The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-03-30

Hence the leader should prepare
carefully. The hymns can be select.
ed; one person can be asked to pray
for the sick, another for the absent,
and SO on. Attention to details helps
immensely. But especially should the
leader wait upon God in prayer until
his heart burns with love. and his soul
Is sensitive to the faintest whisper
OF the Holy Spirit. II athletes train
for q boat race or ball game, simply
to secure the applause of people sure
ly the Christian can afford to train for
a spiritual conflict where all the forces
of heaven and hell are arrayed against
each other. where eternal destinies are
at stake, and where every part OF the
service is watched with keenest So
licitude by so great a cloud of wit
nesses."
Not only the leader, but all the mem.
bers should prepare. Let them read
think and pray over the subject. Let
them deny themselves daily. for a
godly life is the best preparation for
an ideal meeting Let them gather up
spiritual strength oil the week and
concentrate Il upon this service. max.
ing II the supreme hour OF the week,
the hour
When heaven comes down our souls to
greet.
And glory crowns tho mercy-seat.
II. The ideal prayer meeting has an
object as well as a subject-a definite
object. never to be forgotten by the
loader or the workers.
What is that mtiect? It Is not
simply to have an interesting meeting.
a service may be interesting. and vet
be so devoid of spirituality as to sug.
gest only. sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals." The real object is to
awaken spiritual emotion. TO bring the
soul face to face with God. to kindle
fires of devotion until the altar is all
ablaze with the sacrifice of willing
hearts. and there comes over the audi.
ence that indescribahle thrill and holy
hush which .betokens the presence Of
Coo and which makes every heart
ready TO say, 20 God. thy will be
DONE"
This Is the true object Of prayer
meeting-to bring :Yery soul to the
point where Il is willing to do its duty.
so that decisions may be made and re-
suits may be secured right then and
there. At the close of a meeting
where the theme was temperance the
tide OF feeling rose so high that ca
young men and women signed total
abstinence pledge and thereby com
pletely revolutionigel the temperance
sentiment of that church.
Whatever the subject Of the meet
ing. never lose sight of the object.
Feeling which does not lead to action
is of questionable value.
III. The ideal meeting is cheerful
social and hearty. Have a bright car
pet on the floor, appropriate pictures
on the wall, flowers on the table. and
the room seated with chairs. Make II
look as little like church. and as
much like q home as possible. Lay
Off hats, wraps and oyershoes. Let the
whole atmosphere Of the service be
bright. breezy and cheerful.
Have q smile. en-up committee" at
the door to welcome strangers and to
distribute the Audience wldely-the
small boys apart rom each other. the
workers near the pnconvsrted, and the
timid ones near he more spiritual.
Into this rest br the weary" come
with your thanksgiving and rejoicing.
Make the welkin hing with song. Let
the most spiritua members lead in
prayer until strong devotional at
mosphere has beel created, which will
make II easy for anyone to confess
Christ.
Be simple, and above all. sincere,
especially In prber. Remember the
Quaker who was 0 share the room OF
another at a convntion. After he had
knelt and prayed the Quaker took his
hat and prepare to depart. Hold
on" said the otter 81 thought YOU
were going to SPEND the night with
me-" Il was" sid the Quaker, but
since heard yop pray have changed
my mind. If youlre the kind of a man
Won said you wefs In your prayer, am
afraid to sleep With you"
Be cheerful PAUL had his discour
agements. but n kept them to him
self. Cultivate tie habit Of handshak.
ing, and do not Aait for an introduc
tlon. In short. slrive to be
One OF the spiri, chosen by heaven to
The sunnyside OF things to human eyes
~. The ideal meeting is one In
which oil take part There are some
things that lie within the reach of all.
You can I'LL up the front seats. ard
thus support the leader You can
speak early in the meeting and one
sentence then is worth a dozen later
on.
Anyone can repeat a verse Of Scrip.
ture. and u II Is selected with care
and prayer. God will use u TO strength.
en- the saints and to carry conviction
to sinners. Remember that the Word
Of God Is the sword NJ a. CO.. -.