Evening star., 1896-01-03
A EEK OF PRAY Err
It Will Be Observed by All Protestant
Churches.
Program of the Meetings to BE Held
I'm This City Next
Week.

The week Of prayer so generally observed
in the Protest ant churches begins next Mon
day, and will continue until the 18th. In
former years 1t was the custom for the
churches of nearly all the denominations
represented in this city to unite in services
for the week, but this year there will be no
such meetings, although one denomination,
the Presbyterian, has made arrangements
to hold union meetings of some magnitude.
While several other churches will unite to-
gether, there will be only one service Of any
magnitude outside of the Presbyterian
meetings. and that will be of four churches
IN the northwest section of the city.
Origin Of the Movement.
Inc week Of prayer originated in a mis-
sion IN India, in 1857, by the mission ad-
dressing to all Christian churches in the
world an invitation to observe the first
week In January as a week of prayer for
the evangelization of the world. This In
dian church met with a cordial response
from all Protestant churches in every part
IN all the cities and countries of the world.
Later on the Evangelical Alliance, when
thoroughly organized, undertook the gen.
eral direction of the week, and for this pur-
pose issued circulars and programs, send
ing them out to every part of the known
world In the last ten years there has been
q growing tendency toward denominational
observance Of the week and Individual OBJ
servance by particular churches. This is
especially true of this city, where a large
numper or churches will hold Individual
services, except the Epfscopalians. The lat
Ter denomination, owing partly to the fact
tnat they have season of a similar char
acter little later, Lent, do not formally
enter into the idea.
The Presbyterians.
UDOn unanimous ootfor 80 A..
rian Ministers Association. a communion
service for all the Presbyterian churches
OF the city will be held at the Church of
the Covenant. corner Of Connecticut ave-
nue. and street, Sunday evening at 6
O'Clock. and which Is to be conducted by
the pastor Of the church, Rev. Teunis s.
.Hamlin. DID. Elders from the different
churches have been appointed to assist in
the distribution Of the elements Beein-
nirg Monday. the same churches will also
unite IN series OF prayer meetings in the
New York Avenue Church each day of the
week. except Saturday evening, from 4:15
pm. untii pm. The topics and leaders
evening, Rev. William C. Alexander, DID,
pastor West Street Church. Humiliation
ana Thanksgiving; Tuesday. Rev. George
itan M LuesoSk; SS%Ich D-1 pastor Of the MetrOpo,
Wednesday. Rev. B. F. Bittinger. DID, Of
Westminster Church, Nations and Their
Rulers; Thursday, Rev. Joseph T. Kelly,
pastor Of the Fourth Church. Foreign
Missions. and Friday evening, Rev. Teunis
s: Hamlin, DID. The other pastors of the
different churches will take part In the
services. and 1t Is expected, owing to the
interest taken in these meetings, that
large audiences will be present at all.
Other Denominations.
The Vermont Avenue Christian, the
Luther Memorial. the Central Methodist
Protestant, and Grace Reformed churches
have also arranged to celebrate the week
jointly, services being held every evening
OF the week except Thursday and Satur-
day. The topics and leaders assigned for
these meetings are as follows: Monday
evening, to be held at the Vermont Avenue
Church. and conducted by the pastor, Rev
Francis D. Power, d. D., Humiliation and
Thanksgiving:" Tuesday. at the Luther
Memorial, Rev. ]. G. Butler, d. D., pastor
Prayer for the Church Universal" We'd
nesday, at the Central Methodist Protest
ant, Rev. Samuel ]. Smith, pastor, Ma
tions and Rulers" and Friday evening, at
Grace Reformed Church, Rev. A. Thomas
G. Apple, Families and Schools" While
each pastor will conduct the services when
held In his particular church, the four con-
gregations will, unite and the other three
pastors will assist the leader in charge
Quite number Of other churches will hold
services OF their own.