The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-02
The importance of the Element of
Worship in Church Services.
PAPER EEAD BEFoEE THE last MEETING
OF THE s0aEEsET MINISTERIAL AssOcI-
ATI0S BY REV. T Z. BRisTow, PAS
TOR FEEsBYTEEIsN CHUECH.


There Is danger in the present time Of
drilling from the true idea Of church ser
vices.
Preaching the Word Is an ordi-
nance Of God as much Is are the sac
ramenis,H but the listening to the sermon
Is not al Of Divine Worship We 20
TO church 10 worship Almighty God,
through the mediation Of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ and the min
ister IS 70 worship with the people.
The whole Of the services should be
Is Of devotion, including the sermon,
bat there Is great need TO emphasize the
parts commonly called devotional. The
minister shoald literally give attendance
70 reading" Toavoid an unnatural tone
in reading the scriptures i good, draEl
and churchly manner nav destroy the
meaning 70 the hearers OF a sublime pas
SAGE Of the a ~Oraeles Of Cod The man
ner should, however, be deyout and with
the dignity becoming the sacred book
A clergyman invited q famous actor 10
attend bis church. The good effect vas
lost, as the player explained after his vis-
it 70 the sanctuary.
1T was his irreyerent manner, siT, that
destroyed what was good in the service;
he turned over the Bible carelessly a.
though il were 3 ledger. and his reading
OF the scripture vas in the same line.
His manner was not that Of 3 man who
had messzse from God for me-
Il has o.ten been matter Of surprise
tothe writer, that 50 little attention IS
paid TO good reading by preachers gen
erally. Il is q growing conviction among
ministers Of all Evangelical churches
that there should be more Of the service
in which the people can take part -
in many churches the Lord's PRAYER Is
repeated after the minister, and there i
The responsive reading Of the Psalms.
Many use the Te Dsum and the APos-
ties Greed. This We take 70 be = move
IN the night direction The singing Ct
Gods praise should be hearty and con
gregzfional. Wonderful Is the power Of
sacred song TO uplift the sosl and when
ss with one breath Ee praise the Lord
Ee are near n sympathy Eith the heay-
e1.y world. Where the hymn Is read
6rst by the minister, is mea5ing ss an
act Of worship can be interpreted By
good reading. Let i be understood that
the people are not assembled 10 Be en-
teriained OF amused, but 70 worship God
and receive spiritual insrruction- Preach
ing In = church in Ohio some time ago I
noticed that the artist who frescOed the
building had introduced = picture Of the
human eye IN the centre Of the ceiling
While some might question whether that
was IN good taste, none viii dispute the
fsct that tie worshiper Is under the eye
Of God. In conducting the worship Of
the sanctuary, We should desire that all
present, as far as possible, engage With
Us in sets Of prayer and praise, as vel
as in hearing the sermon
Prayer has Al important place N pub
lie worship, and IS the hardest part Of il
to lead Alright It IS not easy intelligent
" and reverentiy 70 lead the devotions
Of the people. Il is easier in this respect
70 speak to nan than it's 10 pray sright
in public, and thus speak 10 God. 4
msn may talk 10 God and not pray
TIE minister's private prayers are one
thing, his prayers for the congregation
when leading them in worship quite
another. Il was remarked Of Boston
preacher that his Was the best prayer
ever presented 70 a Boston audience p
Let Is beware Of the preaching prayer.
that Is preach when We preach and pray
when We pray.
The Lords Prayer should be part
Of our church service, this Is the model
petition, il Is most simple and sublime
Whatever aids We may use let this have
It's place and infiuenee IS well ssthrough
Gods mercy It's gracious answer. I knOE
q minister who for thirty years hss
preached in the same church, whose peo-
pie love him for MS prayers They Be
lieve that his prayers 20 straight 70 the
throne as 10 doubt they DO. Qleen Yicfo-
ria for whom this nation, As indeed al 9th
ers, has the highest esteem, was much
moved by Dr.. Norman McClznd prsyersin
church. 4 slEays have lump IN ny
throat when he prays for ne and the
children This was said yeaIs ago, and
the good doctor has gone 70 his reward
on high How near Ee may get to the
hearts OF the people by true prayer il
their betalf, in which the whole congre-
CATION can unite II sympathy and dep
feeling.
There should be JOY ss vel as rever-
ence in worship, and We aIe TO Keep this
fact before the people We worship -Ocr
Heavenly Father and assemble not 70
hear q message Of death. bat Of life-
~The JOY Of the Lord Was their
strength who served him in the olden
time, Il sho1ld be ours also. God i not
praised BY q eounten2nee Erezthed in
gloom, but he is IN one on which rests
the sunshine Of his love.
Worship, If frivolous and fippznf, can
not be accepted yet It nust ever be joy
oas.
We may rejoice in God our Saviour, IN
Gefhssnans and even ST the Cross The
rzinbows glorious eolOring Is ST seross
the dark eload Of sorroE, and the sweet
est songs Of the ehurch have been born
Of trial There Is light in the cloud.
We are then TO lead the people in 3 Joy
Gus service.
Sod abides- and Christ Is exalted,
the Holy spirit L given II
abundance Death and the grave are
defeated, and We may vel rejoice. A
dull, complaining, distrustfal tone in
worship. hurts the people and dishOnOrs
God. The ~HAIlei1jAh chorus" and not
the -Miserers7 Is the embodiment OF real
worship
There Is however another uatter
which must not be ignored Jost as q
dyspepiic or any one o1t Of health may
give Is the blues If We come in contact
with them, 50 five are not in health il
viii give Z sOmbre eoloring 70 our minis
trAfiOns We need sound mind in