L i-»J Cf 531 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE ANNA ALLEN WRIGHT LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND 3 1924 050 004 526 LIBRARY ANNEX DATE DUE faTj^l-^^. ^•'■- ■" IN—. - Cornell University Library The original of tliis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924050004526 NiBTn REF. rp.oT. nrrca cimRCn, cnn, op William akd fllto:; l-,o. THE NOOK PHAYER MEETING i:ori(j Biitclj CljurtI, FULTON STREET, XEW YOKK: / ITS OKIGIN, CHARACTER AlfTD PROGRESS, "WITH SOME OF ITS RESULTS. BY TALBOTW. CHAMBERS, 098 OP THE PASTORS OF THE EEFOEMED PR0TI3STAHT DUTCH ^^ (COLLBGIATIt) OHUECH, KEW YORK. SIXTH THOTJSAND. NEW YORK: BOARD OF PUBLICATION OF TnE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH, SYNOD'S ROOMS, Oi FKAN'KLIN STREET. 18 5 8. Entered according to Act of Omagreas, in the year 1S58, by REV. THOMAS 0. STRONG, On behalf of the Board of Publication of the Eeformcd Protestant Dutch Oburch in North America, in the Clerk's Office of tjie District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. /^ HOSPOED & 00., BTA*riONERB AND PRIBTKSB. BT & 69 William St., N. T. THIS VOLUMli IB AFFECnONATELY INSCRIBED TO THE EKV. THOMAS DEWITT, D. D., AND THE RET. THOMAS E. VERMILYE, D.D., IHE AOTHOE's ACTING COLLEAGUES IN THE SBKVIOJ OF THE VENERABLE CONSISTORY, WHOSE WISE AND LIBERAL COUNSELS RESULTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NOON DAILY PRAYER MEETING IN THE NORTH DUTCH CHURCH. LETTERS OF DRS. DE WITT AND BETHUNE. At tte request of the Board of Publication, tte following Letters in reference to this work, were kindly furnished by two of the most eminent and widely-known Divines in the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. LETTER OF REV. DR. DE Wi'iT. The Volume prepared by my Colleague, the Ret. De. Chambers, entitled "THE NOON PRAYER MEETING," -wHl doubtless attract the interest of the Christian public at large. It traces from the first institution of the Noon Day Prayer Meeting, in September, 1857, its onward progress and widening diffusion, with the blessed results which have followed. It has been carefully prepared, and full reli- ance may be placed upon the accuracy of its statements. It is hoped that it may be in some de single congregation, through the Classis and the Particular Synod, to the General Synod, which repre- sents-the entire Church. In judicial cases, an appeal is allowed from the decision of any of these bodies to the one above it, until the General Synod is reached, whose action is final. The Dutch Church, in common with the Reformed Churches in Europe, has a Liturgy of moderate extent, a part of which, viz : that prescribing the mode of ad- ministering the Sacraments, Orders and Church Disci- pline, is obligatory upon all. The use of the remain- der is optional with ministers and consistories. Every settled pastor is required to expound the Heidelberg. Catechism in course from the pulpit once in four years. Every applicant for admission to the Church must assent to the scheme of doctrine set forth in the Compendium (or abridgement) of the Heidel- berg Catechism. A constitutional provision requires each Consistory, just before the administration of the Lord's Supper, carefully to inquire whether to the knowledge of those present, any of the members of the DTTTCH CHUECH m NEW TOEK. 19 Cliurch have been delinquent in doctrine or life, in or- der that if such should prove to be the case, the prop- er remedy may be applied, and all offences be remov- ed out of the Church of Christ. Every minister is required to be a liberally educated man, for which reason a Theological Seminary was in- stituted at a date prior to the Eevolution, and.no, can- didate for licensure is allowed to present himself. before a Classis, unless he has a certificate of scholar- ship from the Theological Professors. THE- CHURCH OF NEW YORK COMMONLY CALLED COLLEGIATE. This, the niother church of the denomiaation in this country, is the oldest ecclesiastical organization in 'New York, having been founded previously to A. D. 1640. For more than a century and a half, this was the only Dutch Church in the city, and as the popu- lation iuereased, it multiplied its pastors and houses of worship. Subsequently, when independent churches were organized, each under the charge of a single person, this one, because of its plurality of con- gregations and ministers, became popularly known as the Collegiate Church, although that title does not appear upon its records and has no ofiieial authority. The first minister was the Rev. Everardus Bogardus, who came over from Holland in the year 1633. He was followed by ten others in regular succession, who also came from Holland and preached in the Dutch language. In the year 1764, the Eer. Dr. Archibald Laidlie was installed with the express view of meet- ing the wants of those who required the service to be in English. All the ministers who succeeded him preached in English only, except Dr. Livingston and the venerated Dr. Kuypers, the latter of whom for many years preached in both languages. The last sermon in Dutch was preached in 1803. The last minister who died in the service of the Church, was the Eev. Dr. Knox, the late senior pastor, who closed his useful life in the first month of the present year, and was carried to his grave with the deepest mani- festations of regret and sorrow from persons of all classes. The present mmisters are :— ■William C. Brownlee, D. D. settled in 1826. Thomas De Witt, D. D., " " 1827. Thomas E. Yermilye, D. D., " " 1839. Talbot W. Chambers, D. D., " " 1849. The Church of ISTew York began its services in 1626, in "an upper room," the spacious loft of a hoTse-mill, but after a few years erected a plain wooden build- ing, near'what is now called Old Slip. In 1642, a much larger edifice of stone was put up within the Fort, which stood on the plot of ground which has long been Imown as the Battery. Fifty years after- DUTCH CHIJECH Df NEW YOEK. 21 ward, the congregation removed to a new edifice in Garden street which had been built for their accom- modation. This church, which, after being rebuilt of stone in 1807, was destroyed in the great fire oi December, 1835, was the first to receive a geographi- cal designation. After a second place of worship had been erected in N"assau street, in 1729, and a third in "William street, corner of Fulton, in 1769, the oldest building took the name of the South Church, the second that of the Middle, and the last erected, that of the'*lvrorth, a name which it still retains, although it has been for a number of years the furthest south by a mile of all the Dutch churches on the island, the Middle having been relinquished for sacred pur- poses in the year 1844. ri'incipal entrance to the North Kef, Prot, Dutch Church. CHAPTEE n. %\i ^att\ gttlr|[ ^mt\. This building is, witli the. exception of St. Paul's Chapel, the only church edifice now used for sacred purposes in New York, which dates hack to a period prior to the Eevolutionary War. From the Eev. Dr. De Witt's Historical Discourse, pronounced in this huilding on the last Lord's day in August, 1856, we learn that measures were taken by the Consistory for the building of this house of wor- ship early in 1T67. In June of that year, it was re- solved "that the church should be erected on the grounds of Mr. Harpending, that it should be one hundred feet in length and seventy in breadth, thac it should front on Horse %\.vsa> v.. Prayers & Exhortations Not to exceed 5 minutes, m order to^ve ali an opporfanif/. NOT MORE t/jan 2 CONSECUTIVE PRAYERS OR EXHORTATIONS. NO CONTROVERTED POINTS _ DISCUSSED. 4S NOON PRA.YEE MEETING. PLEASE OBSEEYE THE EOLLOWmG EULES. BE PROMPT. COMMENCING PEECISELT AT TWELVE o'CLOCK. The Leader is not expected to exceed ten minutes in open- ing the meeting Ist. Open the meeting by reading and singing from three to five verses of a hymn. 2d. Prayer. 3d. Read a portion of the Scripture. 4tli. Say the meeting is now open for prayers and exhor- tations, observing particularly the rules overhead, inviting brethren from abroad to taie part in the services. 5th. Bead but one or two requests at a time — ^REQTJIR- ING a prayer to follow — such prayer to have special reference to the same. 6th. In case of any suggestion or proposition, by any per- son, say this is simply a Prayer meeting, and that they are out of order, and call on some brother to pray. 7th. Give out the closing hymn five minutes before one o'clock. Bequest the Benediction from a Clergy- man, if one be present. CHAEACTEE OF THE MEETING. 