The Carlisle independent., 1919-10-09

The 5000 coo BaptiSts of the South have undertaken the most colossal task in their history In the next five years they propose the winning of 2,500,000 souls to Christ, or 500, 900 a year, the increasing Of the number 3,000,000 to $500 900; the enlistmel, Of every Southern Baptist in this greatest forward movement in the centuries; the securing of 5000 new ministers and missionaries; and the raising of 75 million dollars to finance this great Baptist forward movement. Included in this move ment are all the great interests of Christs cause as represented by Bap- tjsts--foreign missions, home mis- siens, state missions, associational rissions, orphans home, hospitals, Christian and ministerial education, old ministers relief. etc., etc.
 Arkansas Baptists share of this task is s3,2oo,0 ,0oo Colossal as it seems, in the spirit of Caleb I've bs we'll able to do It." But our people Deed to learn as never before that cur strength is in the Lord.
 Prayer Is Vital.
 The vital matter for supreme em- phasis today Is microscopy prayer.
 Prayer is a mighty spiritual dyna- mica powerful world force.
 Back of every great movement for God and righteousness in all the ages Is the voice of prayer-individ- Mission Movement was born in the Haystack Prayer Meeting at Williams College, with Mills and Judson as the first missionaries. The great revival under Jonathan Edwards in the Eigh- teenth century began with his famous call to prayer. David Brainsrd plant ed colonies of splendid Christian men and women among wild savages. be- cause he prayed with a passion known by few men; and William Ca. rey, Henry Martin and Robert Murry McCheyne, apostles of modern mis- sions, learned the secret of prayer from this flaming soul. It was the prayer of John Knox that terrified the tyrant queen, Mary, and saved Scot land
 Prayer wins; prayer gives victory because prayer links man with God and the Holy Spirits power
 This "75 Million Campaign" is of God, as we believe the plan was given to faithful men on their knees. God is with us already He waits for a host consecrated in pray CT through whom He can give vic tory"
 Without Gods power with us to prepare the way and lead in 1t, to re- new consecration and give enlarge mort of heart and vision, all our en- thusiasm and organization will be but SO much empty, creaking machinery.
 When Southern Baptists are crush 10 their knees by the weight of this stupendous task, victory in this cam- paign Is assured. Mans limit is God's opportunity.
 I could venture one thing moro, that because of the prayers of our people beneath this commanding task there will come an awakening of spir- itual life, deepening of spirituality such as these uncertain times demand that great revival wave will sweep this Southland, such as has not been in a century past.
 Prayer Is Reasonable.
 But. we need to go further and search for the deeper meaning of prayer. Why pray? Why did God or dain prayer? Of our blessed Master 1t fig said: And he spake a parabla unto them to this end, that men ought 70 pray and not to faint" Luke 1s:D. If man ought to pray" then prayer is right If "to pray" is right, then why is it right? We are after fundamentals now-we are searching for the ethics and philosophy of prayer
 Dr. A. C. Dixon observes that pray CT is right, because (a) God Is King and 1t Is right for king to hear and answer the prayer of plaintiff Guke 1s:1-8). (b) God is Friend and 1t is right for one friend to hear and answer the appeal of another. Iuke 11:5-8). (c) God Is Father and it is right for a Father to answer the cry of his child. Uuke 11:2).
 Herein lies Gods reason for His cry to His children to call upon Him. herein is found the right of His chil- dren to pray-it is petition of a sub ject to his king; the prayer of T plaintiff to the judge; the appeal Of friend to Friend; the cry of a thild to his Father.
 Let us search further for the deep CT meaning of prayer.
 Prayer Ia Natural.
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