New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-07
HAYSTACK CENTENNIAL.
Memorial Services at Birthplace Of
american Foreign Missions.

wfriamstown Mass Oct CSpeciaD.-In Mission
Park. near the Hoosac River, on next wednesday
afternoon, viii be celebrated the centennial OF the
famous Haystack Prayer Meeting. which is known
in history the beginning Of the American For
egn Missionary Movement.
The story OF the simple meeting. for which an
elaborate celebration has been planned has been
for century an inspiration in mission work the
world around. In 1905 there a revival in WILL
Jams College, many OF the students were deeply
impressed, and Of them met occasionally for
prayer under the willow trees OF the
college buildings in maple grove short dis
lance from the college. On one particular hot and
sultry Saturday afternoon two sophomores and
three freshmen met under the NAPLES to pray and
sing In the biography OF Samuel ]. Mills, one of
the FIVE story Of the historic gathering is told
after this fashion:
their meeting there usual out dark black clouds
tighten Amid the flashing lightning ard rolling
thunder these five sought shelter from the onconl-
sat there. the conversation turned On Asia. which
some Of them had been studying in the leguliaT
work Of the East India Company which was open
en and nds OF Inda discussed
e Gsp to @ uP the darkness heaShen
iand He grew earnest r aHd enthusiastic as he
The others ali agreed with Mills, and were de-
lighted with the idea, except Loomis. He said that
premature astt If Missionaries We're sent, he con-
tended they woHd 6s eofe an9 pe co
be sent to the Turks and Arabs. The others re-
Piled that God always willing TO have His
Kingdom advanced, and that II the Christian people
would only DO their part, God could be relied on
to accomplish His work Then Mills, who always
had great faith IN prayer said: Come, let us
while the dark clouds are going and the clear sky
Is coming"
Then one by these young Eujahs prayed that
their heaven sent vision might become q reality.
All prayed except Loomis. Mills the last to
make his petition. By this time he had waxed en-
thus'astic, and referring to Loomiss objection that
the missionaries would De murdered, he prayed:
80 God strike down the arm with the red ar
tillery OF heaven that shall be raised against a
herald Of the Cross
Then this prayer meeting small yet sig
nthcants so fraught with Importance for foreign
peoples and for American Christianity, closed with
the singing Of a staaZa Of Isaac Watts hymn on
the Holy Scriptures;
Let all the hsathsn writers Join
To form one perfect book
Great Cod. II once compared with Thine,
How mean their writings look
MONUMENT MARKS PLACE.
The site OF this prayer meeting is marked by
monument OF Berkshire marble twelve feet IN
height; its shaft, cap and base square The
polished surface is silver blue in color. The shaft
is surmouuted by globe three feet in diameter
traced IN map lines. On its eastern face, imme-
1.-THE Field Is the World" Then follows a like
Of a haystack. sculptured in bold relief and
encircled with the words: The Birthplace OF
American Foreign Missions" Beneath this appear
the names OF the young men. The following is the
Inscription: