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The Christian Sun. FRIDAY, JURE 3,1881. D. B. Dunbar,.Proprietor. Bev. Win. T. Walker - - * - Editor. OUR PRINCIPLE*. 1_Tht Lord Jems Christ it tbe only He»o of tie Ctaareh. I.—The name Christian, to the exclusion ot *11 party, or sectarian name*. •t,_The lloly ttible, or the Scriptures of the O. and New Testament a sufficient rule of faith and practice. 4. —Christian character, or vital piety, the •nly test of fellowship, or church membership. 5. —The right of priyate judgement and the liberty of conscience, the pririlege and dnty of •M. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION. The Sunday-school Convention' of tbe Eastern Virginia Conference in connection with the District Meeting convened with the church at Hebron, Isle of Wight Co., Va., May 27, 28 and 29th. The opening religions exercises were conducted by ltev*. M. B. Bar rett the eldest minister present. The election of officers resulted in tbe choice of Rev. J. T. Kitchen, President, Rev. J. P. Barrett, Vice President, Rev. J. U. Newman, As sistant Secretary. Bro. Kitchen re signing the Secretary was instructed to cast the vote of the Convention which he did for Rev. M. B. Barrett. The opening address was delivered by Rev. M. L. Williams, on the Sun day-school the Nursery of the Church. Bro Williams’ address was well de livered, sensible and to the point. Tbe remainder of the morning ses sion was occupied in readiug reports from the Sanday-schools. The re ports show an increase in the number of schools, in the number of scholars and a growing interest in the Sun day-school work. Tbe first part of the afternoon ses sion was spent transacting business matters of interest to the Couven tiou, after which interesting, earnest and instructive addresses were made by Rev. J. P. Barrett, Maj. I. W. Duck, Bev®. d. T. Kitchen,R. H. Hol land, M. B. Barrett, on subjects of special interest to Sunday-school workers, such as the Advantages of Denominational Teaching, Black board Exercises, Pastors Work in the Sunday-school, Qualifications of Su perintendents, &c. On the second day besides the transaction of a number of matters of business interest to tbe Conven tion, speeches to the edification of Sunday school and church workers were made by Revs. H. H. Butler, J. T. Kitchen, J. P. Barrett, M. W. But ler, C. J. Ralston and others. The speech of the day by Bro. N. B. Mnn ford. The committee appointed at our last session to prepare a catechism for tbe use of our Sunday-schools, reported progress and desired to be continued. On motion committee was continned and Rev. R. H. Hol land appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rev. E. W. Beale. Tbe propriety of beginning a Sun day-school paper was discussed and action taken in its interest. On Sunday morning there was an exercise in the Sunday-school Lesson and a good sermon by Rev. M. B. Barrett, delivered iu his usual ear nest style. In the 'afternoon preach ing by Rev. J. U. Newman. ~ The session of the Convention was a pleasant and interesting one, and if the same interest which was mani fested in the work of the Convention and j^ke earnestness is exhibited in onr work for the Sunday-schools throngh the present year, as was shown at the Convention, this year will be an epoch iu our Sunday-school history. Bro. Kitchen and his Hebron con gregation did much to make our stay with them enjoyable. We shall al ways recall pleasant memories when we revert to the Sunday-school Con vention at Hebron. NEWS AND NOTES. —In the Minutes of the late As sembly of the Presbyterian Church, which was held in New York, no honorary, or academical titles appear. LL. D.’s, D. D.’s &c, are all placed on the same plane. —The first Baptist Church, South 4£iugston, ft. I., celebrated its cen tennial on the 14th inst. The President of the Metropolitan Bank New York City gave to benev olent purposes during the last two years $727,000. —A bill to allow clergymen to sit in the House of Commons was defeat ed by a vote of 110 to 101 —The late Stephen Paxon, Sunday School Missionary to the West, es tablished fourteen hundred schools. Miss Anna Oliver, the girl preach er, whose labors as pastor of the Wil loughby Avenue Methodist Chorch, have been remarkably successful, has received an urgent invitation to take the pastorate of a prominent church in Colorado, bat declines, thinking it her duty to oontinne laboring where she is. / —The subject of Spiritualism has been brought before the two arch bishops of the church of .England. Its advocates rejoice, thinking that it will gain dignity by being