Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-15


JOHN r. MOTT.
-er place in the lives of Christians be-
cause of their failure to master the
conditions In which they find them
selves.t This leads me to give few
suggestions. Have a stated and un-
hurried time for intercession. Our
most profitable employment should
not be crowded into a corner. :
One of the chief reasons apparently
why Christ went apart for prolonged
prayer is the very reason why many
busy Christians excuse themselves
from prayer, namely, the fact that he
was very busy and had so much to
do and that the issues at stake were
so great.
unrecognized Opportunities.
Let us learn to utilize many unrec-
Iognized opportunities for intercession.
What are some of these lost opportu-
mites which might be transmitted
into the most profitable experience
of life, judged by results? On street
cars, even when standing in the press
.of strangers and holding to the
swayfng strap; when waiting at sta
tons for trains, or in parlors or outer
Offices for appointments or for inter-
views; before the beginning of re-
ligious service or, perchance, during
addresses, sermons or debates some
times when our souls are especially
moved by what we have. heard or
quite as much when there seems to
be a lack of anything to move our
souls to this highest calling.
Each person must evolve the plan
which experience shows to be the
most workable in his particular case
for recording and using lists of OBJ
jects for intercession. We should
not slayish1y follow the plans of 9TH
ers, although presumably we may
learn something from the methods of
every genuine man of prayer A plan
which is the product of our own, ex-
Fermentation and experience will
not be irKsome.
How Multiply the Number?
In view of the comparatively, even
alarmingly small numbers of inter
cessors, and in view of the insistent
need for the work which they can do,
the most important question of all
to consider is, How multiply the num-
Der Of intercessors? The experience
OF all the centuries clearly points the
path. Ministers and laymen who can
speak with reality and from actual
experience should give addresses and
talks on the subject of microscopy
prayer, not dissertations ON the
ground of prayer nor the reflex bene-
fits of prayer, important as are these
phases of the subject; but that aspect
of prayer which occupies itself with
bringing definite help to other men
and enterprises. Addresses on this
subject, born out of sincere efforts to
practice what is enjoined upon 9TH
ers, will have contagious power.
wide and careful use should be
made of articles, and pamphlets by
such men as the late Prof Gustav
Warneck, DR.. Robert E.. Speer, Dean
Z. I. Bosworth and DR.. Andrew Muir
ray. Extracts bearing on this vital
subject from the reports of Commits
sion l., Commission ". and Commits
sion VI. of the World Missionary Con-
ference at Edinburgh should be col
lected and printed in pamphlet form.
Group of Examples. ..
Perhaps the most impressive meet.
ing at the Mortified Student Confer.
enee last summer was the one in
which a group of speakers from many
lands gave from personal knowledge
examples of answered prayer. All
care should be exercised to limit the
speaking at such meetin gto those
who viii present the subject with
that reasonableness, sanity and re,
straint which characterize those who
are reflecting real experiences.
Zone of the best means of promot-
ing intercession is that of laying be-
fore men objects of intereession
which are so important and so imme-
date in their claims that men will
feel and know that they must pray.
This can be accomplished by writing
letters devoted exclusively to the sub
ject. An evea better plan where praC-
ticable is an interview for the eH.
rress purpose of enlisting prayer. If
time is we'll spent in personally ask
ing for gifts of money and time,
II not even more important to follow
this plan to call forth intercession?
Group meetings of Christians dur
ing religious conventions or in the
experience of everyday work and life
for the sole purpose of united prayer
for objects of common concern will
serve as training schools and propa-
eating centers Of intercession. This
has been illustrated in times of ac-
tual crisis in connections with meet