Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-23

cause of hard times would tell how, in 70.
Spouse to supplication, they got the money
to pay the note; II oil farmers in time OF
drought would tell how, in answer to
prayer, the rain came just in time to save
tho crop; II all parents who prayed for
wandering son to come home would tell
how, not long after, they heard the boys
hand on the latch of the front door.
Samuel Hiok, an English Methodist
preacher, solicited MD for West India mis-.
sions from rich miser and failed. Then
the minister dropped on his knees, and Tho
miser said, II will give thee n guinea II
thou wilt give over" But the minister
continued to pray, until the miser said,
~ will give thee guineas If thou wilt
give over" Then the money was taken
to the missionary l2eoting. Oh, the
power of prayerl Melancathon, utterly dis.
couraged, was passing along place where
children were heard praying, and he came
back, saying: Brethren, take courage.
Tho children are praying for u.s." Moth.
ing can stand before prayer. An infldel
came into Bible class to ask puzzling
questions. Many Of the neighbors came
in to hear the discussion. The infldel
arose and said to tho leader Of the Bible
class, ~ hear you allow questions askedp"
ooh, yes" said the leader, "but ut the
start lot us kneel down and ask God ia
guide us'' ooh, nc" said tho infidel,
II did not come to prayl l came to dis.
ouss" But" said the leader, "you will
Of course submit to our rule, and that IL
always to begin with prayer" The leader
knolt in prayer, and then arose and said ia
tho infldel, "Now you pray" The infldcl
replied; II cannot pray have no God to
pray to. Lot me go! Lot me go!" Tho
spectators, who expected fun found moth
ing but ovcrpowering soemnity, and re.
vival started, and among the first who
were brought in was tho infidel. Tha:
prayer did 1t. In all our lives there have
boon times when we felt that prayer was
answered Then let us soy so.
There fingers ON this side Of the river
that divides earth and heaven, ready ut
any time to cross over, the apostle of
prayer for this century, Jeremiah Calvin
Lanphier, the founder of the Fulton street
prayer meeting, and II no should put on
his spectacles and read this 1 salute him
as more qualified than any man since
Bible times In demonstrating what prayer
can do Dear Brother Lanphierl Tho
high heavens are full of his fame. Having
announced meeting for ~ O'Clock Sept.
90, 1857, he sat in the upper room on Full.
/
to come. He waited for half hour, and
then football was heard on the steps, and
after awhile in all persons arrived but
the next day 90, and the next day 40, and
from that time to this, for over 3S years,
every day, Sabbath excepted, that Fulton
street prayer meeting has been place
where people have asked prayer and an.
swcrs to prayer have boon announced, and
the throb Of that great heart Of supplica-
tion has thrilled not only into tho heav-
ems, but clear around the world, more than
any spot ON earth. That has been tho
place where tho redeemed of the Lord said
so!
The Value Of Kind Words.
Let the same outspokenness BIO employed
toward those by whom wo have been person
ally advantaged. We wait until they ara
dead before we say so. Your parents have
planned for your best interests all these
years. They may sometimes, their nerv-
Gus system used up by the cares, the losses,
tho disappointments, the worriments OF
| life, DO more irritable than they ought to
be, and they probably have faults which
have become oppressive as tho years go by.
But those eyes, l,ng before they took on
spectacles, were Watching for your welfare,
and their hands, not as smooth and much
more deeply lined than once, have done
for you many good days work. Life
has been to them more of q struggle than
you will ever know about, and much OF
the struggle has beon for you, and how
much they aro wrapped up in your well
fare you will never appreciate.
Have you by word or gift or behavior
expressed your thanks? Or II you cannot
quito get up to say it face to face have
you written it in some holiday salutationf
The time will soon pass and they will DO
gone out Of your sight, and their ears will
not hear, and their eyes will not see. II
you owe them any kindness of-deed or any
words Of appreciation, why do you not say
so? How much wo might all Of us save
ourselves In the matter of regrets II we did
not delay until too late an expression of
obligation that would have made tho last
years of earthly life more attractive. Tho
grave is deaf, and opitaphs on cold marble
cannot make reparation.
In conjugal life the honeymoon Is soon
past and the twain take 1t for granted
that each Ia thoroughly understood. How
dependent on each other they become, and
the years go by, and perhaps nothing Is
said to make the other fully understand
that sense Of dependence. Impatient words
sometimes come FORTH and motives are
misinterpreted, and 1t Is taken as mat
tor of course that the two will walk the
path of life side by side until about the
Same time their journey shall be ended
but sonlo'sudden and appalling illness un-
loosens the right hands that were clasped
years before ut tho altar OF orange BIOS
SONS, the parting takes place, and among
the worst Of all the sorrow Is that you
did not oftener, II you ever did at all, tell
her or tell him how indispensable she was,
or how Indispensable he was to your hap
piness, apd that in some plain, square talk
long ago you did not ask for forgiveness
for infirmities and neglects, and by some
unlimited utterance make 1t understood
that you fully appreciated the fidelity and
reinforcement Of many years. Alas,
how many such have to lament the rest Of
their lives, "Oh, II had only said sol"
The Christian Ideal.
My subject takes wider range. The
Lord has hundreds Of thousands of people
among those who have never joined his
army because Of some high ideal Of what a
Christian should be- or because Of fear
that they may not hold out, or because OF
q spirit Of procrastination. They have
mover publicly protested Christ. They
have as much right to the sacraments and
as much right TO all the privileges Of the
church as thousands who have for years
been enrolled In church membership, and
yet they have made NO positive utteranos
by which tho world may know thoy love
God and are on the road to heaven. They
are redeemed Of the Lord, and yet do not
soy SO. Oh, what an augmentation II