4:9 The "requests" mentioned in tlie Stli direction have reference to communications sent in to the meeting by different persons, desiring the prayers of the assembly for themselves or others. Of these more will be said in another place. The 6th Rule was designed to prevent rash or ill- considered proposals, the adoption, or even consider- ation of which, would be alien to the design of the meeting and tend to distract the minds of those present. The deliberate judgment of the Committee of the Consistory, confirmed by considerable observ- ation, led them to the conclusion that it would be unwise to allow any action to be taken oj* any discus- sions had, which would trench on the ground occupied by ecclesiastical judicatories, or change the meeting from its original character as a simple gathering for prayer and conference. I. In relation to the general character of the exer- cises, the first and most distinguishing feature is what has been called their Spontaneity. In a few instances, where the leader observes among the audience a person whom he knows or believes to be in possession of interesting information in relation to the work of God in any part of the country, he will call upon the brother to recount the facts to the assembly. But this does not occur often. In general the custom is to let the meeting conduct itself. After the opening, room is afforded to all without exception 3 50 NOON PEATEE MEETING. to take part in sueli way as their feelings may prompt, whether to offer prayer, to give a word of exhortation, to narrate an interesting incident, to tell of the Lord's doings elsewhere, to prefer a request for the remem- brance in prayer of some person or subject, or even to commence the singing of a few verses of some familiar hymn. It rarely happens that there is any delay, any awkward pause caused by one waiting for another. The difficulty, if such it he, lies in the opposite direc- tion. Often two or three, or more, arise at the same time. In such eases the younger yield to the older, or the resident to the stranger, or the leader assigns the floor to the person, whose claim seems the most urgent. Whatever difficulties may have embarrassed this matter at first, a usage was soon established by which the course of the meeting was made to flow on smoothly and sweetly to its termiuation. The spirit of Christian love seemed naturally to bring out a practical exemplification, in this as in other respects, of the Apostolic precept, In honour preferring one an- other. A more serious difficulty to be apprehended from the liberty allowed to all to take part ia the services, was the presumption that those least qualified by nature or culture to lead the devotions or thoughts of others, would for that very reason be forward to as- sume this position. Nor can it be denied that this has sometimes occurred. Exhortations have been OHAEACTBE OF THE MEETING. 61 delivered which had nothing but fervour, and some- times not even that, to recommend them ; and prayers have been offered so ambitious and rhetorical in style and tone as inevitably to make the impression that they were intended rather for the ears of men than for God's. But in general such departures from pro- priety have been few, and those who have been most regular or frequent in attendance upon the meetings, have been surprised to observe how little was posi- tively objectionable in the effusions of a body ot men so promiscuous in its origin, and so constantly changing in its individual members. On the other hand, it is to be considered that as there ib no com- pulsion to speak, not the least obligation express or implied, no one rises unless he has or thinks he has something to say. And if he proves to have made a mistake, the shortness of the time allowed to each by the rules, prevents the infliction from being intole- rable. But even if these evils existed to a far greater degree than has yet been experienced, they would weigh but lightly against the advantages of the( epontaneous featured To throw the- meeting open to all, destroys formality, promotes variety, awakens interest, keseps the attention roused, and ensures, as far as any human means can, a constant flow of life and fervour. ITo one meeting is or can be the exact counterpart of another. One day prayer will abou^, 52 NOON PEATEE MEETING. on the next exhortation will be prominent, the third , will be characterized by some fervid appeal, a touch- ing case of conversion will make a fourth memorable, and so on in continual succession. So manifold are the phases of the Christian life, so diversified the work- ings of the Divine Spirit, so abundant the ways in which eternal things affect the interests and feelings of men, that simple and single' as is the object of the, meeting, and rigidly as its general rules ai"e enforced, there is perpetual freshness, variety and vitality in the exercises from day to day. This is doubtless largely owing to wha^- may be mentioned as another prom- inent feature of the meeting ; its II. CathoUcity. Although it has been from the beginning under, the direction and control of the committee of the Consistory, a control never put forth prominently except when it was questioned or invaded, or when indiscreet propositions were brought forward, yet in like manner from the outset has, the meeting been of the most comprehensive kind. Special pains were taken to divest it of any- thing of a denominational or partizan cast. The hymn books used have been those issued by one of the general benevolent institutions sustained and controlled by evangelical Christians, of every name. The leaders, whether lay or clerical, have been- taken indiscriminately from nearly every known body of E(fctestants " holding the Head," from Baptists, Con- CHABAOTBE OF THE MEETING. gregationalists, Friends, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians of all the various branches, Eeformed Dutch, &c. The assemblies have been composed oi equally various materials. All were invited, and all were welcome. Ifo man was asked to what regi- ment he belonged, or from what country he came. If he fought under the Captain of Salvation, and spoke the speech of Canaan, it was enough. There was room for him. The harmony of believers, so different in their origin, name, associations, and systems of doctrine, order, and discipline, was secured by the enforcement of the rule — " ISTo controverted points discussed." Sometimes, indeed, a good Mettodist brother would drop a sentiment respecting human agency in conver- sion, which no Calvinist could possibly endorse, while the next day, a disciple of "the doctrines of, grace" would bring out one of these with singular and hearty emphasis. But this was usually unpremeditated and involuntary ; and as no discussion sprang up, the whole matter would quietly die away and the concord of the assembly remain imbroken. But in truth, dur- ing most of the year past, so intense has been the in- terest in- those great central doctrines of the Gospel, which underlie all creeds having enough truth in them t.j save a soul, and so profound has been the concern to have Christ's Kingdom advanced, and men ready to perish snatched as " brands from the burn- S4: NOON PEATEE MEETING. ing," that Christians were far more disposed to hring to miiid and consider the points in which they agree than those in which they disagree. Themes of con- troversy were as if without an effort excluded from view. AU, as -might be expected of men willing to meet during business hours for prayer, concurred ia the belief that men are lost by nature, that salvation is freely offered to them through the blood of the Cross, and thsit it is the province of the Holy Spirit to convert them to the believing reception of the gra- cious provision thus made. There was therefore a common want of the same great blessing for them- selves and others, and a common conviction that it could come only from above. - This produced a great enlargement of Christian charity and brotherly love in prayer. Men were lifted above denoniinational divisions. Partizan views and selfish aspirations, were absorbed in the over- whelming rush of feeling and desire for the honour of Christ and the salvation of perishing souls. They who at other times and in other places laboured only under the banner of the particular body of Christians to which they belonged, and were zealous to flaunt that banner in the face of all comers, her.e meekly folded it up, and were content to pray and sing and speak together, simply as Christians, sheep of one fold, disci'nles of one Master, heirs of one destiny. The progress of the Lord's cause, no matter in what CHAEACTEB OF THE MEETING. 