The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-02-09
pRAYER-MEETrNos THEN AND NOW

PRArER-MEETlNGS THEN AND NOW
The Ola style and the New style
Compared and the Change De-
Plored.
~ say, Mr.. Reporter" said preacher TO one
OF THE OnIT1os ambassadors to-day" have
you ever attended prayer.meeting Of years
ago, when snow and sleet and slush and rain
and biting winds were no obstacle in the way
TO determined, jealous Christian"
wheels Of timer asked tho reporter. ~ am
not very old man, as you see."
- "oh memory need not go back very far. re-
fer TO those days whom
Tho Old Basement or Lecture
Room
was moro than half filled with people-fami.
lies husband, wifo and childron-eager 10
Join In the exercises OF the meeting. The wife
would put on the clean calico dress and the
the husband would start with working ciothee,
only stopping rtter the labors OF the day 10
waeh his fece and hands; the children would
be bundled up as best they could, and on they
would start, where arc going, friendf
why, to prayor.meeting. 'But It's sprink-
ling. 'Can't help II; must 60 10 prayer
meetingi wouldn't miss 1t for tho world The
Commences with q Good Old Tune,
and as the spirit began to descend some would
einB wlld, some with cracked voices, some
with tho quivering lip, come shouting, some
poets OF bright future; the fire would begin
10 burn and the entire audience would be In
motion, and the meeting would break up in q
rousing shout. But things have changed.
They have got
A New Prayer-Meetiug.
The family are at homo. The father says to
his son, Johnnie, run to the door and SEQ II
its clear. johnnie goes and returns with the
announcement that no secs n few drifting
clouds away over to the southeast. All, l
think It looks like raini we wont venture out
same and Siss Il would not b be adyis
able, as che hos slight cold and Laura has q
pimple on her forehead; the children Will play
tricks, get out tho marbles and cards and DIT.
OF thoir lives. But must cay some people do
attend nowadays, and whore the membership
is about hundred, on an averege
About Seventeen Attend Prayer.
Meeting
In our churches. They are nearly always late,
however, and the sexton waits In solitude as
the hour to commence draws near. A footstop
ie heard, the door equeaks, head peeps In,
she enters. It's lady dressed With nounces,
tucks, plaits and trimmings and jockey or
walking hat dons her head. She arranges
herself and takes up about three seats (of
couree there is plenty ROOM. Here comes
another tipped and ehivered. She has Just
finished her toilet, and how 1t worries her
She had to prepare In Just one hour and
half, and was overcome with the exertion. She
takes seat in the opposite seat TO the first,
and on inquiry being made rs to her husband
being present, says he can't come tonight, be-
cause
The Lodge IL Going 10 Hold a spe.
ciaI Meeting
TO take into consideration n most important
question and also to arrange for grand sup
per on toast, &C., and he was compelled TO at
tend, and know he wouldn't miss that hi oh
time for the world, and 80 tie excuses AID
pleas OF other things calling their attention
AWAY pour In. But tho hour has come TO com
menco the meeting, and they who are coming
have all come-eight women and one man
and expect ho got scared and run in.
"The Preacher Signs n Sigh
and starts a hymn. Those present smile a
smile and try 10 sing, but they all get out OF
gear, because the words are now arranged 70
the music, but tho preacher struggles through
alone, and then calls on Brother +. to pray;
but poor fellow, It's 80 cold, his knees begin
TO strike each other and his teeth chattering
and he closes up with amen In short time.
All this because there Is leanness OF soul. An
other tuno 10 sung and the prayer.meeting Is
dismissed but, cracky, now listen and you'll
| hear more In ten minutes about
| SOciables and Toilets and Plays
| TO be arranged than you would OF n prayer
| meeting In a whole day.
81 was thinking II II would not be well &c
adopt plan similar to that OF tho temper
ance organizations, and give about half thu
| membership special chairs to I'LL and oi1ices
| and prizes, &c. But must stop. 1t is a sa,
reality, but nevertheless the truth, aud m
/ heart aches over the unfortunate state we ar
drifting in, and trust will yet soc the oil
spirit OF well-attended prayer-meetlngs II
| vlved,"