St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-06

The recommendation show the growing
Importance attached to the prayer meet
ing idea, and in the meetings resulting
we see the beginnings of the modern
prayer meeting.
lust when these services became regu-
lar weekly services, is not clear. Perhaps
1t was in he third decade of the century
under the continued revival influences.
In 1919 only Jour churches in the Conso-
citation reported a weekly PRAYER meet
ing. six spoke OF religious conferences,
and fifteen, out Of the twenty one pres
emit, said that they maintained the
monthly concert OF PRAYER. 1t may be
said in passing that the original purpose
OF the monthly concert was the same as
that of the other meetings, to pray for
REVEALS. The idea of praying for mis-
sions came in later.
The churches had from an early date
stated meetings to consider cases of disci-
pline, and these perhaps aided in making
the PRAYER NEE tings regular institutions
OF the churches. Some churches indeed,
at first combined the two functions in
one meeting. But what led the associa-
tious to appoint these meetings for pray
err? A changed theology was at the
root OF the matter. The influence Of
Jonathan Edwards and of his friends
Bellamy and Hopkins, raised up a new
school OF theologians, who, while still
preaching the old doctrine of the SOY.
ereignty of God, laid great stress on the
responsible y of man and the duty oil
immediate repentance. These men were
practical also and favored revival ef-
lorts. Their influence was naturally in
favor of prayer for revival.
Another factor in the development OF
the PRAYER meetings came from outside
the Congregational churches. From the
time of the Great Awakening there had
been manifest in New England a desire
for more fervent piety, more emotion
al preaching and ireer participation in
religious meetings than had prevailed
in The old order of things. This desire
was met for time by the strict or sep
arate Congregational churches seceders
from the old order. After they passed
away it was met and successfully salts.
fed by the new sect of the Methodists,
who reached New England in 1889.
Doubtless the Methodist class meeting
appearing at thus time had great infu-
ence on the form Of the new prayer meet
ings. We may sum the matter up in this
way. Our prayer meetings have come
down to US from the revival epoch con-
Meeting the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries: They originated in new
Calvinislic theology animated by a warm
sense of personal piety. Their historical
occasion was the appointment by asso.
Citations Of meetings to pray for revivals.
Their character as meetings in which all
were free and urged o take part came, it
may he. from the Influence of the Meth
odist class meetings.
OF tie spiritual power of the prayer
meeting in our age much night be said.
We are told that the men we're wont to
orsake their work on busy afternoons in
oruer to attend the service. Many recall
the rapt speech, the iervent PRAYERS, the
earnes, singing, the broken testimonies,
which mace So real to them the things OF
the Spirit. To them he place of mre ting
seemed indeed B, thel,-the house of
God. Out of little bands of faithful
praying ones grew great revivals in
many churches. Indeed 1t is said that
the vice spread revivals OF 1857 to 1858
we're due almost wholly to meetings Of
prayer. The regular prayer meeting
came to be considered the pulse OF the
spiritual life OF the church, Nv. c. E.
Hitchcock in Vermont Missionary.