The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-22
For the Central Presbyterian.
The PRAYER Meeting.


1t is greatly to be regretted that the
prayer meeting of the church is not better
attended. 1t is too often true that in
stead OF full attendance at this service,
only corporal's guard of the faithful
can be relied on to be there with any kind
OF regularity. Doubtless many of our
people have lost sight of their duty in
this matter. These forgetful church mem
bers are discouraging their pastor, dis
couraging their fellow Christians, and
week after week are bringing discredit
upon the cause of Christ. Good mem
bers OF the church will sing Justify on
Sunday that prayer is the Christian
vital breath but that is the last of it
so far as the prayer meeting is concerned.
Yet the stated weekly prayer meeting,
IN some localities called the lecture, is an
institution OF the Church, and second in
Importance only to the public worship of
God on the Sabbath day. There may be
serious question whether the prayer
meeting of the church is second in i'm
portance to anything. Unquestionably
if attendance at this service is a duty.
then sin lieth at the door of most of our
churches, for this duty is not performed.
We believe that this attendance is not
only duty. but one of a very positive
character, resting upon all the members
OF the church where this meeting is es-
tabllshed as stated church service.
Now let us examine for moment and
see wherein consists this duty. In the
first place, then, it may be assumed that
Presbyterians generally, are well informed
as to the exalted place given to prayer in
the divine economy and the duty in this
regard resting upon all Christians; and
so no words need be spent in establish
ing this point. In like manner it will
pass unchallenged that social prayer is
not only duty but an exercise of this
function to which God has extended His
special favor. "And again l say unto
you, that if two of you shall agree on
earth, as touching anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of nv
Father which Is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am l in the midst of them
Confess your faults one to another and
pray one for another that we may be
healed. The efectual fervent prayer of
a righteous man avaiIeth much" But
now wherein is the duty of church mem
bers to attend this meeting for social
prayer as stated service? And lust
here we reach the point of difficulty
with some good people. They acknowl-
edge the duty Of prayer, the y acknowl-
edge the duty of social prayer, but they
regard the establishing of a regular week
day service of this character as something
OF mah's devising, and as carrying with
it no obligation upon them to attend.
Let us pursue the examination further.
Now observe that for the gathering and
perfecting of the saints, God has estab-
lished His Church on the earth. The
grand functions of this Church are doc
trlne, government, and distribution. To
the government of the Church all church
members owe an obedience In the Lord,
which obligation they assume on becom-
ing members. 1t is laid down as part
of the duty resting upon the governing
body Of each particular church to concert
the best measures for promoting the spir-
itual interests of the church and congre-
cation. Now in view of the general
teachings of the Bible in regard to the
Christian life, and the transcendent i'm
portance given to prayer in the divine
plan, could this governing body, the SEES
sion, in the discharge of their duty do
possibly less than to have the people as
sembled at least once during the week to
ask and to receive the blessings of God?
We think not. And hence it follows that
when such meeting is thus established
in a church as a stated service, it becomes
the duty of every member to attend on
these two grounds, viz: fidelity to the
cause Of Christ, and loyalty to the gov
eminent Of the Church which He has es-
tablished on earth in other words, fdel-
ity as a Christian and loyalty as a church
member. Prayer being a duty, and So
cial prayer duty, the propriety of this
meeting exists in the very nature Of the
case. To arrange that the meeting shall
be held regularly at particular time in
the week is no more Of mans devisinp.
than to arrange that the church services
shall commence regularly on the Sabbath
at II A. NJ.
How happy for the church, if each one
Of us would resolve to come up to the full
measure Of his duty in regard to this
much neglected service In accordance
with the apostolic injunction, lot us hold
fast the profession Of our faith without
wavering for he is faithful that promised
and let us consider one another to pro-
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