South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-24
PRAYER NATURAL
FUNCTION OF MAN
Rev. G. w. Allison Explains
Various Methods and Why
All Should Pray.

The sermon at Hope Presbyterian
chapel yesterday morning was an
answer to the question individuals
often ask themselves. Shall
Pray" and emphasized not the
Uniqueness and strangeness Of this
function OF human life. but its natur-
alness and universally IN present
ing this theme the minister, George
William Allison said in part:
Here Is "a question which we
have all asked ourselves upon many
en- occasion. and perhaps have de-
baTed with friends IN a serious en-
deavor 10 arrive at some definite
reasonable understanding. shall /
Pray why should ] pray2 Let
us consider some fact relative 10 this
great function and habit Of the race
o. men.
Natural Function.
In the frs, place it should be
said that prayer is natural func-
uon OF human Ire. and IS not some
thing added or invented by religious
teachers TO be imposed upon men
from without The man from for
eign land is likely TO be a praying
man-perhaps 10 his own god or
gOds. but nevertheless with the in
stinct and practice OF prayer. Man
is a praying animal And for an in
dividual 10 refuse 20 pray is co deny
one Of the elemental instincts and
functions of his own most natural
Il
shall we?
Difference I'm Method.
There is a universal capacity for
prayer in the heart Of man There
is a vast difference. however. i'm the
manner Of praying. The low pray
with crudity. ignorance, and bitter
ness; the cultured with intelli-
gonce and with spirituality We must
admit that prayer has often been
discredited by its unworthy use. En-
emies on each side pray bitterly for
victory against the other Bit this
only accentuates the fact that when
the period OF stress comes in national
life men will turn 10 God in prayer
IL is not the fact OF prayer they dis
credit, but the kind OF prayers they
utter
II We are honest in the matter We
viii confess that 20 is our opinions
about prayer which leads us into
doubt. and not the impulses which
are normal to our life and which
lead us 10 seek ont God I'm cOmmun-
ion. As in the life of a nation. so
in AN individual sudden serious dan
l.
bnity leads nearly any individual TO
pray without question as to its ef-
fectiveness. Prayer as an instinct is
ase-long. and universal And If we
believe In evolution as most sane
folks do. there must be something
in reality 10 correspond 90 that which
persists 80 long and grows better and
stronger with improving races. We
shall then pray.
should BE Regular.
But prayer ought not be occasion
~ and spasmodic 10 ought be regu-
lar and habitual II ought not be
merely an impulsive CRY OF need
brought To our lips by sudden unfor-
seen crises or crushing responsible
ties IL ought 10 be cultivated fac
ulty The instinct ought 20 be de-
Veloped. II ought TO be used as the
normal instinct 90 eat not put off
until necessary 10 save life. but reg
ularly and habitually used i'm its
natural way The instinct 90 pray is
Just as natural as that 20 eat. il is
not an added something imposed
upon life
And tt-han praya- dauararatas into
a mere unframed tendency. when IL
becomes only spasmodic. occasional
or fitful-then our thought OF God
can DE little else than pagan. The
PAGAN thinks OF has god as some
magic force 90 be called upon for
help only in occasional distress Of
very urgent need. Christians should
think Of God as an abiding Father
wishing continued fellowship with
his children We shall indeed pray
because II is natural and universal
tthere are other reasons as well):
and we shall pray regularly and ha-
bitually but we should pray with
proper reason and intelligence. not
blindly or with Journalism"
Under the leadership of Miss Luz
ellie Snoor another pleasant Hour
was given last night with a diversi-
fled program arranged under the
general topic. "Enthusiasm-Its VAL
ne and cultivation" The musical
portion OF the hour was especially
pleasing. These services will be con
tinued through the month Of August
as well as the remainder of July.
SAILORS ARRIVE