seriously considered by two such distinguished men as the prelates, even if it is con demned. —Over three-fourths of the Sunday Schools in New Jersey continue through the winter and about the same number use the International Lessons. Not knowing the foots in the case, we do not hesitate to say that the minority of the schools that use the International Lessons are “evergreen.” —The expenditures of the Salva tion Army lor last year reached near ly $90,000. —Bev. D. A. Long in a private let ter to us says, “Bro. Walker preach ed an excellent sermon at Providenoe last Sunday and obtained a number of subscribers to the Sun. In a word, Bro. Walker’s address and sermon did us all good.” —During the year 1830, $609,760 were spent for Indian Education by the Government, Religious Societies and the Indians themselves. Of this amount $186,359 were expended by the five tribes of the Indian Territory, who mauage their own schools. —The first copy of the Revised New Testament issued for general circulation was presented to Queen Victoria. —On the day of the issue of the Revised New Testament, Thomas Nelson & Sons and Messrs.1. E. Funk & Co., filled orders for 650,000 cop ies. —The School-board of Indianapolis has prohibited the children under its charge from jamping the rope. Com petition in rope-jamping has oiten resulted in death. —The mayor of the city of flaw Orleans seems determined te break up the vice of gambling in that city. He has ordered the police to close all the hells in prescribed limits and for bids the opening of new ones. —The opinion that moral suasion can do more efficient work when aid ed by legal suasion is evidently gain ing favor. —The Methodist all over the world will observe Ang. 5 as a day of pray er for divine blessing upon their Ec umenical Conference which meets in London. —The annual report of the Secre tary of the Baptist Publication Socie ty in the Middle States, shows an in crease of 146,000 in the business de partment, of $26,000 in the mission ary department. All the work done has been paid for, and $60,000 le main as the easb balance. —Result of untiring energy. A minister in Minn., leaves the pastorate of a Methodist church for a clerkship at Washington. He takes a step down—to Wash ington. —A new kind of Adventists, known as “Soul Sleepers,” have sprung up in Indiana. They believe the body sleeps till the resnrection and the soul is in a state of repose. —The N. Y. Observer says, “We need a revival of religion in politics.” In the church too. —In Georgia there is a presiding elder only twenty-three years old. —Hen. Joseph E. Brown, United States Senator from Georgia, gave $50,000 at one time to a Baptist Col lege. The Senator says it was the happiest day of bis life. —The wife of Henry Ward Beech er was stricken with paralysis in church, and was taken home uucoa cions. —Mr. Moody has gone to North field and Mr. Sankey to Brooklyn to rest. —The Bev. Dr. Edwards, Editor of North Western ChristianAdvocate goes to Europe in June. While there be proposes to make a bicycle tour over England, Scotland and France. —Bev. C. H. Spurgeon accompan ied by two of his deacons expects to take a trip up the Nile. —The General Synod of the Re formed Church in America wil' meet in Hudson, N. Y., June 1. —Mark Twain has received $25,000 from England for hiBuTramp Abroad.” The Christian at Work thinks it a pity our home tramps do not take the hint and go abroad. —The destruction of birds in this country for ornamental purposes is becoming fearful. —The Supreme Uourt of New York has granted the order to change the name of the corporation of “North' ner & Co." to “The Century Co.”— the order to take effect on the 21st of June. The July issues of Scrib ner's Monthly and St. Nicholas will have the new corporate imprint. RENEW your subscription to the 9 tor. CLOSING EXERCISES OF GRAHAM HI6H SCHOOL. The closing exercises of this insti tution took place on last Friday, and began at eleven o’clock with a ser mon by Rev. George Snmmey, pas tor of Graham Presbyterian Church. The text was, “The truth shall make you free.” John viii, 32. The sermon abounded in excellent instruction for the pupils, and urged upon them, the study of the Word of God as more important than other studies, while at the same time, the studies of the school room are of such great im portance that they should by no means be neglected. At the close of the sermon, the principal, on behalf of the young ladies of the school, presented Mr. Summey with a bouquet, with appro priate remarks, to which he happily responded. At two o’clock p. in., Rev. W. T. Walker, Editor of