The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-04
The Week Of Prayer.

The week OF prayer, set apart by what is
known Us the Evangelical Alliance, begins
to-day. 1t may be said In general, we think,
that all the non-llturgical churches which
teach the orthodox theology are accustomed
to Join with more or less heartiness in the
observance OF this week OF supplication.
For them 1t seems to be a sort OF abbrev-
ated Lentcn season, with the fasting left out.
Actual material fasting, in fact, does not
seem to be any longer practised In those re-
ligious denominations. unless by pious indi-
viduals here and there. Nor is the week re-
garded as of peculiar solemnity by tho L en-
bers OF tho communions which unite in its
Observance. Very few OF them, for instance,
will in any manner change their curse Of life
during the week, and it Is not probable that
the prayer meetings will be overcrowded.
OF late years the interest in such meetings
In most of the so-called evangelical denom-
nations, II not in all of them. seems to have
greatly declined. The younger people are
apt to keep away from the weekday assem-
blies for prayer, and the pressure Of even
ing engagements is SO great in large city
that even the older men and women may be
rare attendants. Besides, the prayer meet
ing Is less attractive than Of old, for 1t has
been growing more formal and more spirit
less, with few exceptions.
1t Is true that over in Brooklyn Mr.
BEEoHER gets pretty fair audience ut his
prayer meeting, but the people come out
chiefly to hear him talk and pray, and not to
make their own confessions and to utter
their own supplcations. On that night he
speaks In more offhand way than on
Sunday, and his followers feel that he Is
nearer to them. But whosoever thinks that
BEEcHEE reveals himself fully and honestly
even In his most fearful and apparently con-
fldential moods shows that he does not know
the man. At any rate, it cannot be gainsaid
that the Plymouth Church prayer meeting
Is for the display OF BEECHER in the light in
which he wishes to appear rather than for
the glorification Of COP.
Tho o!d-fashoned prayer meeting was
something very different. The pastor may
have prcsidedJ 1t Is true and opened the OK
crosses, but the deacons and other members
OF the church followed one another in prayer
and IN the relation of religious experiences
There was accordingly much diversity in the
proceedings, which were entirely voluntary.
1t might be that in ordinary times the meet
Ing would drag little. and some OF the sup
plications and exhortations would seem
rather perfunctory and spiritess, but in sea-
sons OF revival great fervor prevailed.
We doubt very much, however, whether
this week Of prayer will be distinguished by
such spiritual warmth. The spiritual at.
mosphere In these churches at the present
day Is rather cold. The times have not been
good for business, and most men have been
getting poorer for two or three years back;
m NJ ri .,N ..Is
diversity Is driving them to their knees in
humiliation and submission, as it has done
In the past. There are no present signs OF n
great coming awakening such as that we
had In 1857, for instance
1t is hardly probable, indeed, that the
churches which pay heed to the week OF
prayer will DO more than usually attended
to-day. when the suggested subject Of pulpi.
discourse will he " The Good Fight OF Faith"
q very appropriate theme for discussion In
these days OF skepticism both Inside and
outside OF the Church.
Monday evenings prayer meeting will be
devoted to praise and Thanksgiving, good
reasons for which mankind have at all
times. despite the croakings OF morbid
pessimists. Tuesday evening will be given
up to humiliation and confession, which
may DO consonant with the mood at n time
like this. Wednesday evening tho whole
Church OF CHRIST viii be prayed for in ac-
cordancc with the custom of all those who
believe In the efficacy OF such appeals to
Divine grace. Thursday evening tho sup
plications will be for families and for in
structors of youth, for of first importance in
tho development Of character Is the home
aud school instruction. Friday evening
thore will BIO prayer for the nations, that
they may all be brought into the fold OF true
religion, and Saturday evening petitions for
home AMI foreign missions will be sent up,
for the life OF the Church is in its efforts to
spread its faith.
On the Sunday following the conclusion OF
the week OF prayer the topic OF pulpit dis
course will DO waiting for the Lords Ap-