The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23
The Decay OF Faith Among Protesting
Christians,

Some Of the Baptist ministers Of this neigh
borhood, at their last Mondays meeting,
gave utterance to sentiments on the subject
Of answers 10 prayer which might have pro-
cceded from Prof TYNDALI. One brother
having related how a child dying OF diph-
iberia was saved 10y an old woman who came
to the house Immediately after an earnest
prayer had been made to GOD for help. an
other brother related ease in which Il child
in n similar condition was saved by ply
Stefan without any prayer at all. Then, a
third brother, having told the story Of "A
missionary who was led to look at a con-
cordancc and discover that the word girl"
occurs only once in the Bible, 50 that he was
ready beforehand TO answer an inidcl's sub
scqucnt inquiry on the point a fourth
brother declared that ministers frequently
pray for divine guidance in the choice Of
texts without getting it, The majority Of
the brethren, 1t should be said, adhered to
the old doctrine that COP frequently does
things because they are prayed for, which
hc would not have done If they had not been
prayed for; but this was not the unanimous
opinion. The scientific theory that every
thing Is governed by fixed laws, from which
there Is no deviation, and that prayer has
no influence except upon the mind Of the
person praying, evidently found many sup
portcrs.
Similar doubts OF the efficacy Of prayer
were expressed last Tuesday evening by a
Methodist temperance lecturer. one OF his
hearers having asked him why he did not
say something about prayer as a means Of
curing drunkenness, he replied that though
CHRIST when on earth healed the sick, the
age of miracles was past, and that nova
days prayer cannot be depended on as n
curative agency. The discussion OF the sub
ject promising to become lively, it was cut
short by the usual eXpedent of striking up
a hymn, so that further expression of the
convictions Of those present has been lost TO
us. When, however, public speakers or
Methodist churches begin 10 dispute wheth-
er prayer Is Of any use in producing mate
rial results, it is plain that the old-lash-
toned belief in regard TO it has begun to die
out among the denomination.
We observe too, that the Rev. GEORGE
MULLER of Bristol, England, who is ccle-
brated throughout the Christian world for
the great charitable works which he has
carried on for many years, with no other as
sistance, as he says, than that sent him in
answer to his prayers, has made a protract-
ed tour in this country, and returned home
without having gained any considerable
number Of converts to his practice. lie has
delivered many addresses, giving the facts
of his experience, and they have been lis
toned to by religious people with great in.
terest; but nobody. so faras we have heard,
has undertaken to follow in his footsteps,
On the contrary, the custom Of directly So
Letting money for religious and charitable
purposes Is as common as ever. Moreover,
the most pious church members continue TO
send for the doctor when they or any of
their families are sick and in Other ways
show their belief that though prayer is a
good thing, human ingenuity and effort are
much moro to be relied on
Amore striking Illustration Of this decay