55 place, or bj what instruments, or by wtomsoever an- nounced, was enough to call out their common sym- pathies, to occasion hearty thanis to God for his goodness and earnest pleadings for the eontiniiance and enlargement of the blessiug. In this way the catholic spirit of the meeting, has gone on, becoming more and more broad and cordial, until now no one seems to look for anything else at any time or from any quarter. in. A third , most noticeable feature in the charac- ter of the meeting is the Presence of Strangers. As appears by the Rules quoted above, the appear- ance of such is desired and expected, and as is proper, a preference is given to them, if at any time they seek the attention of the meeting. Of course in a city like 'Eew York, the metropolis of the country and the chief seat of the importing trade, connected with the interior by innumerable ties and constantly drawing to itself visitors from every quarter, for pur- poses of business, travel and amusement, there can- not fail to be a perpetual succession of strangers, and among these many to whom the name of Jesus is precious. Besides the multitudes who make a longer or shorter stay in hotels and boarding houses, there are far greater numbers who, residing in some place in the surrounding country, at a distance ranging' from five to a hundred miles, yet come into town daily, or at least two or three times, a week for seen 56 NOON PEAYEE MEETING lar pursmts. Many of these have made it a habit t« resort to the Noon Meeting, as often as circumstances permitted. Clergymen on their way to and from ec- clesiastical meetiags^ iavalids travelling for health, sailors staying in port, officers of the army and navy in trcmsitu , from place to place, emigrants, from foreign lands pnrsmng their way to the interior ot this country, and adventurous men from the interior seeking the quickest route to the Pacific, all these,, as they passed through New York, have to some extent been represented in this now well-known gathering. Scarcely a day passes in which some voice is not lifted which was never heard before in that room. It may be that the speaker merely wishes to express his gratification at what he sees and hears, or to make some suggestion, or to propose a subject of prayer, or to narrate some recent manifestation of God's grace in the neighbourhood from which he comes. But in any of these cases, his. presence is felt as a stimulus and enconragement by those present. Pai'- ticularly is this the case, when as often occurs, the meeting is informed that the reports, whether verbal or in print, of what God has been pleased to do in the North Dutch Consistory room and similar places in New York, going out through the land, have wrought in some communities like a spark touching a whole train of combustibles. The Lord has seen fit to bless this simple and unostentatious means CHATCAOTEB OF THE MEETING. 57 to tlie reviving of his people, the awakening of im- penitent souls and the general advancement of the Gospel. The echo of their own mercies thns coming back to the point of departure, renews the feeling of former joys, and the reaction is as powerful as it is happy. TV. A fourth peculiarity of the meeting is its in- variable Promptness as to time. Precisely at twelve o'clock, the leader takes his seat at the desk and com- mences the exercises. With equal exactness the meet- ing is closed when one hour has elapsed. Thus there is a sure barrier against prolixity. Besides the liberty which the visitor has of leaving at any moment, he is certain that if he chooses to remain during the whole service, he may rely upon being dismissed at the ap- pointed time. This, together with the limited period which any one speaker is allowed to occupy, has a marked tendency to secure brevity and point in what- ever is said. The meeting is exactly adapted to the class for whom it was originally intended — business men. While there is no irreverence, there is a prompt- ness, an earnestness, a directness, which allow no dragging, and show that men have come together for a purpose, and mean, with God's blessing, to accom- plish that purpose. It very often has happened that the interest of a meeting has gone on increasing up to the completion of the hour and some have greatly desired to prolong the exercises, but this is never 3^ 58 NOON PEATEK MEETING. done, except so far as to allow tlie brother who has the floor to finish what he is saying. It is felt that if the rule were once deliberately disregarded, there would be no safeguard against a wearisome and ruin- ous protraction of the service. The leader therefore is required to be iuexorable. And the knowledge of this fact is not without a wholesome influence upon all concerned. The most of the speakers come at once to the point, and put what they have to say into the fewest words possible. V. "We may add to the features already mentioned one more, viz : that which is derived from the one great, origiual, fandamental object of the meeting — Pkatee. Its name imports, and every body understands, that this is primarily a Prayer Meeting. Devotion is lite- rally its sine qua non. But for the felt necessity of Divine influence to be sought and obtained by prayer, the meeting never would have been instituted, or if instituted, never would have been sustained. All other things are subordinated to this, as they ought to be. Nor is it found that this lessens the interest or attractiveness any more than it does the usefulness of the services. All men cannot speak to edification, but all men can pray so as to carry their fellow-worshippers with them. If only their hearts are warm with love, if they feel the wants they express, if they speak as if to a God upon whom they wholly depend, and in — :> CHAKACTEE OF THE MEETING. - / 59 whose promise they entirely believe, no defects of ex- pression or ntterance will prevent their supplications from being enlivening to their brethren as well as ac- ceptable to God. This isnot speculation, but the teaching of experi- ence. Uniformly the most, happy meetings, those which are longest remembered and are most fruitful of present and future good, are those in which there has been most prayer offered. While a contrary course in any given case has produced sore disappoint- ment. See, for example, what was said on one occasion of this kind. "A wet blanket on the Prayer Meeting," said a business man when the iQeeting was over. " A wet blanket it was," said another. " It so dampened the ardour of the meeting," said a third. " It was lifted off from us towards the close of the meeting, and we ought to be thankful for that," said a fourth. " What was the wet blanket ? " some one may ask. The leader had opened the meeting with rather long exercises, occupying seventeen or eighteen minutes, whereas the rule says he may occupy ten. Then he read several very interesting retjuests for prayer. Then followed remarks by two brethren, occupying seventeen or eighteen minutes more before any prayer was offered. These remarks were interesting in their place but out of time. The feelings of the meeting were moved with deep sympathy for those who had 60 NOON PEATEE MEETING. presented these requests for prayer as well as with the subjects for prayer. This coming to talk instead of coming to" pray was the wet blanket. This. has been so well understood now that all ex- perienced leaders make it a point to secure as much speaking to God as possible, rather than speaking to man ; no matter how able, eloquent, zealous or mov- ing. The life, the glory, the blessedness of the Noon Prayer Meeting lies in its close adherence to the idea implied ia its name. This matter was put forth in a very emphatic and appropriate form by the Senior Pastor of the Col- legiate Church, the Rev. De. ^De "Witt, at a meeting in Septembei*, in Bomejemarks, the occasion, of which is shown in the remarks themselves. " It will be remembered that at the close of the meeting yesterday, there was committed to a Com- mittee of which I was the Chairman, & prayer oi & very important character, in regard to the subject matter of which there can be no division of sentiment or opinion. That prayer Was to this effect — that this union Prayer Meeting most earnestly request the ec- clesiastical and missionary boards of all denominations of Christians throughout"' the country and in other lands, at their fall meetings, to set apart a day during their sessions to be spent as a day of special prayer for the outpouriag of the Holy Spirit, and the revival of the work of God in all our ehuffehes of every de- CHAEAOTEE OF THE MEETING. 