The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-05-01


ritten by Mrs. j. Bennett Davis,
d. MissouriD
touching anything that they shall ask
it shall be done for them of my
Father which is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in
my name there am | in the midst of
them"
In His name-that is the secret.
This Is one of the most familiar
promises and it is true and sure.
Then why cannot just few leagueIs
claiming this promise, having the in
dwelling Presence TO go before and
save from much that tends 10 hinder
and discourage, who will make leagnc
work as much part of business as
any secular duty they are compelled to
and to the throne of grace from day
to day and from meeting TO meeting,
why cannot they be the means through
which reasonable degree of success
may be achieved along all linesP
While numbers are significant they do
not infallibly guage religious life, and
success is not always measured by
them.
What does it matter, therefore, if
there do happen to be only five or six
members at Sunday evening dovo-
tional league meeting when 1t is not
preaching dayP II is most reasonable
to suppose that these are there because
the "loye of God constraineth them, s"
and the leader who comes prepared,
may, with tact, turn this into an
informal experience meeting, and thus
make Ii n most delightful spiritual
occasion. All will go forth with new
love, new hope, new resolutions,
planning how they may get others to
become more interested in their own
souls salvation and Impart TO these
share of the joy they experience.
Then at the very next meeting,
perhaps, will be present the pastor,
the timid member, the irreliei ious and
the luke-warm. Following a custom
all respond to roll call with verse of
scripture. As result of preparation
gong on in the meantime, verses of
scripture bearing on the lesson have
been selected for the timid to read,
sub-topics have been clipped for those
who may have no helper at home, and
if the whole remainder of time is not
occupied with songs and prayers the
pastor may be allowed (?) to speak
Everybody has had something to do
and feels better over it. And there
are ways and ways. Just try and
keep on trying. Plans will grow out
of conditions and will fit into most
unexpected places in most unexpected
ways. If the conditions are peculiar
the plans are liable to be peculiar, too,
but what does that amount to if they
are successfulP
Vary the program for devotional
meetings as much as possible, for, as
some one has said, ''sameness is tame
ness" Have a little "experieRce''
meeting once in a while when there
are others besides the select" present
There may be those who are known to
have been benefited in the league
whom the word testify Gas it does
great many older ones) frightens half
to death
For the mere asking if the league
has been a benefit, to tell in what
way, it is exceptional if they do
not arise and testify before they know
it. Discuss the necessity of prayer,
both private and public, and have
every one pray who will attempt to
utter word or sentence of prayer. 1t
will be a blessed thing, indeed, if all
can be prevailed upon to kneel in
prayer. This is one advantage the
country church has Gf not too modern)
the kneeling posture can be assumed
without any very great discomfort,
and 1t is Methodislic If it is little old
tImey.
In the country, while there is not an
unlimited field, there is still by no
means meager opportunity for work IN
the department of charity and help.
''For ye have the poor with you
always, and whensoever ye will, ye
may do them good" We have with
us, also, the sick, the sorrowing, the
Illiterate and the opeless-those with
out hope in Christ. They are not less
appreciative in the country than else
where, nowhere is there greater
abundance from which want may be
relieved, and there has never been
time when there was greater need of
charity and help than at the present.
There are not many who are happy in
their own comfortable homes and who
stay there, that realize fully how much
real want there is around, or how close
to them. Neither do they realize how
much warmth and good cheer and
genuine pleasure even few half worn
garments from the closet, a few well
chosen books or papers and few
substantIals and delicacIes from the
table bring into cheerless homes, and
by relieving temporal wants pave the
way for grander, nobler work-the
bringing into realization of spiritual
needs.
Personal insight will reveal facts