The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-23

tull 4CCOTQ VIII luc VI lhO PiCdC
But there is a considerable element OF the
community who do not want 20 hear a lay
man pray. The prayermeettng Is q sort OF
family church gathering around the altar,
and II Is eminently proper TO hear prayers
| from such Of their members are as able by
word 10 edify the mind and by exemplary
character TO move the heart OF hearers TO
| purer and better living. The prayer meet
ing aside from Its consoling effect upon the
truly Christian heart, may sometimes act,
80 TO speak, as a sort OF lightning rod, to draw
off the surcharge OF pious ebulition which
may be effervessing in the hearts OF truly
good and pious young men. But when the
general public is received into the sanctuary
y layman's business Ia TO keep silent while
the preacher prays.
The prencher on Sunday morning thought
there was q notable absence of young men
from the weekly prayer meetings. and this
admission was made with seeming regret
and q lack OF knowledge for the undesirable
effect. 1t was noticed that the pious and
jealous minister made no reference TO the
attendance on these pray r meetings by the
young women OF the congregation. The In
ference therefore Ia, that they attend with
their accustomed regularity while their
brothers were absent, creating in mind of al
least one nearer the impression that they
may have been down town." or "up town."
as the case may have been.
There Is no effect without cause. If the
Young men absent themselves from prayers
a cause may be found. 1t is possible that
these derelict young men may not have been
relIgicusly and devoutly inclined, and they
may have preferred q game OF cards, or
foupd 1t relaxing TO loiter about the drug
stores or they may have found 1t pleasant TO
spend a while at the hotel Hobbies, or II may
be that they were more interested IN billiards
or ten pins. 1t may be hat some of them
were consulting their best girls about arrang'
ing the preliminaries for going to house
keeping. We do not know.
| But we do know that when 1t comes to 60
ing TO pray er meeting, the girls are at a dis
advantage. II is neck or nothing with them
they can't loaf around town at night as do
their brothers. They must either go to
fpray er meeting or remain at home. Then
as q change or as a relief from the tediumi OF
the daily life a woman has no alternative.
She must 60 TO prayer meeting If she would
have recreation. AS she is not likely to
meet any other girls brother at these meet
ings, she of course has no thought OF seeing
lovers at church on Wednesday evening.
With the boys down town" and the young
women at church. the latter may well ask,
Where Is my boy tonight?
We always like 10 hear DR.. Wilson preach.
If he overreaches us In theological matters,
and If be shoots clear over our head in pro-
%nouncipg the will OF the Great Law Oliver, he
is sure during the service to come down to
earth long enough to say something to set
our own thinking machine to work. On
last sunday his manner and his personal
bearing could only command respect from
strangers and increased love of his friends.
The reading of the Scriptures was exception
ally good. His reverentiRl manner in the
service was such as 10 inspire in his bearers
reverence for The higher and the better things
of earth and heaven. The care with which
he avoided the fiippant and unnecessary call.
ing of the Name was calculated 10 teach US
never TO lake that Name on our lips except
in reverential awe.