61 nomination of Christians, that millions ready to perish >| might be saved. At the meeting, yesterday, I stated that on Saturday last, I received a letter from the Eev. Dr. Plumer, of the Western Theological Seminary at Pittsburgh, saying that their Western Synods were anxious to observe such a day, and asking me if some concert of action could not be secured to the same effect in that branch of the Church with which I am more particularly connected. When that paper was presented as a call to prayer, it struck me favoura,bly, and without much reflection was presented to the meeting. The paper was received, though a small minority was opposed ; and opposed, pot because of the spirit of the paper, but because this was not felt to be the fitting place even to vote to recommend a day of prayer, because we come here simply to pray, ' not to do any business, even so much as to say Aye or Nay to such a paper as this. The mover of that paper has withdrawn it, and the object can be reached in another way, and it will be a way liable to no objection. Moreover, I have to say, this being a union Prayer Meeting of different denominations of Christians, if there were the smallest minority op- posed, I should feel opposed too. I have also another thing to say. Identified as I have been from the be- ginning, by my peculiar relations, with this Prayer Meeting, my judgment tells me, it is better to reach this object, so desirable, in another way. Wliat is 62 NOON PEATEE MEETING. the Fulton street prayer meeting more than any other prayer meeting? I confess, when I hear the brother from St. Louis and the brother from Philadelphia tell how all look to this meeting, and how much is depend- ing on this meeting, I feel humbled. "We have need to remember that, ia. all this great work of salvation in which we have been called to rejoice, the Lord alone is to be exalted. Therefore let us keep humble before him. We trust that the spirit of grace and sujfplication wUl be given to those assemblies of Christians which are to meet. But as they are ecclfi- siastical bodies of various sorts of Christians, this ob- ject should reach them through a channel more ap- propriate than this meeting. And it will be done, it is to be presumed; and all that was intended be accomplished, though it will be through another chan- nel." Perhaps a stranger will get a better conception of the character of the meetings by a faithful report of one as a specimen. With such a report this chapter will conclude. " We. take our seat in the middle room, ten minutes before 12 o'clock, M. A few ladies are seated in one corner, and a few business-men are scattered here and there through the room. Five minutes to 12 the room begins to fill up rapidly. Two minutes to 12, the leader passes in, and takes his seat in the desk or pul- pit. At 12, M., punctual to the moment, at the firet CHAEACTEE OF THE MEETING. 63 Stroke of the clock the leader rises and commences the meeting by reading two or three verses of the hymn, " ' Salvation, oh I the joyful sound, 'Tis pleasure to our ears; A sovereign balm for every -vTOHnd, A cordial for our fears,' " Each person iinds a hymn-book in his seat ; all sing with heart and voice. The leader offers a prayer, short pointed, to the purpose. Then reads a brief portion of Scripture. Ten minutes are now gone. Meantime, requests in sealed envelopes have been going up to the desk for prayer. Every nook and corner is filled — the doorways and stairways — and the upper room is now filled, and we hear the voice of singing. " A deep, solemn silence settles down upon our meet- ing. It is holy ground. The leader stands with slips of paper in his hand. " He says : ' This meeting is now open for prayer. Brethren from a distance are specially invited to take part. All will observe the rules.' " All is now breathless attention. A tender solici- tude spreads over all those upturned faces. " The chairman reads : ' A son in ISTorth Carolina desires the fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous of this congregation for the immediate conversion of his mother in Connecticut.' " In an instant a father rises : ' I wish to ask the 64 NOON PBATEE MEETING. prayers of this meeting for two sons and a daughter.' And he sits down and bnrsts into tears, and lays his head down on the railing of the seat before him, and sobs like a broken-hearted child. We say in our heart, ' Oh, heart-stricken parent ! do you not know that these children are close by the kingdom ?' "A brother rises and pours out all his heart in prayer for that ' mother,' for those ' two sons,' and that ' daughter.' " A few remarks foUow — ^very brief. The chair- man rises with slips of paper in his hand, and reads : ' A praying sister requests prayers for two unconverted brothers in the city of Detroit ; that they be con- verted, and become the true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.' " Another ' Prayers are requested of the people of God for a young man, once a professor of religion, but now a wanderer, and going astray. These Chris- tian parents invoke a continued interest in your prayers.' " And another, from West Cornwall, Vt. ' Be- lieving in the poWer and efficacy of prayer, an aged ^vidowed mother requ^ts the prayers of those Chris- tians who assemble for daily prayer, for the immediate conversion of two sons, that they may become the meek and humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. A sick daughter sincerely unites with her in this earnest request.' Two prayers in succession fol- CHAEACTEE OF THE MEETING. 65 lowed these requests — very fervent, very earnest. And others who rose to pray at the same time, sat down again when they found themselves preceded by the voices already engaged in prayer. Then arose from all hearts that beautiful hymn, sung with touch- ing pathos, so appropriate, too, just in this stage of this meeting, with all these cases full before us, " ' There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immauuel's veins, Ajid sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.' " Then followed prayer by one who prays earnestly for all who have been prayed for, for all sinnei's pre- sent, for the perishing thousands in this city, for the spread of revivals all over the land and world. " It is now a quarter to one o'clock. Time has fled on silver wings. " The Chairman rises again with still more slips in in his hand, and reads : " ' A resident of Georgia requests the prayers of this meeting Tor two dear brothers, that they may be brought to Christ in this day of salvation ; one resid- ing near this meeting, and the other three thousand miles away from the home of his childhood. Also, for a dear and only child.' "01 that mother, that mother — and all these mothers — ^ shall they not see all these children con- verted ? 66 NOOlir PEATEE MEETING. "Again- he reads, and this, like others, was very- affecting: '"May I, without presumption, prefer a request for myself, though only a private individual, and for a feeble church among whom my lot is cast, that we may be melted and humbled, and endued with power from on high, and made instruments of salvation — establish His kingdom with power, and exalt His throne ji the midst of us. ' Gird thy sword upon thy thigh. Oh, thou Most Mighty !' " ' I would beg leave to prefer the same request for all the churches, some thirty in number, connected with this Presbytery, being among the few reported at the late General Assembly wholly unvisited with the showers of grace. The request wiE not be con- sidered out of season. 'My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath,' so says one of our oldest minis- ters.' "This was understood to be a Presbyteiy ia Yir- ginia. Many eyes filled with tears when this request was read. And who will soon forget the prayer that followed for those unvisited churches and that humble petitioner. "Then there arose a sailor, now one no more, by reason of ill-health, but daily labouring for Bailors. He was converted on board a man-of-war, and he knew how hard it was for the converted sailor to stand up firm against the storm of jeers, and re- CHAEACTER OF THE MEETDSTG. 67 proaches, and taunts of a ship's crew. 'Now I am here,' he said, 'to represent one who has requested me to ask your prayers for a converted sailor, this day gone to sea. I parted from him a little time ago, and his fear is, his great fewr, that he may dishonor the cause of the blessed Redeemer. "Will you pray for this sailor?' Prayer was offered for his keeping and guidance. " Then came the closing hymn, the benediction, and the parting for twenty-four houjs." THE NOONDAY PRATER MEETING. A Hymn by a daughter of Lucius Hart, often sung in the meetings. Tdite — The Golden Ruh. From busy toil and heavy care We turn the ■weary mind, And in the place of noontide prayer Our sanctuary find. The midday hour, the noontide hour. It is the hour of prayer ; Our souls receive renewing power. For Jesus meets us there. The voice that stilled the stormy waves On distant Galilee, Speaks once again, and at the sound Retires another' sea. The midday hour, etc. 68 NOON PEATEE MEETING. " The restless waves of care and strife Obey the mighty voice ; Peace broods the quiet waters o'er. And aU car sonls rejoice. The midday hour, etc. "These heaven-bright hours too soon are past; Grant, Lord, this greater boon : A place where worship never ends. Nor mght succeeds to noon. The midday hour, etc" CHAPTEE TI. %\t Iwgrws 0f i\t Itwtmg. During tlie closing months of the year 1857, this was slow but sure. The general interruption of business in consequence of the financial disasters of the season, gave to many an opportunity of regularly attending the meeting, of which a more prosperous season would perhaps have deprived them. Others were drawn by curiosity, and before they were aware, became interested in the service, and were induced to attend again and again. But it can scarcely