the Christian Sun, of Suffolk, Va., delivered the annual address. lie lore announcing his subject, he touchingly alluded to the memories of the past, when he was one of the students of the school, and referred to the good work that it had done in sedding out men and wo men to adorn every station of life. Then announcing his subject, which was, “How to Become Successful,Use ful and Happy.” He delivered au address which contained more point ed good advice than we have ever beard in any other speech of the same leugtb. If the young ladies and gentlemen who heard him do not be come successful, useful and happy, it will not be because they did not have an opportunity for learning how to accomplish such a greatly, to be de sired end. After the address had been conclu ded, the young ladies presented Mr. Walker with a bouquet tbrough Oapt. E. S. Parker. A large audience assembled at night, to hear the declamation by the representatives of the Pbilologian Society. The following is the pro gramme of the evening’s entertain ment : Better than Gold—Lacy Holt, Gra ham. Washington’s Sword and Franklin’s Staff—Robert Holt, Graham. Culture the Result of Labor — James F. Peterson, Yaucyville. Patriotic Triumphs—J.W.Fonville, McCray’s Store. National Self Respect—W. T. Pas sim), Anderson’s Store. The Men to Make a State—W. L. Hazell, McCray’s Store. A Yankee in Love—J. A. Holt, Graham. The Indian as He Was and Is — J. C. McCulloch, Morton’s store Work—D. M. Cook, Curtis’ Mills. Things I Would Not Choose McBride Holt, Company Shops. Uncouscious Farewells—J. E.Long, Graham. Shall our Laurels Wither—J. L. Hines, Wadesboro. The young gentlemen all acquitted themselves creditably, and were load ed with beautiful flowers from appre ciating fair ladies. The principal then read his annual report, wliieh he followed up with some well timed remarks suitable to the occasiou. At this point Mr. T. B. Eldridge,of of the Gleaner, took the stand and presented to the band ou behalf of a lady in the audience, a beautiful bou quet. Rev. W. W. Staley accepted it for the baud. The audience then joined in sing ing the doxology. Rev. W.T. Walk er pronounced the beuedictiou, and the exercises ended. While the band played a spirited air, the people dispersed, well pleased with the en tertainment of the evening. Thus closed the last term of Gra ham High School, and with the close of the sessiou, the school ceased to exist under that name, and now it takes its place among the education al institutions of the laud, asGraham Normal College. Long life and use fulness to this old sellout under its new name.—Alamance Gleaner. PASTORATES. There ha* been much written of late on the Pastorate or District Plan. VV'e have heard from 11 in*. Holland, Jones, Deans, Long,•Hurley, Ball and P. It. U. Some of these brethren aru on one side of (he question and some on the other. Sometimes they are districting, sometimes they are pastorating, and 1 have concluded that some of them are not exactly satisfied as 10 what they want. Some of our brethren are so changeable in their notions that they are constant ly wanting to change. They begin to try one plan, even if that woiks well, they get tired of it and want to try something else. Then some people ace so coastituted that they do not want to work on a plan devised by others, they want to start, somethiug which they think better. They want it said that such a plan originated in their fertile brain. These brethren that ^have written ou this subject are all good men, I love them, but I am compelled to dif fer with some of them as I cannot see everything <» the same light they Bee it. As to the Pastorate Plan, we already have that. I have my pas torate, and every other minister, who has a field of labor lias his pastorate. So there is no necessity ol' going to Conference, or Convention to get that plan adopted. I am surprised to hear my good brethren saying so much about it. We, here in Virginia, near all of ns have our pastorates, they are all doing well, and what is the reason, or good sense, in break ing up our plan, that is now doing well, to try something new. If 1 am correctly informed they have tried this new plan iu the N. C. & Va. Conference and no practical good has resulted from it. Is litis so ilro. Long! As to districting the Conference, us proposed by the Convention at Leba non, I for one am opposed to it front beginning to end. 1 cannot see a y practical good in it, or that will 10 sult from it. I love my church, and it is my duty to watch every avenue of success and guard agaiust the en trance of error, or the taking any step that will