Premise:
"Callers to the network are being advised to pray for him."
Hypothesis: Callers are being told to pray for him.

yes

Premise:
"But as I handled it, used it, and carefully examined how it worked, it started to look better and better."
Hypothesis: I did not touch it and decided to leave it be.

no

Premise:
"It's sad to see a great institution reduced to a tattered geriatric remnant of its former self."
Hypothesis: This place is not what it used to be.
it is not possible to tell