Smyrna times., 1899-01-11
THE WEEK OF PRAYER.
observed Last Week In the Methodist and
Presbyterian Churches.

FIesOyteTlan lnufcneS.
The Rev. Mr.. Estlin, of the Presbv-
terian church, and Rev. Mr.. Hill. of
the Methodist church, each obser we'd
last week as the "Week of PRAYER" as
laid down by the Evangelical Alliance
The attendance was not as large at
either church as they could have de-
sired, attributable in part doubtless to
the bad weather and the prevalent
sickness. A topic was assigned for
each days consideration, that for Wed
nesday being:
NATIONS AND THEIR RULERS" "
After reading the second psalm. Rev.
Z. A. Hill said: "We are here tonight
to pray for the Nations of the earth
whether they be civilized OF savage
The psalm 1 have just read contem-
plates the reign of Christ over the ma
tlonS. L will declare the decree, the
Lord hath said unto me; Thou art nv
son, this day have l begotten thee
ASK OF me, and 1 shall give thee the
heathen for thy inheritence. and tbe
uttermost parts of the earth for tbv mo-
session. The Lord said unto him.
Ask and 1 shall give thee. etc W.
are to join Him in the prayer. What.
ever contributes to the uplift of the
nations VIII hasten that glad day.
We are to hope and prav chat oil
peoples may duly prize civil and reIjp-
lous freedom, and may deserves TO he
thus free How many nations as vet
know little or nothing Of civil or relic.
lous freedom. These things have had
thelr richest and best development
mere IN our own Republic. Our rich
privileges have come to MS after can
turies OF struggle and suffering. Since
Tue barons confronted King John at |
hunnemede, the Anglo-Saxons have
Fought great battles to secure and ex-
tend the sacred boon of civil liberty
and inch by inch on many a bloody
neld the ground has been gained. and
one by one in many a stormy forum
principles have been laid down
until now we have constitutional GOV
erhments. All power and authority in
our government inhere in the people
anu we have received from our fathers
the best and freest government +Lo
world ever saw.
Religious freedom is just as great
blessing. We worship God according
to the dictates of our own conscience
and there is no power that can hinder
or make US afraid. There is no state
church, and no forms and ceremonies
required by law. The church with all
Its blessed institutions, is free. The
Bible is free, and it is every mans
right to study it for himself.
Mr.. Geo. I. Lennon recently do
5crloed IN the Epworth IEcrald, "a s
sunday IN Havana. 1t shows us what
u is to have the Church and State c
Iolhed together. Mr.. Lennon at l
tended the cathedral and the Spanisb /
army came to worship; 'the troops t
we're drawn up along the side walls. at i
ne tap of the drum a thousand men S
DOW the knee, and the lips of some "
move IN prayer, but the Handsomely t.
uniformed officers keep their posts c
rect IN the rear of their kneeling men. "
md never a paternoster is murmnred |,
their waxed mustacbes IN ii
,oes the mass and curiouslv. on goes Il
ne music. The band continues TO W
LAY while the priests continue 70 d
mouth the ritual. The drummer IL
lnoWs the mass and his taps on the 81
rum Keep the soldiers of Spain drop ft
ing and rising as by the ritual thew n
ught to do" At the conclusion of the IL
ervice the band plays all 'tbe fast pi
lnes IN their repertoire, until the e,
rches ring and the rafters seem TO
ance almost blasphemously to all the 81
eels and waltZes''. Attendance nnon bl
ilVlne service seems to be the dis m
harge OF a state duty. Other forms til
worship have been inhibited. We pi
lould thank God for the BLESSING Of
'llglous freedom and pray that it NAV
granted the other nations of the
lrth. OF
Let us pray that the nations NAV de- '
rive to be free and NAV distinonisb Vi
9tWeen liberty and license, faithfully oe
'eylng Just laws and holding right &c
'us authority in profound reverence oo
ay they cherish the brotherhood Il"
nlch embraces all classes and condi- "a
'ns OF men. God ''hath made of PC
le blood all nations of men for TO
veil on all the face of the earth. and p'
'th determined the times before an n'
lnted and the bounds of their babi- oi
tion.' at
In spite of racial differences all
an are brothers. The human race is ooI
lnlt' through the transgression of its 'io
st representative, all were brought cay
DER sin and death, and, thanks TO :, wa
love and mercy of God, through 'n'
atonement of Christ, all redeemed 'hi
at this universal brotherhood of men SCI
Duld be more and more recognized ne'
that Christ should be hailed nv ool
nations as their King, are THINGS iol
be devoutly desired and prayed for. !o'
may the day speedily come when inc
glad shout shall ascend: 'Tbe VA
gdoms of this world are become the the
gdoms of our Lord and his Christ.
he shall reign forever and ever. 6.
,,o sid,
HORTIcULTURISTS MEET. Co,