Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-14
Front Seats In Prayer.Meeting.

Why is there general aversion to front
seats in prayer-meeting Anywhere else
people avoid back seats, but at the prayer
meeting modesty is an almost universal
grace. The few who sit in front are scat
tered. There is apt to be quite large area
of vacant space between the leader and the
bulk OF his congregation. We passed two
ladies the other evening, just as they were
about to enter their place of worship. Sit
as far back as possible, please" we heard
one say to the other, as they turned into the
lighted doorway. OF course, il person be
in danger Of sudden faintness, there is rea-
son in this idea; but this is an exceptional
malady, and its unfortunate victims min
ority. We think the root of the evil-for an
evil it isis to be found in vague and OBJ
scure feeling prevalent in many minds, that
going to prayer-meeting is a somewhat
solemn and sorrowful duty, and not blessed
and blissful privilege. Too many prayer
meetings are on the key of complaint, of
melancholy, of pious and stereotyped humil-
iatiou which has lost the ring of the gen.
uine metal. While the church-members go
conscientiously on the appointed evening to
the appointed place of convocation, they go
in formal and perfunctory manner. Hence
their vitality is low, and the pulse of Chris
tian life in their church beats feebly. 1t is
quite natural that they, who go like slaves
to the performance of task in which they
have little heart, should take back seat in
the meeting, so that they can fit away at
the first moment which decency will permit,
But let us look at the thing in the light Of
common sense. The closer and more COM
pactly people are seated in meeting the
quicker and more potential is their sense of
sympathy. 1t is easier for the leader to get
the meeting fairly started when there is not
a wide intervening vacancy between himself
and others. The very fact of walking well
| towards the front gives an emphasis to the
individual presence. Your being there sig
nifies that you have come with a real pur-
pose to be and TO do what you can to further
| the interests of the meeting. They who oc-
cupy front seats will be more likely TO linger
for few minutes of social converse when the
meeting is over, and nothing helps the fam.
| lily feeling in a church more thoroughly than
the little informal meetings and converse
tions of friends who exchange words OF
greeting and inquiry after the hour OF
prayer. 1t is hard for us to comprehend the
indifference and apathy with which some re
gard the weekly prayer-meeting. Into the
midst Of our secular affairs and thronging
cares it lets itself like a Bethel opportunity
We have often gone to it feeling dull, dis
heartened, and i'll at ease with life and work
We have seldom left il without having beer
refreshed, gladdened and strengthened. The
Master is there and he gives peace TO hi'
waiting disciples. just how the secret o.
his love is revealed to the inner conscious
ness in prayer-meeting, we cannot explain
but it is the theme of joyful memory, tina
often and often the Lord has made himsel
known here to the famishing soul. M
Christian can afford to be intermittent ii
attendance on this means of grace. An'
once there, it is best for ones spiritual he'll
to pass by the back seat and take the front
-CArisiian Inteliigencer.