The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-11-26
THE PRAYER MEETING
Spirited Discussion as to Its
Merits and Dement'S.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PRAYER
Is the Church Entirely Right in It's
Methods Doctor and Preacher
in the "JuntO Club"

The members of the Junto Club-all
opened in due and ancient infornality.
1t was proposed to change the night of
meeting, but the minister objected on the
ground that 1t would conflict with prayer
meeting, and in that case he would be
compelled to give up his membership in
the Junto. although he would do so very
reluctantly. We did not further discuss
the proposed change, for we were united
in the opinion that we could not find any
one to take the reverend members place
ard fill 1t so well, even If we so desired.
But though we gave VI the thought OF
changing the evening of meeting, yet we
enjoyed a pleasant controversy that en-
sue between the minister and the doctor
in regard to prayer meetings.
Doctor-You might give up the prayer
meeting-it is of very little consequence
any way, is 1t not?
Minister-No, / couldn't do that; for
even If l could give 1t up SO far as my
own needs are concerned, still 1 would be
obliged to conduct it for the benefit of
my congregation.
How many attend your meetings?"
About a Dozen"
"They wouldn't attend If you did not
urge and scold them, would they?"
Perhaps not. A few would, but there
would be very few of the dozen left If I
didn't get after them about every other
Sunday morning"
IT think they are sensible in not going.
1 can't see the use of the prayer meeting
as 1t Is conducted. l used TO attend
when / was a boy, but l don't now, and
I can't see what would be gained by at
tending"
You would probably pray more If you
attended regularly and took an active
part"
Are we heard for our much praying?"
mo, but II your praying more is ac-
companied by more earnestness your
prayer would be more likely to be an
swered."
II AVE prayed as many as a dozen
times today, and didn't have to go into
a church to do it either"
But If you do your praying in a meet
ing o will help others as well as your-
self. Others will hear your prayer and
follow you in your thought, and they
themselves taught how to pray"
But didn't suppose that was the OBJ
ject of prayer l never pray in order to
give instruction, but rather to ecure a
special disp%ensation of divine favor"
THAT is true, and yet one can accom-
plish both ends by praying aloud"
II think not, for when l pray in a
meeting my object is to make a prayer
that sounds well and will give my hear
ers a good opinion of me. 1 really pray
to be heard of men,"
Public prayer has been the means of
converting many a man"
THAT may be true, but still I protest
that you mistake the object of prayer.
We were not told in Holy Writ to pray
In order to instruct or convert, but to ask
for what we desired. I've heard minis
ters preach God a sermon in their pray
ers. They pray for the same things two
or three times a week for years, just as
though the Almighty did not hear the
last prayer and answer it."
But a minister could do very little
praying unless he did sometimes repeat
himself"
THAT Is all right, but there are some
things that to repeat three times a week
seems next to blasphemy. Take, for in
stance, the expression, Care for us
throughout all time repeated so often by
our pastors. If God is going to grant
the petition will he not do so with one
asking instead of a hundred?'
Saying such things every Sunday Is a
matter of habit with us minister's"
That is just what l say, and a me-
chanical prayer is worse than no prayer
at all. Some ministers commit their
prayers to memory, and imagine, per-
haps, that a photograph could not do as
we'll"
You say you have prayed a dozen
Zines today; were not your prayers me-
chanical?"
mo, sir, they were not. Whenever !
eel a need of anything l pray for 1t, and
whenever l feel thankful | praise God in
my heart without waiting for Sunday to
haven't any use for a God that
listens only at stated times. Perhaps l
will not feel like praying when the spe-
sial tire comes. | heard a minister lead
in prayer once at a Fourth of July pic
mic where they had liquor on sale, gam
gled, chased creased pigs and all tina
ort of thing, and in opening his prayer
he began as he always did in church:
o Lord, we thank Thee that we are
Iermitted to gather here this morning to
worship Thee That was simply a mis-
lake, not a prayer. I've heard ministers
spend several minutes telling the AL
mighty how bad they and their congre-
cation had been, when that same AL
mighty knew more about 1t han they
did"
Are you really a religious MANI
Il claim to be, l find happiness in
what is to me religion, and think others
would find more happiness if they would
be humble, unassuming and sincere in
all that pertains to their spiritual well
iare. l believe that the churches have
cen the makers of our civilization, but /
an sure, too, that they are still lacking
In many respects when 1t comes to min
to the wants Of the individual.
May God prosper the church bless
you ministers, but l hope the time may
soon come when the sham of formality
and the bonds of conservatism will be
off and we may all be true fol-
of the Nazarene." JUNTO.