Israel. the idolatry of the people, Gods
Judgment against them, and HIS promise OF
reconciliation.
Mr.. Bliss sang Il beautiful solo, 81 know
not the hour when the Lord will come"
SERMON OF DIR. BROOKS.
Dr.. Brooks then delivered an eloquent
aud powerful sermon from the 10Th and
nth verses Of the first chapter Of Ruth, in
which the version of the latter's deteTmi-
nation to cleave unto her mOther-in-law,