Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-04-27

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Hence tho 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 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
godly life is the best preparation for
an ideal meeting Let them gather up
spiritual strength all the week and
concentrate 1t upon this service, max.
ing it the supreme hour Of the week.
the hour
When heaven comes down our souls to
greet
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.
II. The ideal prayer meeting has an
object as well as a subject-a definite
object, never to be forgotten by the
leader or the workers.
What is that subject? It is not
simply to have an interesting meeting.
A service may be interesting, and yet
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 indescribable thrill and holy
God, and which makes every heart
ready to say, 20 God, thy will be
done"
This is the true object Of prayer
meeting-to bring every soul to the
point where it 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 64
young men and women signed total
abstinence pledge and thereby com.
pletely reYolutionized 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 it
look as little like church, and as
much like a home as possible. Lay
off hats, wraps and overshoes.
Have a smile em-up committee" at
the door to welcome strangers and to
distribute the audience widely-the
small boys apart from each other, the
workers near the unconverted and the
timid ones near the more spiritual.
Into this rest for the weary" come
with your thanksgiving and rejoicing.
Make the welkin ring with song. Let
the most spiritual members lead in
prayer until a strong devotional at
mosphere has been created, which will
make it easy for anyone to confess
Christ.
Be cheerful! Paul had his discour-
agements, but he kept them to him
self. Cultivate the habit of handshak-
ing, and do not wait for an introduce
ton. In short, strive to be
One of the spirit chosen by heaven to
turn
The sunnyside of things to human eyes.
w. The ideal meeting is one in
which all take part. There are some
things that lie within the reach Of all.
You can fill up the front seats, and
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 If it is selected with care
and prayer God will use 1t to strength
Ell thssaints and to carry conviction
to sinners. Remember that the WEI
OF God ts the sword of the SpirA II,
1t for purpose. and expect rel