CHAPTER XIV. PRAYER-MEETING IN CONNECTION WITH MISSIONS-FOREIGN, HOME, CITY-AND COLPORTAGE OPERATIONS. Mission Work in the Wynds of Glasgow-The Prayer-meeting the First step-Report of Missions in Egypt. By Rev. B. F. Pinkerton-The Christian Instructor, Phila.-A Model Church-Reflections-American Tract Society on Home Evangelization-That Society friendly to Revival and the Prayer-meeting-Thrilling Narrative of the wonderful labors of a German Colporteur. IN N that remarkable Treatise, to which we have made frequent reference, "Work in the Wynds" of Glasgow, Scotland, an important principle, bearing upon all successful mission work, is clearly stated. In speaking of the City Mission, he says: "It is interesting to notice, in the history of the Mission, the development from a prayer-meeting to the outline of a church. This is not so much from the force of external appliances as from the internal effort of the Christian life to work itself into the ecclesiastical form. The City Mission, doubtless, did a good work, which the churches had long neglected, but it was a work too narrow and defective to be more than temporary and transitional. It aimed at a prayer-meeting, rather than a church, thus influenced a more limited circle, and lost much of the good of its own labors in sending off to neighboring churches those who might have been otherwise retained and trained for service, and who, in such churches, could often get no assignable place and no sufficient superintendence." That is, to say: In City Missionary operations, the first step toward organic life is to bring into form the prayer meeting just so soon as material can be prepared for it, but, from the beginning, with the idea that this material is not to be sent off to be incorporated with congregations already organized, but retained and held together as the material for a new congregation; and so exemplify the true Mission history of development from the incipiency of a prayer-meeting, passing on from outline to full ecclesiastical form-an organized church, with pastor, elders, and deacons, as was, at length, the Church of "The Wynds." For the author proceeds to say: "Mission work in our large cities and towns has made a history within the last half century. In the earlier part of that period, the form the work assumed was that of visitation from house to house, by volunteers from some neighboring church. We have still this form perpetuated in the Christian Instruction Associations and District Visitation Societies connected with various congregations." The regular Mission in the "Wynds" changed this state of things. The missionary was sent to gather together new material, and prepare it for a new church organization. At first, when he entered the field, "the service provided was generally on a fragment of the Lord's day, usually in the evening, and it consisted only of preaching and the prayer-meeting, without breaking of bread and fellowship of saints. Something more like the glorious gospel of the blessed God, had, in connection with the new movement in Glasgow, been brought nigh. If the churches were not yet ready to bring the poor to their own sacred houses, or if the poor were not yet ready to come in, the churches were providing decent houses in which the poor might be feasted by themselves." Speaking farther of the new City Mission operation, after entering the new Mission Church, he says: "In those early days we had few young people in church. Our attendance was principally composed of very old and middle-aged people. We started a Sabbath morning school for those who were getting up in years, besides the usual Sabbath evening classes. We had always, from the beginning, an admirable prayer-meeting, on the Sabbath morning, for young men." In referring to an advanced state of the Mission, the author says: "But the Elders, though all busy men through the day, did a noble and large service in this way. Our frequent meetings gave opportunity for seeing and speaking to hundreds during the year; and our fellowship-meetings tended to interweave one with many, so that the members visiting, or only speaking to one another, exercised a great help in bearing one another's burdens. As the Wynd Church increased, we were able to subdivide our common territory for household visitation; and as the younger churches gradually secured a large portion of the crowd that for some years almost overwhelmed us, we were able to pay closer attention to the members and households belonging to us. Elders and deacons vigorously visited their respective congregational districts. Prayer-meetings were opened in various parts of the city, and new efforts were made to give efficacy to our mission work round the church." In the Thirteenth Annual Report of the Ladies' Association for Promoting the Christian Education of Jewish Females in Alexandria, Egypt, we.find the following, from which we extract a paragraph: "ABBEY CLOSE, UNITED PRESBYTERIAN HALL, "REPORT.-Weekly Meetings. "There is a semi-weekly meeting for prayer, held in the house of one of the members. It has been well attended by both members and adherents. And it may be regarded as next to the Sabbath services in its effects on the spiritual life of the congregation. All the male members who attend it, lead in prayer, and most of them have given gratifying evidence of spiritual growth. The order of exercises is similar to that observed in prayer-meetings at home. The missionary presides; the members present are called in turn to lead in prayer. A portion of Scripture is read, and a few explanatory and practical remarks made. The above exercises are interspersed with the singing of Psalms, in which all heartily join, and seem to take great delight. Frequently the neighbors have been attracted by the singing, and some have come to see and hear what is going on. The good effects of these meetings have not been confined to the personal edification of the members; the unification of the congregation has also been greatly promoted by them; brotherly love has been increased. There is evidently a desire for an organization, and there is now no doubt that there are some good and tried men among them, who are qualified for the office of Eldership and Deaconite. It might be well for the Presbytery now to consider the propriety of granting this congregation an organization. (Signed) “B. F. PINKERTON.” In the Christian Instructor, Philadelphia, Sept. 11th, 1869, we find the following: "A MODEL CHURCH.' "In conversation, a few days since, with a devoted laborer in one of the churches under the care of our Home Mission Board in the far West, we learned a remarkable fact, which, it has occurred to us, may be mentioned, with good results, to the church at large. It was this: that every member of the church regularly attends the weekly prayer-meeting, and that in these meetings every male member takes an active part in the exercises, either leading in prayer or making remarks. As might be expected, under such circumstances, the meetings have life and spirit in them, and the members of the church, coming thus regularly together in such meetings, and engaging thus with one another in the exercises, steadily keep up their interest in the church, are more and more closely drawn together, are ever ready to make efforts and sacrifices for the cause, and finding it good for themselves thus to draw nigh to God, are often moved to say to others, 'Come ye with us, and we will do you good.' Is this state of things common in the United Presbyterian Church? Would that we had good reason to believe it was! What means would there be in steady use for all to be growing in grace, and in the saving experimental knowledge of Christ! What a powerful influence would there be exerted for having brotherly love continue, for encouraging and strengthening all to be active, earnest, useful workers for Christ and his cause, and for holding fast their profession! Happy the pastor that has the support of the prayers and the co-operation of such a people! Happy the community that has such a church and people in its midst! Reader, is your church like this? Are you always, regularly, and earnestly, at the prayer-meeting, and willing and ready to take part in it?” No church of this kind will long remain a charge on the hands of the Home Mission Board. No other kind should be permitted long to live upon the Treasury of the Home Board. And more: no congregation, or mission station, without a prayer-meeting, should ever be permitted to draw upon the Board for support. The funds of the church can never galvanize life into a dead society or mission station. |