prove hurtful. The Pastorate rian is working well enough with ns, our churches are all satisfied with their pastors as far as I can learn, and a good degree of pros perity is attending our labors. If these brethren who are so anx ious for a ebauge will give me the assurance that the new plan of dis tricting the Conference and assigning a minister to each district will secure to us greater prosperity, I will cheer fully accede to it. As yet I have uo such assnrance. I honestly believe that if our Con ference were to adopt it, it would prove to be the greatest curse with which we would have to couteud. I believe moreover that it would be the wedge that would split our Confer ence to pieces. Fearing these evils, and others that might be mentioned I am opposed to it, and was hoping that the vote on the subject at our Conference bad killed it so dead that it would never come to life agaiu iu Virginia. It may suit some places, anil some men, but it is a l'oreigu plant, that I don’t think will thrive iu this soil. Some of our people run wild over new things and would be leaders,rush on without for a moment sloping to' think of the consequences that must inevitably follow their rashness. Now brethren, let us all go to work on the plau laid down by our lathers who were equally as wise as we are, and try to build up our beloved church. If wc have weak churches, which cannot support a pastor, let them be aided by the missionary fund. This is the remedy to bo applied. M. B. Bauuett. PASTORATE PLAN. Bro. Long’s article compells me to write again on this important subject. Our brother is mistaken. I am one of the brethren whose names he gave. I never endorsed, defended, nor claim ed that the plan brother 11. gave in March 11th was ill existence. The only article in which I spoke of Bro. II. was' published March 4th. My next on this subject, April 8th, in which no allusion was made to our good brother or his article. What I claim is as follows; 1st, That the General Convention of 1878 recomended the Conferences compos ing the Convention to district their churches, so that the smaller church es may have regular preaching &c., and that the H. C. & Ya. Christian Conference with the I>. li. Christian Conference adopted its recomenda tiou. 2nd, That inasmuch as it is a reasonable request made by the Con ferences to their churches, it is their duty to comply, Chap. I., Art. IV., Sec. o.(oot Sec. VI. as by mistake in my article of April 8th.) 3rd, That until the said Conferences nullify their decision, each church should unite with the other churches in their respective districts in their choice of a pastor. The Convention seemed to think districting the churches as cousistant with our principles ; while our Bro.L. appears to disagree with that noble body. Our brother would havo us understand that our Government ex pects each church individually to choose its pastor, and that it should not unite with others. Is this its meaning! Is it not rather that each church shall not neglect to try to se cure a pastor, and that its uniting with its sister churches for their good iu securing preachiug is not at all forbidden. Not being at the General Convention 1 know not the views of the Committee and brethren who in troduced and adopted its recommen dation ; but feel assured if it was op posed to our principles they would not have adopted such a measure. Why cannot three or more churches agree as well as one church Y I can not but believe that if it was present ed to them in the right light by the ministry, they would cheerfally carry it out. For what Christian Church is there so void of true religion that it would not gladly assist its poor sister church, and carry out the commands "to love one another” and "te support the weak.” Should the pastorate fail to secure a pastor, our brethren wisely have adhered to our principles by referring them to the Home Mission Commit tee who have to attend to the ueglect ed territory. As to the reasonableness of the re quest from the Conferences to the churches let us briefly notice. It is a reasonable thing to request oue church to assist another, especially when in the most of cases it is more beneficial tiian hurtful to itself. It is also reasonable to save our preachers tlie loss of time which might he spent in visiting our members aud frieuds and discliargiug other pastoral duties. It is also reasonable that our preach ers will feel more ready to organize uew churches knowing that aferwards they will not he neglected Thepnly persons who are injured by the faith ful carrying out. of this plau are us ministers, yet this is only temporary; for as it can be showu that the parts of our Conference which have for these Inst three years adhered strictly to it are in the most prosperous coudi tlou. It is reasonable that three or more churches can do more to sup port a preacher than oue or two.