be doubted that the main cause of the general popularity of the meeting was the gracious purpose of the Lord, making use, in His adorable sovereignty, of this means to alleviate the gloom of temporal calamities, and lead the minds of the children of men to higher ends than " The meat that perisheth." In no other way can we account for the eagerness with which multitudes of men would flock together at an unusual, and to many most incon- 70 NOON PBATEE MEETING. venient hour, for purposes of .worship, to a place where there were none of the attractions which alone, in ordinary circumstances, move men in masses to attend a religions service. There was no eloqnent orator, no ^oted revivalist, no display of intellectual abilities, native or acquired ; nothing to gratify a refined taste, or stimulate a jaded imagina- tion, or cater to itching ears. It was simply a gathering of men who turned aside from secular cares to consecrate an hour to prayer or praise — an assembly in which the chief part was taken by lay- men, and these, persons not distinguished for any unusual gifts or culture. Yet the attraction to this unpretending service became wide-spread and irresistible. Men of all ages, classes and characters attended. Mere lads and men of hoary heads sat side by side on the same benches. Lawyers and physicians, merchants and clerks, bankers and brokers, manufacturers and mechanics, carmen and hod-carriers, butchers and bakers, and porters and messengers, were repre- sented from day to day. They came just as they were from their secular avocations, and entered with zest into the spirit of the occasion. Often carmen in their frocks would drive up to the curb-stone, and securing their horses, enter the meeting, and remain- ing long enough to join in a song of praise or fervent prayer, then pass out to their teams arid drive oflf to ■■ of my three sons, now living and doing extensive bu- ^ siness in a rising town in Kansas. They give their''^ means with a liberal hand, to advance the worship ot God. But oh! they stiU' withhold their hearts. Do, dear brethren, help an aged father to pray for their saving conversion. ' Men of Israel, help !' " FOB A EOMAN CATHOLIC SEEVANT. A brother requested prayers for a girl of this class in peculiar circumstances. He said she had been for some time under veiy serious impressions. They began with the conversa- tions which a young man, who was converted in this revival, had with her after he'was taken sick. In his sickness he frequently talked with this poor servant, and recommended the Saviour to her. He died and left a bright testimony behind him of the truth of religionf This benighted Komanist saw religion ex- eif plified in a new light. " I have often talked with her," said the gentleman, " and I feel sure she is not far from the kingdom of heaven." EEQTTESTS FOE PEATEKS. 143 FEOM A OHEISTIAN m THE NOETH OF ENGLAND. " To the Otristian Friends who assemble at the Fulton street Prayer Meeting. " Dear Brethren and Sisters, you will not, I trust, refuse the request I am about to make, because I am at so great a distance. I have read with inexpressi- ble delight accounts of the great work of God in which you are so happily engaged ; and last night as I read an account of some very affecting requests which had been presented, and the gracious answers which had been vouchsafed, the thought struck me at once to write to you, in order to ask an interest in your prayers. " The object for which I heg special prayer is a vil- lage situated about three miles from the town of L., having a population of about one thousand souls. Of this number not more than forty or lifty make any profession of religion, and of them (judging by their fruits), not more than a dozen are really in earHest to serve' God. A general deadness seems to have set tied upon the place. Drunkenness, Sabbath breaMng, profane swearing, and indeed sins of every kSl^^re- vail to an alarming extent. The old seem to be alm^t beyond hope, and the yawng are enthusiastic in sd[y- ing the God of this world. ^Sk " I cannot bear to see so many people going head- long to destruction. God is dishonored and souls are jjerisMng, some of them my own relatives and friends. IM NOON PEATEK MEETING. " I tlierefore make this appeal to you, on whom God has smiled ; you who have seen the arm of the Lord made bare so often, you who daily meet to plead for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. " I appeal to you ! Men of Israel, help ! "Will you help me ? "Will you pray for me ? "Would it not rejoice your hearts to hear of this valley of dry bones becoming an army for the living God ? If you have any love for. God, any sympathy for perishing sinners, I beseech you deny me not. Give God. no rest. Pray for us in public and also in private. " Tours, in the fellowship of the Gospel, FOB SEAMEN ON BOAED OF A MAN-OF-WAE. On tbe 3rd of August, 1857, the "D". S. ship Savan- nah set sail on a cruise. Fifteen of the crew, just be- fore sailing, sent in their names that they might be remembered in the prayers of the Fulton street Prayer Meeting. It was stated that thirteen of these were pious men, and two are anxious about their souls. They hiftve sent a letter to the conomanding officer of the sbip, that they may have, leave to bold a daily prgjrer nieeting on board during tbe dog-watch, (from 4: to^, and from 6 to 8 P.M.), and tbey are pledged to sustain this, or some other prayer meeting, as God shall give them opportunity. And it is believed that God will give them the opportunity for prayer by in- BEQUESTS FOE PKATEE8. 146 c'ining tlie heart of the captain to appoint a place and time. Fervent supplications were offered for these men and all their shipmates, that God would convert the entire company, and make the gun deck vocal with prayer and praise. A similar req[uest was afterwards sent to 'New York, signed by forty-five of the marines and seamen of the U. S. ship Wabash, while absent on a cruise. FOE CHTLDEEN. A gentleman one day presented a request which had been handed to him by a lady living five hundred miles away, to this effect : " A mother sends a request for prayers for the con- version of a son, and that he may consecrate himself to the ministry. Tell the praying men of Fulton street to pray as they never prayed before, for my son must be converted — he must preach the Gospel." Prayer was offered. Then a gentleman arose in the back part of the room to ask for prayers for himself and his children, six in number, five of whom were out of Christ. "I myself am as a brand snatched from the burning. More than eighteen years ago I hoped I was converted, and I lived those eighteen years a miserable backslider. But I trust I have been par- doned and recovered, and brought back to the fold of Christ. All that time I have had the prayers of a 7 146 NOOIT PEATEE MEETIITG. praying wife ; I liave filled her cup witli sorrow. But she never stopped praying, and I owe it to her pi«ayers that I am here to-day. And now my great anxiety is for my children, that they may become the children of God. A little time ago, and you would have supposed me one of the 'hard cases.' But I am a monument of the power and gi'ace of God. If I was not to be given up, you need not give anybody up. All things are possible with God." On another occasion, a father brought into one of the meetings a sealed letter to a son in South Ame- rica und laid it upon the desk, and requested the prayers ofJ;he Christians that the Spirit and blessing of God might go with that letter, and make it the means of the conversion of that distant and much loved son. The letter was an earnest entreaty that he might become reconciled to God. FOE A BKOTHEE." This moving appeal, of which a fae simile is given on the opposite page, was enclosed to the author some weeks ago. He took the first opportunity to lay it before the Meeting, and the " Sister" may be assured that she did not " carry her burden alone" that day. FOE ANOTHEE BEOTHEE. " A young man now in this room, who is preparing himself for the ministry, asks the prayers of this «;i<«^-^ (^i^^-^-e-*-*^*^^ ct^ fi-t'f-f^ty yy-t-^t^ -:»»*' ' .jl. i'^^ x^^ Ct^ ^o '*'t-*'/(^^^^±^e^ UL^ ^''y^*-*^ BEQUESTS FOE PEATEES. 