The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-17
PLEA FOR PRAYER
AM0NGCHR|S1IAN!S
--------- ---------. "a
Layinen's National Secretary
Points Out Needs Of
Missions.
OPEN CONFERENCE Hell 81
Gathering at Montreal Hears
Several Interesting
Discussions.
OPEN CONFERENCE HIE|L D
( Special to The Times-Disnatci !

Especial to The Times-D Dispatch
Montreal, N. C.,August 16.-No single
day OF the conference OF the Laymen's
Missionary Movement mas been crowned
with greater success than that OF yes
5terday. The attendance was large, the
messages OF the speakers were full Of
earnestncss and zeal, and the atmos.
phere OF deep spirituality pervaded
every meeting.
Rev. w. r. Dobyns. D. D., presented
in the morning the character OF the man
from Macedonia, in the fourth OF The
Bible studies which he has given to
the conference. His closing words
were on earnest plea for Christians to
be consistent; that II they believe the
Scriptures, which teach there ls hope OF
salvation In none other but Jesus
Christ, for them to remember there are
900.0o0,0o0 people in the world to-day
on their way TO Christless graves. and
that this condition can be changed only
by the answer Of the call OF the man OF
Promotion OF Prayer.
The speaker in the afternoon was
Charles II. Pratt, the recently elected
district secretary OF the National Lay.
mems Missionary Movement. HIS
theme was 1.-THE Promotion OF Prayer
gin and the life OF the Whole mission
ary enterprise; that j esus Christ spent
whole nights in prayer before sending
out His disciples into the world: that
the missionary enterprise had It's origin
in Ills prayer, and that modern missions
also were wrought by prayer. Many
people, he said. ara prone to think mod.
ern missions is q result OF the work of
missionaries and money. and lln cited
the fact that the London Missionary SO.
iciety, the American Board, the Student.
Volunteer Movement and the Iaymen's
Missionary Movement all have bean
tho direct results of PRAYER.
Mr.. Pratt next urged the prayer
life in the Individual. prayer not SO
much for self as for the world, show
ing that the very passion OF our
lords praying was not for Ga;iilee,
Judea, nor for His disciples. but for
the world, and that the salvation OF
the world should be the great object
IN the prayers Of Christians to-day.
"Open Conference Held.
An interesting open conference"
followed this address. Rev. D. Clay
Lilly, D. D., leading the conference.
The questions considered were: What
1t Is that has taught men to pray, and
how to get rid Of the p1ere form which
prevails in the prayers offered in
large per cent. of church prayer
meetings and other devotional services
of the church.. and secure instead
prayers OF real earnestness and help
fulness The statement was made
that the devotional services In most
churches are pitiable burlesque OF
what 1t should be.
The men present made O number OF
suggestions as possible answers to the
questions under consideration. Most
of those offered with reference to get
ting prayer meetings out Of "ruts"
recommended the injection of the mis-
sionary spirit into the service.
DR.. Lilly Makes Address.
Two speakers were, herd yesterday
evening. DR.. Lilly and Wills r. Hotch-
kiss. DR.. Lilly's theme was: II will
hear what God the Lord will speak"
His entire discourse might we'll be
designated as an earnest plea for the
recognition OF the nearness Of God to.
day and His speaking to His followers
to-day. as against the theory preva-
lent in the minds Of many that God
is far removed from the world at the
present time. and that II He ever
spoke to men 1t was long tin,o ago.
He spoke then of the different ways
in which God speaks to men. and
urged that II His voice is to be heard