The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-15

TWO STRONG SERMONS.
The Power of Prayer and the Glory Of
the Gospel.
A HOT RoAsT FOR ALL SORTS or CRITICS
Rev. Stuart Thinks It's Nigh y Smart ' o.
man That Knows How 10 Run Her
Mo- in a Protracted
Meeting

The Rev. George Stuart preached at
Edenton Street church last night to
standing room only. and when the service
closed there were a dozen or more people
! kneeling at the altar asking the prayers
Of Christian people.
The sermon was a characteristic
George Stuart sermon" Astounding in
flashes of wit, now and then words of
deep pathos or poetic beauty, but always
he gospel.
He announced no subject. though as a
matter of fact he talked about Prayer, =
and he took as his text the words written
W Paul to the church at Thessalonica:
Finally, brethren, pray for us that the
word OF God may be gloriAed.'
Paul wrote these words, the preacher
said, 10 a small band of Christian people.
He had just gone to wicked city to hold
a meeting and he felt the need OF the
| prayers of those at home.
The glory of the gospel is not in a
| great church building, nor is it in deep
toned organs and costly choirs; it is not
in a large membership or fine sermons.
i've seen God more glorifed in the
conversion of a young girl in an humble
little mission than in all the parapher-
mana of great church. I've seen lowly
band OF godiy men and women over which
the glory of God has swept as l fear il
has never been manifested in many a
more pretentious place.
Salvation is glorfied in the gospel
of Jesus Christ and salvation comes
through faith and prayer.
Like Paul of old, / come to you to-
night asking your prayers-not your criti-
cism. I'm a good subject for criticism,
but that is not what / want in this meet
ing. 1t takes less stock in trade to
cllticise than to do anything more profit
able. Like all bad habits, it grows on
| ycti-the more you 90 it the easier it be-
comes and the harder it is to break your
| self of the habit.
Now I've come here for business. My
| time is too precious TO be taken up with
| Brother Critic and Sister Critic. I'm here
to save your boys and your girls, that
are ON their way to He'll and you know
it Il you've go any s2nse at all
with St. Paul l stand preaching in
a wicked city and say Pray for me.
Prayer is great power and power-the
power Of God $ molly spirit is what l want
in this meeting"
The preacher related many wonderful
instances OF the power OF prayer in his
experience, and declared:
IF l had twenty good women to pray
for me an hour a day I'd mighty near
tackle He'll # it was missionary ground.
Are you going to pray, brother, or
are you going to roll this meeting over on
me and walk off. If you are m helpless
as a baby
Then he turned his attention to the
sisters awhile and asked:
do you want your husband saved
Then pray for him. But first are you
right yourseiI? Have you prayed ,evil 5
escort to the theatre? Have you been
a devils wall flower at the dance? Have
you been DEVILS initiatNry gambler Nv
having cards in your home. If you have
you need prayer yourself
1T takes a mighty smart woman to
run her mouth right in a protracted
meeting. If she would only run it up in
prayer instead of running it out in criti-
cism we. would get along better.
"A husband who had a talking wife
took her up on Lookout Mountain and
showed her the splendid view. Now what
DO you think of that?' he asked. I'm
speechless, she replied. Well, let's stay
here so l can get some rest, he sug~
gested.
"Oh that l could shut up the mouths
OF some of you women so that you could
open them only in prayer"
At conclusion of the service the preach
err invited those vino wanted the rray-
ers of Christians to come forward and a
dozen or more persons responded.