Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-21
QUIET SESSION OF TuE CONVENTION.
Address on the Practice of the Press
cnce of God.

QUIET SBSSSioN w tONN ~ NIION.
Address on the Practice of the Press
cnce Of God.
The quiet session was about an hour in
duration, and during it there was a stiffness
throughout the immense audience that only
added to the solemnity of the occasion.
The address was interspersed with prayers,
and during these every head in the house
was reverently bowed. Prof. White re-
quested that all notebooks be abandoned for
the time being and that a serious effort be
made by each one to hold direct communion
with God.
At the beginning he said: ''In our medi-
tation we should consider: THE character of
God, the practice of whose presence is
recommended; what it is to practice the
presence of God; results Of the practice of
the presence of God, which may be as
signed as reasons for the same; some practi-
cal suggestions; some personal questions"
In speaking of the practice of the presence
of God Prof. White said: 1T is to live as
in His presence; to order the whole career
in view of and in reference to the fact that
think under the influence of His
presence. It is to follow
Jesus, to learn OF Him, to abide in Him. 1t
is to pray always. The man who lives and
walks with God prays always. lie fulhlls
to the letter the Injunction: Pray without
c%easing.' 1t is our duty and high privilege
to have this constant converse with God.
The heart should be like the altar of incense
on which the fire never went out" In speak
ing of the results of practicing the presence
of God the speaker said; Peace, joy and
happiness are in his presence. Jesus wishes
that We shall be sharers of his joy. The
soul that is concealed i'll the secret of Gods
presence feels safe and is free from anxiety.
! Fellowship with God results from a practice
OF His presence. We do not for an instant
suppose that God and lInoch walked far
together without cOnversing with each other.
And if Enoch was the man | believe him to
have been he did not do all the talking.
He simply did enough to keep God speaking
to him. | think he mostly asked questions
and frequently interjected an expression of
unworthiness and wonder that God should
be his companion. l think his wonder in
creased as he went along. and yet with each
step the companionship became more in
dispensable. If God ever suggested leaving
him | imagine he said: %, be pleased, my
Lord. to proceed with me, | entreat Thee
not to leave me-. Without Thee / could not
live. Where thou goest permit me to CO. -
BE HUMBLE AND PENITENT.
Gods presence guides. He who lives in
1t does not lose his way. Enoch walking
with God went by a straight road right
home to God. Like a flock, the angel of His
presence led Israel in the wilderness. They
never lost their way. The presence of God
leads to the recognition and confession of sin
and unworthiness. He who practices Gods
presence must be a very humble and peni-
tent one. He is always depending on the
blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse him from
all sin. He stands before a holy God only
because he Is In Jesus, who ever liveth to
make intercession for him. When his con.
science condemns him he hides not his sin,
but into the light with 1t he comes and
coufesses 1t. He says. %, Lord. this is just
like me, | shall always be thus doing il
thou dost not aid me- He accepts the
| nr1mtsa that ha is faithful and riubtanuS n
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness il we confess our sins
and stays in Gods presence, and is at rest
though now doubly on his guard against sir
in the future. Gods forgiveness has beer
so real, His gentleness has been so gener'
Gus that it has made the penitent
deeply sorry and determined not to act Sc
again. By Gods presence sin is prevented
and overcome. TO practice Gods presence
stimulates to the best performance. The
character is changed by the practice OF
Gods presence, Those creatures which in
habit the north country take on the ap-
pearance Of the driven snow. So man be
comes like those with whom he associates
Wouldst thou become more holy? Look al
God. Know His character. Contemplate
His projections. Yield to the invoking OF
His life. Beholding as In a mirror the
glory of the Lord we are changed into the
same image from glory to glory"
Briefly the practical suggestions given by
Prot. White were: "Be on double guard
against sin, which is the only thing thai
can keep God and the soul apart, Recog-
nize God as present. By faith accept the
fact. Look about and see Him. BE quiet
listen and let Him speak 10 thee. Make
much of l john, 1; 7-9. Daily acknowledge
utter unworthiness, Get and keep very low
before God, Walk humbly with thy God
Instantly when conscious of sin confess i
and accept forgiveness. By all means stay
in the light. Keep the morning watch
Thousands all over the world are now spend
ing a half hour in the morning In prayer ant
bible study. Shall we not all join theil
rank. One who began 1t only a little while
ago said to me: %, what a help il Is al
day Pray without ceasing. DO not con
fine all devotion to the morning. Let III,
soul be always on its knees. Like the bird
be always ready to fly"
Then, when every head In the house wa
bowed and while the eyes were all closed
the leader OF this wonderfully impressiy,
service read forty-eight personal questions
After reading each one he paused, allow
ing each one in the house an opportunity 4
silently answer the question concerning tn
welfare OF his soul. The service close
with a feryent prayer.
William z. Grafton, on behalf OF tn