Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-10
AID FIRST. PRAYER NEXT.
Such Was the Spirit of Home Churches-The
Union Prayer Services Yesterday-Each
Song m Heartfelt SupDIicafion.

Union Prayer Services Yesterday-Each
Song Heartfelt Supplication.
That beautiful thought, embodied in poem,
1.-THE Gift of Tritemeus, has found its applica-
tion everywhere during the week past; and
nowhere more noticeably than in the churches
last week Sunday, where $4,000 were raised
and contributed by the simple passing around
of the box or plate to the occupants of pews
who must have been, in very large proper
tion, unprepared for Just such an emergency.
This spontaneous giving, it is pleasant to re-
late, was the first impulse of those whose faith
in the efficacy of prayer never falters. and yet
who have taught and been taught that faith
without works is dead" That is just the idea
so earnestly and aptly set forth in 'The
Gift of Tritemeus." A mother seeks to
save her boy. She applies to Tri.
temeus. the priest, for aims with which to re-
lease the lad from slavery The eloquence of
her pleadIngs prevails with the man of God,
and, having nothing else of value at hand he
takes and gives to her, for her motherly mis-
sion, "the golden candlesticks on either side of
the great cruciix." Mark the soulful simplici-
ty of his response to her, and its excellent ap-
plication to that awful present emergency
which the Pittsburg churches were almost in
stantly ready to assist IN relieving. Tritemeus,
in handing to the mournful mother the golden
''And our gracious Lord, who loveth mercy more
than sacrifice,
Pardon me If a human soul prize
More than the gifts upon His altar piled
Take what thou askest, and redeem thy child.''
#=E
Prayers have, no doubt, been frequently and
fervently offered up in Pittsburg the past week
in behalf of those visited by the desolation of
death. But many of those who prayed have,
IND 1or al tn q
prayers before they knelt.
And thus it came to pass that the devotions
of yesterday were the more devout; that faces,
into which one only had to look to see heart,
reflected the common impulse to bow in rever-
ence before Omnipotence; that prayer Afforded
the best remaining avenue both OF expression
and of refreshing for many hearts.
This thought was prominent with many of
those who, yesterday afternoon, gathered for q
union service of prayer at the North Presby-
terian Church, on Lincoln avenue, Allegheny.
OF the 800 people gathered there, more than
half of whom were women, 20 of the latter
wore Grape veils Not one, probably, was a
Johnstown mourner, in the sense Of personal
bereavement by the food and yet the general
spirit of mourning exerted its first impulse,
probably, to bring the mourners out
The prayers and songs, and all the services
indeed, were filled with fervor Rev. John
Fox, the pastor, took charge and offered
short opening prayer Rev. William NJ. Robin
son, of the Providence Presbyterian Church,
was next to offer supplication full of SYM
pathy. Then Mrs. L. G. Webster sang, as only
she Of all Pittsburg sopranos can sing. zone
Sweetly Solemn Thought" Following this,
the moment of silent prayer, in which all en-
gagged, was most impressive. Then David s.
Kennedy, of the First Presbyterian Church, Allie
gheny, offered another earnest prayer, followed
in turn by the congregational singing of the
psalm, THE Lord is My Shepherd" and
prayer by Rev. DR.. E. P. Cowan, of the Third
Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg. in which he
implored the divine blessing and guidance for
all those in authority in connection with the
relief of those many thousands in distress from
the effects of the flood.
So
The address of the hour was from Rev. John
Fox, the pastor, in which he impressed the
need of instant prayer, and drew forth the
lesson taught by the disaster-"Be ye also
ready" Mrs. L. G. Webster sweetly sang
LEAD, Kindly Light" and, if ever there was
prayer in a song, it could be distinctly recog-
nized there. Prayer again followed-by Rev.
Mr.. McGaughey, of Philadelphia-and he who
offered it thanked the Divine Ruler that Penn
sylvania had for its Governor man of God,
and prayed that he might have strength and
courage equal to the emergency.
Savior, Comfort Me" was the closing con-
gregational hymn, after which the pastor read,
from the Episcopal service St Chrysostem's
prayer and pronounced the benedictlon.
There will probably be similar union services
daily during the present week. for the spirit OF
prayer is beginning to stir both pastors and
people as it has seldom stirred them before.