Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-12-31
Webster City's Week Of Prayer was
Launched at the Methodist
Episcopal Church Last
Evening.
BUILDING WAS ENTIRELY FILLED.
Rev. Arthur Metcalf Delivers Sermon
Six Ministers in the
Pulpit.

- =
ed auspiciously last night In the
Methodist church. The appeals al
ready made from pulpit and press had
won such q general interest that "a
congregation was present which en-
.tirely filled the, church. Every condi-
ton was favorable for a useful and
inspiring meeting and at the close Of
the service one heard on every side
expressions Of sympathy with the plan
and appreciation for what was q most
unique and helpful hour.
To begin with, the presence In the
pulpit Of the six ministers from the
six cooperating churches. come to-.
sether to do their utmost TOR the sue
cess OF these meetings, was an inspira-
ton to prayer and Thanksgiving, for
1t spoke Of . splendid spiritual fellow
ship into which they are seeking to
lead all the people Of the city.
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. Arthur Metcalf who. as president
Of the Ministers Union, has worked
and hoped long for Just this united
activity. He was deeply moved by this
working out Of his hopes and he put
into the sermon all that such praying
in unison should mean to every one
who takes part in it in such fashion
that none who heard it viii be willing
to forget his vivid portrayal OF the
ideals and possibilities OF united
Christian effort
: The text was from Luke 1l:2-"And
when We pray. say Our" Everyone
expected the sentence to 60 on to the
end with its usual application, but tho
preacher used this phrase to empha-
size the essential Fellowship Of all
true prayer. We are not told to pray Y,
TO- my Father" but to "Our Father
and not for personal welfare or bless
Ing, but for, others as well-the gem
eral good. Prayer is . perpetual
miracle OF reminder that rich and
poor, high and low, people Of every
class and color, are all children Of the
one God to whom prayer is offered.
All our disputes and misunderstand-
ings would be cleared away II men be
brought together in the spirit Of this
sort OF prayerfulness.
All the men and women OF Webster
City were urged to come together each
night this week to pray for "our
churches" al Of which are struggling
with the same problems and facing
the same anxieties in these war times:
to pray for ''our minister's" every one
Of whom is earnestly seeking to lead
In the search for truth and right and
spiritual power, not for one group
alone. but for the whole community:
to pray for "our people" the fathers
and mothers who are needing to keep
their faith Arm and clear as their sons
80 to serve the highest duty shown to
them, our boys who are in canton
ments and elsewhere under arms, our
country and all its people as they
stand together for q great sacrifice on
behalf Of holy ideals. Such united
prayer OF faith and fellowship as the
expression Of q sense OF our common
need and common confidence in our
God who hears and answers prayer
will draw us oil closer to each other
and to Our Father in these trying
times.
!. The services tonight will be held in
the Universalist church and the ser-
mon will be, by Rev. c. v. Pence on
Doing Ones Best" The theme for
special prayer tonight will be "The
Nation at Arms" Everyone is urged
to make point Of attending every
meeting from the first. Those who
missed the one last night missed much
and no one should fail to get the unlift
that will come to those who attend.