The Newtown bee., 1899-02-17

the representatives Of the Great Powers
across the sea assembled in the hall of
the Lower House to pay their last tribute
of respect to this noble man. He was
one Of the rowned kings who are Gre
ated by the free institutions Of America.
He was great man, leader among
leaders but, above all, he was Chrisris n
No one ever scnff9d at the religious con-
victions of Mr. Dingley, and yet he did
not conceal them. Men who radically
differed with his politics agreed that he
led the right sort of life. When he went
from public affairs to bis quiet home In
Lewiston, Me-, the young men looked
eagerly for his coming; they gathered to
the prayer-meetipg Of his church, which
he always attended, just to hear him talk.
Before he went from his home to assume
the great duties of State, he asked his
neighbors to pray for him that he might
discharge his great trust in the fear of
God. 'What sort of man Is Mr. Ding
| ley?' was asked of his pastor, Rev G. Nj.
Howe, when he was travelling in the
South last March or April. 81 would
sum iG all up in this" replied the pastor
''Mr Dingley Ia PRAYER meeting Chris
tian." Hear that, you who believe the
church prayer-meeting Is a pretty good
plsce for little children and weak-minded
women. A great man became greater
because he was prayer-meeting Chris
tian. He did not feed on broth and kuick-
knacks in his spiritual life. He ate of
the meat of the Gospel, he was built up
through the Word of GODS grace.
| have one symptom more; 1t ia diff
Guilty of breathing. Those who suffer
from spiritual grip especially NANTES:
this sign of disease. When 1 went to
college, in freshman year the Jung pow
er Of the students was tested by an in
strument called the spirometer. This
instrument clea,l ~ indicated to what ex.
tent each student was able to initiate hi:
lungs and how deep dr&ughts of breath
ne could draw. Prayer" as James
Montgomery says in his beautiful hymn
lis the Christians vital BREATH" IT we
can draw in very little OF this vita
breath, we are
SURELY SPIRITUALLY DISEASED.
Physicians tell us that consumption IL
it's earliest stages can generally be curee
by the patient frequently Initiating tht
lungs to their fullest capacity and draw
ing in long braaths. So sickness of the
soul can often be cured in it's earlies
stages by taking good large draughts OF
the pure air of prayer. by returning &c
the native air of the soul-the atmo >.
phere Of Calvary.
On for revival Of the spirit of prayer
Ga that we all might believe that praye
Is the lever that moves the world! OF
that we all might remember that as Chris
prayed He TRANSPORTED before His 6iIci
Piles, that as Peters companions prayed
5ne angel opened the prison door, that al
the little company of first believers pray
ed the tongues Of Pentecostal fame cam,
down! On for praying churches! or
for praying homes! Oh that we al
might more really live in the very atmos
/ VA Pi0yOa iS aAC SnIts
tian's vital breath = the Christian canno
1--we without it. He might better try ts
live without home and without mind
God speaks to us. through natare and pro
whence and revelation and the HOLY
Spirit; but that Is not enough, we mus
speak to Him. The telegraphic wires
run hitfer and thither along the poles
bearing their message Of joy or sorrow
but that is not enough. The curren,
above ground must be matched by the
current below the ground, or no mes.
lsages at all will be sent; so Gods mes.
isages 10 "a must be matched by our mes.
ages to Him. Our hearts may be drawn
out in love toward God, we may mediate
upon His mercy, His works, His blessing
but that is not enough. Our prayer does
rot bring God down TO rs 30 much
as il brings US up 10 God.
| We have SO many grounds for coming
10 God 10 prayer. He 10 our Father
and will deal with Us as children.
He is our Maker and understands as
through and through. That Ii ii. / re-
member how pr John Hall. speaking In
bis kindly way to the theological stu
dents at Yale. well illustrated Ehis very
point. He said that he had given pas
Ior's care and Watchfnlness At the bed