147 people in behalf of an unconverted brother who re- sides tu Iowa. That his aged mother, who has reared eleven children, all of whom that have arrived to years of discretion, are now rejoicing in Christ, may be permitted to see her prodigal son return to God before she goes to her final rest." A COEDON OE PEATEB. As a pertinent conclusion to this Chapter, we may cite the cheering remarks made by a brother one day in reference to the number of requests from a distance, and the variety of the sources from which they came. He said that he drew a very encourag- ing inference from the fact that all parts of the land asked an interest in the prayers here. We might feel sure that all those who asked us to pray for them, prayed for themselves and for us also. And thus it seemed to him as if a cordon of prayer were thrown around this meeting. " The voices of these friends are never heard in this room. But there is a power here which we can scarcely appreciate. It is a power which helps us to prevail in prayer and calls down countless blessings upon us. Others pray that our prayers may be an- swered. What a day in which to work ! What en- couragement to efibrt ! All over our land the voice of prayer goes up to the heavenly hills from these hearts which know best how to pray. Let us bo 148 NOOir PEATEE MEETING. thanktul for the ten thousand times ten thousand silent voices that assist us in our prayers and call down blessings on our heads. I thiuk that herein lies one of the secrets of our success at the throne of grace, and here is a reason for such signal answers to prayer." It may he well to add, in regard to this subject, that the sending of requests from abroad has never been invited, much less urged by the Committee of Consis- tory or the Missionary. At the same time, when such requests are voluntarily forwarded, they are never re- fused or slighted, but carefully preserved and in due time read from the leader's desk. "While the Com- mittee did not originate the custom of sending them from all parts of the country, they are unwilling to put a compulsory end to it. CHAPTEE IX. ^fp^sts for %\mlti. The stream of requests constantly flowing m to the Fulton street Meeting is sometimes most agreeably varied by new communications from old contribu- tors. They who before came to ask Christians to pray with them, now ask their brethren to unite in joyful thanksgiving to God for mercies received, like the woman in the parable, who " calleth together her friends and her neighbours, saying. Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost." Not 80 many letters and notes of this kind have been received as might have been expected, in consideration of the numerous instances in which prayer for specific objects has been offered and answered. This in many cases is no doubt owing to circum- stances which forbid the opportunity to make known the result. In others, the joy of conversion so absorbs the mind of the new-born soul that the matter is for- gotten. That soul may indeed be full of praise and 150 NOON PEATEE MEETING. / gratitude to God for his marvellous and distinguishing goodness. But while itself lauding His name, does not think of calling upon others to join with it in the bles- sed work. In. a third class the explanation may possi- bly be found in the story of the ten Samaritan lepers whom our Lord delivered from their horrible malady. Only one of the ten " turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell upon his face at his feet giving him thanks." The rest went on their way to the priest, rejoicing and doubtless thankful, but at least not manifesting their thanks in the usual way. Indeed, it has often been said, and justly, that there is no one duty in which Christians, otherwise ex^ emplary and zealous, are so often deficient as in that of thankfulness. It need not therefore be very sur- prising if they who have but just begun the Chris- tian course, should fall short in this respect. Tet there have been some very pleasing expressions of gratitude and praise sent in by persons who had been at a former period remembered in prayer. A WIDOW FOE HEE SON. Last winter a widow asked the prayers of the Meet- ing for a son who had cursed her, and the writer well remembers the thrill which went through those who heard of this unnatural wickedness. Shortly after- wards, she sent a note saying, " The widow who asked the prayers of the people BEQUESTS FOE THAITKS. 151 of God for a son who had cursed her, desires to return thanks to a prayer hearing God. Her son has asked Thefr pardon. " She now recjuests prayer to be made that he may cry out for pardon from GodP OF A EECLAIMED BACKSLIDEK. " A wanderer from the fold of Christ, who publicly requested the prayers of the Fulton street ISToon-day Prayer Meeting, desires to render thanks to God for his blessing in answer to the prayers of God's people : and would request the prayers of this meeting for a son, a seafaring man, who is without hope and with- out God in the world, that in his infinite mercy he would bring him to a knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus." FOE A son's COITTBESION. " A. widowed father, who some time since asked an interest in your prayers for the conversion of an only son and child, desires now to give devout thanks to God for the salvation of that son ; and that it can now be said of him, ' Behold he prayeth.' ' Bless the Lord, O my soul.' " FOE THE CONVEESION OF THEEE MEMBEES OF A FAMILT. " The thanksgivings and praises of this congrega- tion are requested, in view of what God has be- stowed upon a family for whom you prayed. Three 152 NOOK PEAYEE MEETING. of the number have been hopefully converted, and one taken home to glory, leaving a triumphant testi- mony to the power of. God's converting and sustain- ing-grace. Christian friends, there are still three of this family out of Christ, and for whom the departed earnestly prayed that they might be an unbroken family in Heaven. These three are now exercised, and we trust the Holy Spirit is doing His work in the midst of their sorrows. Tour united, earnest prayers are still requested for them. God has an- swered and will continue, to answer united prayers. The promise cannot fail. Where two or three are agreed, &c., &c." OF A YOUNG MAN FEOM CTTT ISLAND. This young man sought prayers for others, but in their spiritual welfare his own was included, as his statement shows. " I feel it my privilege and duty," said he, " wher- ever I am, and on every suitable occasion, to bear testimony for the Lord Jesus. I am from City Is- land, about twenty-five miles from here. It has about four hundred inhabitants, and only about twenty of these are witnesses for Christ. I am here to ask you to pray for City Island. I am but very young in the Christian life. I came here some weeks ago and asked you to pray for this people. I felt so anxious for a revival' that I got up here. BEQUESTS FOE THANKS. 153 though I had no religion then, and asked you to pray for City Island. "I went home, and the first thing I heard was, 'When are you going to come out on the Lord's side? Some of us have been praying for you ever since you have been gone.' It went like a dagger to my heart, that while I was here asking yon to pray for tlioia, tliey should be praying for me. How strange ! I was bowed down with sorrow. At length the Lord turned my sorrow into joy. I have gone on rejoicing ever since. I believe God heard your prayer for City Island, and first of all had mercy on me. Religion is all my joy now. I love its duties. I love to stand up for Jesus. I come again to ask you to pray for City Island, and pray also for me." FOE A BEOTHEe's CONVEESIOlf. " I passed through this city a few days ago," said a speaker, "and I sent up a request that you would pray for an unconverted brother. I sent it up to that desk, and when it was read I got up and stated that I had sent up that request for an unconverted bro- ther, the only remaining one of a large family of brothers, out of the ark of safety. I told yon I was going to see him. I had come from the west and was going east, a distance of one thousand miles in all, to see him. I felt very anxious about him, as the 7* 154 NOON PEATEK MEETING. only remaining one out of Christ, and alienated from us on account of some difficulty about tlie division of property. He would not write to us. I got into the cars praying. I rode on praying; I stopped and came here praying ; I asked you to pray, and then I went on praying; and when I met him, oh! an answer had come to our prayers. He threw his arms around my neck and said, ' Oh ! my brother ! my brother ! God has had mercy on my soul. Let me kiss you ; let me fold you close to my heart.' " And now I am on my way-back to the west, but I felt as if I could not go through ITew York without coming to this meeting and telling you the story of my brother's conversion, and asking you to join with me in thanksgiving to God that he has answered oui" poor requests, when we had so little confidence in Him." A thousand miles seems a long journey to take in order to see an alienated brother. But the warmth of Christian love makes nothing of distance or pains. And prayer, fervent prayer awakens hope even against hope. OF A HUSBAND AND WIFE. These persons evidently intended their paper to be one of acknowledgment and praise : yet in the ardour of their desire for more of the illuminating and sancti- fying grace of the Spirit, they omitted to make specific BEQUESTS FOE THANKS. 