The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-27
THE POWER OF PRAYER.
DEAN BARRETT DELITERs An
OTHER ELOQUENT SERMON
At the Noon Service at MonumsT tai
Church-God Wishes Us to
struggle In Prayer

At the beginning of the noon-day ser
vices at Monumental church yesterday
the rector. Rev. F. ;. Stickney. stated
that at the services this afternoon a col
lection would be taken up for the Pa
rochial Mission Society, By whom Dean
Barrett had been sent here TO conduct
the services during the past week lie
added that Rev. r. Z. Barrett was not
to receive any remuneration from Nonu-
mental church.
Dean Barrett then delivered an earnest
ana powerful sermon on prayer. DURING
the first part OF the week, he said, we
spoke about two spirits, that OF man and
OF God: of the finite and the infinite
spirit, which Communicate with eacn
other. The question OF communication
was 10 the soul inhabltng the Dody ana
the soul inhabiting the universe. At first
we say, yes. it is human; such communi-
cation must exist. because this Infinite
spirit IS our Father and God puts into
our hearts this prayer-instinct. lie puts
ii there for purpose.
PtoPLT WHO PRAY.
Wherever men live. there they pray;
not only sentimental people pray but also
world wise people. All kinds Of people
pray-the rich and the poor, the learned
and the ignorant. Prayer Is nothing that
tn most ignorant person cannot learn.
Some one my say the theory OF prayer Is
quite correct, but, az a matter OF fact
my prayers are not answered. Under this
difficulty some people have stopped pray
Ing. but children and parents should not
stop there. they ought 10 see the fallacy
Of such an argument.
Sometimes people feel that Il happens
that two men pray for the opposite thing.
and the same may happen % two nations
who are at war with each other No
doubt they are heard In the Franco
German war for instance, the two ma
tons who fought against each other got
what they needed the mOst-France got
discipline and Germany prestige.
God often gives US something very dif-
fcreut from what we wish. but he comes
nearer giving MS what we want than We
expected Sometimes we do not pray
We must not 10 10 inexperienced people
for advice as 80 how 20 pray. God tells
US very directly how 10 pray; there II an
order I'm PRAYER which has TO be preserved.
as Is shown us I'm the Lords Prayer.
The truth in the matter Is. people begin
praying for bread and pray for bread
only. they pray for temporal things. Men
have a great way IN looking at prayer
from material standpoint only. Mans
will is not dependent on its antecedents:
man can do what nature cannot do. He
does not violate the law when he con-
trolls It.
CAN FRAY FOR COD.
We violate no law when we ask God.
who Is freer than any government TO
do and give MS what We need. We can
pray for God: we can pray for rain.
| Prayer does not change Gods character
He changes only His methods. while His
nature remains unchanged. So this world
never changed any, only It's manifesta-
| tons have changed. Gods glorious mani
| festatiOns should encourage US to come 20
! Him i'm prayer and We should not be
| frightened by His greatness, which Is re-
vealed TO as just as much by the perfec-
| ton as the greatness OF the universe.