— What we need now is for our preach ers to go right into the Held aud to be kept there. Brethren, much more can be said. I wish I could make it so plain that you would like one man rise up aud carry it out. Like Bro. L. I love my church, I love her principles, I want to see her move on to victory. 1'er sonally I can labor under Pastorate System or otherwise, but will labor for that which will effect the most good. H. P. J. TRACTS—WHERE ARE THEY? At the regular sessions of our Con ference held at Windsor, Va., in 1879, and at Bethany in 1880, much was said of the importance of circulating , tracts which should be written with a view of acquainting the public with our orgauizatiou. This is evidently an important work, but not much has been done. Not many have been written and not rnauy published, and still fewer, I suspect, have been cir culated among the people. During the year of 1880, 3,000 copies of differ ent tracts were published. How mauy of these have been circulated, 1 can not say, doubtless not all, per haps not half. Ten times as* many ought to have been published aud circulated in this time. We are slow in writing them, we are slow in print ing them, and we are slow in circul ating them ; and just on this point 1 should like to add a word to my brethren, our ministers especially iu regard to this matter of circulating tracts. Brethren, bear with me, if I trespass on your good feelings, and permit me to say we are not as i>unc tual in the discharge of our duty iu the matter of circulating our litera ture (tracts aud papers) as we ought to be. I am sometimes pained to see brethren who seem to love our cause and pi’ofess loudly enough their love for the church and yet keep on hand literature which the committee has put iu their -hands for distribution. There are hundreds, perhaps many of them are neighbors, who would gladly learn of us and our cause. You have the information they seek—aud iu n(iany cases., you keep it through mere neglect from them. lteally brethren,we ought to change this state of things. We ought to give prompt attention to this matter. Who agrees with met Who disa grees ? Speak out brethren, aud let us turn over a new leaf iu this mat ter. J. Pressley Barrett. BEALE MONUMENT. We are making tolerable good pro gress iu this work. Some of the churches are responding liberally while others are not coming up to our expectations. Let me say that Oak land has gone far beyond out expec tations. She has acted her part well towards her deceased pastor. Every cfent of Bro. B’s salary and even iu advance of his time has been paid aud more than $i>0 iu cash for the monument. Berea has made the largest subscription of any of the churches, which, as wo all know, is her usual custom. All persons hold ing subscriptions will please collect aud pay in as soon as possible, as we are anxious to let the work to con tract. Please let these subscriptions be forwarded by the middle of June. O. J. Ralston. --«r We celebrate nobler obsequies to those we love by drying the tears of others than by shedding our own ; and the fairest funeral wreath we can hang on their tomb, is not so fair as the fruit-offering of good deeds. Moths.—A piece of paper or linen moistened with turpentine and put into the wardrobe or drawers for a single day at a time, two or three times a year, is a preventive against moths. NEWS FROM THE FIELD. up your <*yes, and took on (he Fielde; for they art white, air*idv to harvcet."—St. John 4.35. Muff it’s Mili., N. 0., May 19th, 1881.—li rot her Walker : 1 take up my pen to night to write no that 1 may keep the ‘•met” from returning. The 4th Sabbath in last month I met my congregation nt Smith wood. The congregation was good and paid marked attention to the preaching of the word. After preaching I rode about twelve miles and stayed over night with Rev. P. P. Humble and family. I found brother Humble in feeble health, though improving. He seems to be streug in the faith, aux ious to bocomo able to preach and labor in the Master’s vineyard. The first Sabbath found me at Pleasaut Grove. The congregation wa» large and attentive. Last Sabbath was my quarterly meeting at Park’s. The business on Saturday was regularly attended to. There is a good singing band here which adds much to the worship and to the Sabbatb-school. I was much cheered to day when I read brother VVellon’s article which stated that Gov. Jarvis, Judges Mor rimou and AvCry, are on the side of Prohibition. I loug to see the time when intemperance with ull its many evils shall bo greatly curtailed, and its unholy works stopped. I do hope that the first Thursday of August next will be a glorious day to North Carolina. Let her rise in her might aud majesty and strike for the right and virtue. I will try to write thatar ticleyou desire. I feel anxious that Prohibitiou should soon be a success. H. A. Albbigut. Pacific, N. C., May 25th 18811.