155 mention of the former, or even to use tlie word — thanks. "A husband and wife recently hopefully converted, through the instrumentality of this meetiTig, ask your prayers on their behalf, for the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit." OF A WOEKHTG CHEISTIAH. One day a brother in the lower room made this statement : " When a person presents a request for prayer, and tliat prayer is answered, it is his duty to communicate the fact for the encouragement of the meeting. I presented a request here some six weeks ago, that God would bless my efibrts to establish a prayer meeting at a place in the country, where I was about to spend a season. The first week we had about 20 in attendance, second week about 30, third about 40, and last week about 100. The meetings have all been very solemn and interesting. There was very much emotion in the audience. Many were afi'ected to tears, and the Holy Spirit was evidently operating on the hearts of the unconverted." In this case the writer makes no mention of grati- tude, but he certainly showed a fine appreciation of the mercy received by immediately asking for ano- ther of the same sort. 156 NOON PEATEE MEETING. "Prayers are requested for a minister's son, in Joliet, Illinois, who is away from home and friends. "The writei- offered a similar case last Tuesday. Those prayers have been answered in the certain con- version of the young man in whose behalf they were asked." FOE A NIECE. One morning a gentleman called on the Meeting to unite with him in returning thanks for the conversion of his niece. This young lady had been highly edu- cated, and had enjoyed very precious religious privi- leges, but now was apparently insensible to all serious impressions. She thought that her day of grace had been sinned away, and therefore gave herself up to the pleasures of the world, for, as she said, all that she was ever to enjoy must be enjoyed here — there was no hope for her hereafter. Consequently she determined to exhaust the cup of earthly delights, and let eternity bring to her what it would. Such was her wretched, desperate purpose; but happily God's thoughts were not as her thoughts. She was a child of prayer. Her soul was borne before the Mercy Seat by her friends and the Christians of the !N"oon Meeting. In answer to these petitions she was made a subject of renewing grace, and came to the foot of the Cross. The change was thorough. From a victim of despair, tending steadily to ruin, EEQUBST8 FOE THAlirKS. 167 she became a humble and rejoicing spirit, an intelli- gent and consistent believer. FOE THEEE SISTEES. A gentleman, a teller in a city bank, had three sisters for whose eternal welfare he was deeply con- cerned. Meetrag a friend one day, he sent by him a request to the Noon Meeting, asking that prayer should be offered for their immediate conversion. ISTot long afterwards this friend reminded the Meeting of the circumstance, addiag, " and now I am here to say that those three sisters are happy in the pardoning love of Jesus, and are rejoicing with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory." FOE A COJSrVEESION' m THE PENriENXEAET. One Monday mornuig a speaker made a statement to this effect : " Three weeks ago I requested you to pray for a young woman in the Penitentiary, whom I had found in my Sabbath visitations to be in a very anxious state of mind. On going down to the Island yesterday, and into the Penitentiary, I found this young woman rejoicing in Christ. She felt that her sins had been forgiven her, and she appears very happy ; and I come into your meeting to-day to tell you the good news for your encouragement." 168 NOON PEATEE MEETIN&. FOE A FATHEE AND THEEE SISTEES. " Christian Friends — ^A young man, wjio frequently attends this Meeting, desires you to return thanks for the couTersion of his father and three sisters. All have been subjects of prayer." THE THEEEFOLD MENTION. In the early part of the year, the prayers of the Meeting were requested for" a young man of fine pro- mise, the only child of parents who counted liim their greatest earthly treasure. Bright, earnest and active, he was a great favourite with his friends, but being possessed of abundant means and connected with fashionable society, he was leading a life of splendid gaiety and worldliness. Under these circum- stances, at the wish of his aged father, his case was mentioned for the first time. Not long afterwards, a friend on behalf of the father called on the Meeting to retui'n thanks to Almighty God for the conversion of this, his only son. It appeared that the young man had been induced to attend the Noon gathering. There his hard heart was softened. There he experienced the gentle but pow- erful influences of the Holy Spirit, and there he at last found joy and peace in believing. And now turning his back upon the gay world and its deceitful vanities, he was full of love to Christ and anxious only to do good. Overjoyed in the contemplation of BEQUESTS FOE THANKS. 169 this change, the father felt that he could not go away from New York to his distant home, without offering thanks to the Lord for his unspeakable goodness. And so the case was mentioned a second time. Some weeks had elapsed when the same friend who ]iad announced the young man's conversion, rose to announce that he slept, yes slept the sleep that knows no waking. By the accidental discharge of a gun, in North Carolina, whither he had gone on business, he was called away without a moment's warning. But his was not the terrible end it would have been, had he died without an interest in Christ. His Christian experience, though short, was enough to prepare him for the heavenly sanctuary and for the society of the blessed. Before leaving New York for the South he had connected himself with God's people, doing it then for the express reason, as he himself stated, that inasmuch as he was about to reside for a time in a part of the pountry which was destitute of religious privileges, he supposed, that as a member of the Church he could be more useful in establishing prayer meetings and Sunday schools. Thus his case came before the Meeting a third time. Surely the thanks of the father would have been even more heartfelt and glowing, had he known that when his son was converted, it was literally Now or Never. CHAPTEE X. ^raiwm ta frastr. It was to be expected that when earnest and re- peated prayers were so perseveringly offered for spe- cific objects, all this exercise of faith and zeal should not prove vain. Many of the habitual attendants of the Meetings were men given to devotion, abundant in prayers. They prayed in faith. They believed the promises. They expected their fulfilment. They took the fact that God had put it into the hearts of so many of his people to come together day after day to unite in supplication for their common wants, as evi- dence that there were blessings in store for the be- lieving. This produced an unusual fervour and di- rectness in the devotional exercises. Men pleaded, importuned, wrestled, and, as we shall see, prevailed. This prevalence reacted on the minds and hearts of the petitioners and gave new energy to their subse- quent supplications. He who heard them once might well be expected to hear them again. He who was 161 162 KOON PRATER MEETING. able before to work miracles of grace was still as able, for they held with the Apostle that his ability was "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Many of the answers to supplications sent up from the Fulton street Meeting, never have been, and doubtless in this world never will be, made known to those who offered them. In many other cases, the answer has been made known, but no record was kept of the fact, and thus it has faded from the memory of all but the parties immediately concerned. Yet enough have been preserved and remembered to fur- nish remarkable illustrations of the Faithfulness of God and the Power of Prayer. Some of these are subjoined. A FATHER FOB HIS SONS. "A father," said one of the speakers, "had three sons in distant and different parts of the country, all unconverted. He brought them to the Meeting as sub- jects of prayer. They were prayed for as only those who believe can pray. What has been the conse- quence? Three letters have been received from these three sons, who have not communicated with each other — each giving an account of his own conversion." In a similar case, the father brought before the Meeting the M'elfare of his son far away in the distant Pacific ; and in accordance with his request fervent Al^SWEES TO PEAYEE. 