St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-02-03
ReIiaions Reading.
Front Seats i'm Prayer-Meetings,

Why is there a general aversion to
front seats in prayer ANY
where else people avoid back seats,
but at the prayer meeting modesty is
almost universal grace. The few who
sit in front are scattered. There is apt
to be quite "A large area of vacant space
between the leader and the bulk of the
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 if a person be in danger of sud
den faintness, there is reason in this
idea, but this is an exceptional malady,
and its unfortunate victims minority.
We think the root of the evll-for
an evil it isis to be found i'll vague
and obscure feeling prevalent III many
minds, that going to a prayer-meeting
is "A somewhat solemn and sOrrowful
duty, and not a blessed and blissful
privilege. Too many prayer meetings
are on the key of complaint, of melan-
choly, of pious and stereotyped humll-
iation which has lost the ring of the
genuine metal. While the church
members 90 cOnscientiously on the
appointed evening to the appointed
place of cOnvOcation, they go III a
formal and perfunctory manner. Hence
their vitality is low, and the pulse OF
Christian life in their church beats
feebly. 1t is quite natural they, who
go like slaves to the performance of ii
task in which they have little heart,
should take "a back seat in the meeting,
50 that they can fit away at the first
moment which decency will permit.
But let MS look at the thing in the light
of common sense. The closer and
more compactly people are seated i'll IA
meeting, the quicker and more poten-
tial j. their sense of sympathy. 1t is
easier for the leader to get the meet
ing fairly started, when there is not
wide intervening space between HIM
self and others. The very fact of
walking well toward the front gives an
emphasis to the individual presence.
Your being there signifies that You
have come with a real purpose to be
and to do what you can to further the
interests of the meeting. They who
occupy front seats will be more likely
to linger for few minutes of social
converse, when the meeting Is over,
and nothing helps the family feeling
in church more thoroughly than the
little Informal meetings, and CONVEX
sation of friends who exchange words
of greeting and inquiry, after the houl
of prayer.
1t is hard for lis to comprehend the
indifference and apathy with which
some regard the weekly prayer-meet-
ing. Into the midst of our secular at
fairs and thronging cares, it lets itself
like Bethel of opportunity. We have
often gone to it, feeling dull, disheart-
ened, and i'll at ease with life and work
We have seldom left it without having
been refreshed, gladdened and
strengthened. The Master is there
and he gives peace to his waiting dis
ciples. Just how the secret of his love
is revealed to the inner consciousness IL
prayer meeting, we cannot explain
but it is the theme of joyful memory
that often and often the Lord has made
himself known here to the furnishing
soul. No Christian can afford to bt
intermittent i'll attendance Oh this
means of grace. And there, it is best
for ones spiritual help to pass by the
back seat and take the 'front.' Chris
tian Intelligcncer.