—| Mr. Editor:—Everything around is busy, both on the farm and iu the Sabbath-school. “Our superintend ents seem very much encouraged, aud I trust their labors will be abun dautly blest. 1 met Rev. W. G. Olemeuts last week. He is much eucouraged at the prospects for the Raleigh Church. 1 hope that iu a short time our way will be clear to commence building. In this enterprise all the help \w cau get will be needed, therefore breth ren, in making out your probable ex penses for the fall, do not forget to contribute liberally to this work.} D. F. Jones A SPLENDID TRIBUTE TOTHE BIBLE. The book is immortal $ believers love it and will not let it die. And they have felt its influence in a vari ety of forms, for no volume ever com manded such a profusion of readers or has been translated iuto so many languages. Such is the universality of its spirit that no book loses less by translation, none has been so fre queutly copied in mannscript, and none so often printed. King and no ble, peasant and pauper, are delight ed students of its pages. Philoso phers have humbly gleaned from its pages, and legislation has been thank fully indebted to it. Its stories charm the child, its hopes inspire the aged, and its promises soothe the bed of death. The maiden is wedded un der its sanction, and the grave is closed under its comforting assuran ces. Its lessons are the essence of religion, the seminal truths of theol ogy, the first principles of morals and the guiding axioms of political econ omy. Martyrs have often bled and been burned for attachment to it. It is the theme of universal appeal. In the entire range of literature no book is so frequently quoted or referred to. The majority of all the books ever published have been in connection with it. The fathers commented upon it, and the subtle divines of the middle ages refined upon its doc trines. It sustained Origen’s schol arship and Chrysostom’s rhetoric. It whetted the penetration of Abelard and exercised the keen ingenuity of Aquinas. It gave life to the revival of letters, and Dante and Petrarch revelled in its imagery. It augmen ted the erudition of Erasmus and roused and blessed the intrepidity of Luther. Its temples are the finest specimens of architecture, and the brightest triumphs of music are as sociated with its poetry. The text of no ancient author has summoned into operation such an amount of lubor and learning, and it has furnished occasion for the most masterly exam ples of criticism and comment, gram matical investigation and logical analysis. It has also iuspired the English muse with her loftiest slraius. Its beams gladdened Milton in hiB darkness, and cheered the songs of Cowper in his sadness. It was the star which guided Columbus to the discovery of a new world. It fur nished the panoply of the Puritan valor which shivered tyranny in days gone by. It is the Magna Charter of the world’s regeneration and liber ties. The records of lglse religion, from the Koran to the Book of Mor mon, have owned its superiority aud surreptitiously purloined its jewels. Among the Christian classics it load ed the treasures of Owen, charged the fullness of Hooker, barbed the point of Baxter, gave colors to the palette and sweep to the pencil of Buuyan, enriched the fragrant fancy of Taylor, sustained the loftiness of Horne, and strung the plummet of Edwards. In short, this collection of artless lives and letters has changed the face of the world and ennobled myriad! of its population. Holding, < ts I did to-day, the Bible of Luther ) u my hands, with its wooden cover, I ( •ouhl not bnt thank God for hia pre •ious Word, for its remarkable pre mrvation, and its most blessed ami soinforting truths*—Selected. Is there as much faith iu special prayer as iu former days! Do Chris tians plead with God for the conver sion of individuals by name! Do they unite in supplication for specific mses; for common friends and ac quaintances f I believe that such prayers have been signally blessed. [)ur Saviour said: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any: thing that they shall aBk, it shall be lone for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt, xviii; 19. Let me tell my readers of two cases with in my personal knowledge. They occurred maoy years ago, and have never been published. In a town in the Northwest, in 1842, there was a company of young men who seemed to be fast going to destruction. Several of them bad pious mothers in Eastern homes, bnt they uever went to nhnrcli, and spent their Sabbaths in dissipation. There were a few young men in that town who were earnest Christians. They saw with sadness the downward coarse of their associates. They mot together in a store at nine o’clock one evening to talk the matter over. The result of the conference was that they made out a list of fifteen names. Each took a copy of it. They agreed uot only to pray in their closets for those ou the list, name by name, but to meet together for that purpose from nine to teu o’clock every even ing. They met in the store where two of them were clerks. There were only five or six in the praying band. They kept up this earnest aud specific supplication for some weeks before any answer came. Then suddenly, when there was no special religious interest in tile place^mvo of the most dissipated young mefr were arrested by the Spirit of God as they were preparing to go to a ball. They were affected even to tears while iu their room, without auy apparent cause. One said to the other, “Let us quit this spreeing; there is uo real enjoy ment iu it.” Just then a bell began to ring. They kucw it was the sum mons to the weekly prayer-meeting iu a church near by. They resolved to go to the prayer meeting. It was slirnly attended, aud their presence iu it was evidently a surprise. They both arose, without waiting for an invitation, and asked Christians to pray for them. The news of this awakening went through the town, and set everybody to thinking and talking about religion. Special meet ings were appointed. There was a great revival. Scores were converted. Among the converts were fourleou of the fifteen ou that list; and they were brought to Christ very nearly iu the order in which their names weie written. The first two names were those rtf the young men who went, to that church prayer-meeting. Those whose names were first and third on the list became preachers of the gospel. All of the fourteen havo been for years consistent Christians. What bocame of the fifteenth Ido not remember. Now, if those pious young men had met merely to pray iu general terms for a revival of religion, or for the young men in town who were impen itent, would the same results have followed t As 1 road the Bible and tho history of the church I am driven to the conviction I hat the prevailing power of those prayers was owing largely to their being so xpeeific aud SPECIAL PRAYER. personal. The interest and faith of those young men were concentrated, on a, limbed"number of persons. The brought the same burden and thd same request to the Lord, day afteij day. They agreed upon ludividf cases, and pressed them persisted before the mercy seat. Prayer is ]A light. Concentration gives it1 bujjj ing power. The other case that I recall wi3 a village where the children of church were exposed to pecnll temptations, and some of them wl going astray. Five of the inothd of these children, after talking ulatter over, agreed to hold a meetil and pray for their children. ThI did so for weeks with no apparel result. The minister did not kne of this prayer-meeting, but God it into his heart to preach a sermtj to children. Before the sermon cle ed there was weeping all over tj church. That day was the begfl ning of a glorious revival in tbs place. The first converts- wore children of those mothers who for prayer, but the holy fire then kf died burned on for mouths. The were nearly a hundred converts, aii(\ » only one of them was over twenty-.'ijlP five years of age. The prayers of those godly women were for the chil dren, and God said, “According to yonr faith be it unto yon.” If in any church there are those who cry, “O Lord, revive thy workl” let me suggest to them that they make their prayers' special, specific and personal—that they nuite upon name one thing, instead of asking vaguely for everything. In the pres ant feebleness of oar faith we had letter begin wit(i those who are learest to us, and get as many of our Christian friends as we can to help is.—0. E. B. in Journal and Metsen er.
The Christian Sun (Elon College, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 3, 1881, edition 1
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