163 prayers were offered. In due season the son returned home, and it was found that he had been converted not only in mid-ocean, but also about the very time that he was made a subject of prayer. In stating this fact, the father said, " I determined at the time to note down the date of the prayer meeting at which my son was remembered, and I have no reason to doubt that the prayers of God's people were answered. It is wonderful. Away at that distance God called his attention to religion, convinced him of his gnilt, led him to Christ, and the very first thing he had to tell me on landing was, what the Lord- had done for his soul. He knew nothing of our prayer meetings. He did not know that he had been made the subject ot special prayer, and yet the Lord has made him the ■subject of special, grace." A. WIEB FOE HBE HXTSBAKD. On the 7th of July last, a lady tarried after the Prayer Meeting to say that she wished to have a request wiutten, to be presented next day for prayer for the conversion of her husband, in "Wisconsin. She said she did not know that she would be present, but she would try to be. She was present, and heard the prayer offered. She then went to stay two weeks at Tonkers. After the lapse of that time, she return- ed home to "Wisconsin. On arriving home, her hus- . 164: NOOlSr PEATEiE MEETmO. band, among other things, said to her, "I have set up family worship since you went away." "Ah! when did you commence?" " Some time hack." ""Well, I had your case made a subject of prayer at the Union Prayer Meeting, Fulton street, when I was in New York." " Oh, did you, and on what day was it ?" At first she could not j-emember the exact day. But after some reflection recalled it, and said, "It was on the 8th of July." "Why, that was the very day on which God had mercy on my soul !" This lady has lately wiitten a letter to a friend here, full of grateful acknowledgments, through whom these facts have been communicated to the Meeting. "Before they call I wiU answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." A PIOUS MOTHER ANSWEEED. Twenty five years ago a Christian lady died, leav- ing a lad thirteen years of age. To this child she had been very faithful, and he had often felt her tears raining down on his hands as she knelt beside him or over him in prayer. But he grew up careless and unconcerned about spiritual things, and continued ANSWERS TO PEATEE. 165 60 for years. He always declined attending a noon prayer meeting and had been spending the whole of the recent summer amid the gay scenes of l^ewport. But npon his return to the city, by a relative's per- suasions he was induced to attend the prayer meeting held every Lord's day .evening in the lecture room of the North Dutch Church. "While there the Spirit of God fell upon him with great power. His heart and conscience were thoroughly awakened. He passed the night in great distress of mind, and in the morn- ing sent for his brother-in-law, the relative before re- ferred to, who found him on his knees, in a flood of tears, calling on God for mercy. This gentleman, after praying and conversing with him, brought him to the l^oon Meeting, where his story was narrated, and fervent supplications ofi'ered on his behalf. The next day (Tuesday) he came again to the Noon Meeting, where his case was again remembered. At the close the minister, (one of the Collegiate pastors), who led the service on that day, was introduced to him, and at his request suggested such counsel and direction as seemed adapted to his situation. The sequel is shown by the following paper, which the changed man of his own accord prepared and sent in to the Meeting on the next day. "The brother-in-law, for whom prayers have been offered in this room, desires to add his testimony to the efficacy of prayer. He humbly trusts, through 166 NOON PEATEE MEETING. the merits of a dying Saviour, tliat lie lias been hope- fully converted ; and lie earnestly -requests the con- tinued prayer of this Meeting that his faith may be strengthened in the Lord." He has since contiuued joyfully in the service of his newly-found Saviour. He has entered upon the legacy left him so long before — ^the iuestimable legacy of a mother's prayers. A FATHEE ANSWEEED. A few weeks since a gentleman expressed great pleasure in informing the Meeting that a brother had called at his place of business on that very morning, and with an unusually happy face, exclaimed, "My son for whom I have prayed so long, is at last under conviction of sin. His sister has prayed earnestly for him that he might be. brought to Christi For three months he has been suffering from a sense of his unworthiness, but never told his nearest and dearest friends. Yesterday he met an acquaintance who urged him to visit the theatre in the eveningj[- in his company. He promised to go. After they sepa- rated, he thought, 'I had resolved to go to the prayer meeting this evening ; I do not know about going to the theatre. This may be the last opportunity I may ever have of attending such a prayer meeting; I must not loose it — ^I will not.' He resolved not to go to the theatre, but t8 go to the prayer meeting. He AIJSWEKS TO PEATEE. 167 did sOj and was so convinced of his sins, and of Hs need of a Saviour, that he rose in that very prayer meeting, and related the experience he had passed through, in terms so touching that there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. That son," said the gentleman speaking, " is now in this room for the first time." A DYING SAINT ANSWBEED. The following case, although not haying an imme- diate connection with the Fulton street Meeting, may find a place here, since it occurred in the author's pre- sence. One morning in February, 1858, a minister was called to visit a parishioner, who, it was feared, would hardly survive the day. The young lady had been long slowly declining in health and strength, but was well prepared for her latter end. Having many years before learned to love and serve the Saviour, she 'w^as quite willing to leave this world and go to that blessed land where Christ reveals himself face to face to his chosen, and they know even as they are known, and love even as they are loved. But while thus without fear as to what succeeds death, this peaceful Chiistian had no small trepidation as to the pang of dissolution. Like Dr. Conyers, of whom John Wewton speaks, she "though not afraid of death, was often afraid of dying." She had a painful apprehension of the pos- sible forerunners and concomitants of a dying hour. 168 NOON PEATEB MEETING. On this accoTint her pastor, as he knelt at her bed- oide, fervently implored that the Lord would overcome the anxieties of his handmaid, and if it pleased him, would kindly vouchsafe to her an ea;sy, tranquil pas- sage through the dark valley. On rising from his knees the minister, observing her to be breathing peacefully, addressed a word or two to some of the friends standing by, and then bade the sick lady good morning, with the promise of retumiug in the after- noon. But as he tocfe her hand in his, he- found it cold ; her lips did not move in reply ; and on exami- nation they found to their amazement that her pulse had ceased to beat. Thus in a moment, without a struggle or a gasp, with no outward sign whatever, so quietly that not even the sister whose hands supported her head perceived the fact, she passed away from earth and entered the eternal rest No gi'oans, no pangs, no dying strife, but calmly ,'.sweetly as a babe shuts its eyes upon its mother's breast, even so did this worn and emaciated believer fall asleep in Jesus. So quick was the transition that she could hardly her- self have been aware of it. In the twinkling of an eye her ransomed soul left the clay tenement, and was with God. Gratefully the surviving friends recognize the Divine goodness and faithfulness which so speedily and amply answered their prayer. While they were yet speaking, the Lord heard. His direction to us is ANSWEES TO PEATEE. 169 stiU and always, " only believe ; " for believing, we eball receive wben we ask. A OOLOEED woman's FAITH. This woman, according to the statement by a gen- tleman one day occupying the leader's chair, was a member of one of the Presbyterian Churches in this city, and as such held in high esteem for her consis- tent walk and pious zeal. One of the illustrations of her triumphant faith and persevering devotion was contained in the fact, that fully believing in the pro- mises made to earnest prayer, she determined, in an humble earnest way to select twenty of her acquaint- ances and pray earnestly for their salvation. She kept her resolution, made the selections, prayed without ceasing for their conversion, and in the end had the blessed satisfaction of believing thaj; they had all em- braced the Saviour. THE PEATDSTG WIVES. A pastor from the interior stated to the Meet- ting, that in the Church to which he ministered there were twenty-five ladies whose husbands were not pious. They met and spoke one to another of the fact, and of their duty in view of it, and agreed to meet weekly for special prayer for their companions. This practice was kept up, as we under- stood, for some time. The pastor said that oii the 8 170 NOOH PEATEE MEETrNG. yabtatL. before he left home for his smrnner vacation, he had the happiness to receive the last of the twenty- five hnshands into the Church. THE SEVEN PEATDTG WIVES. Another time, a clergyman present spoke of seven praying women, all of whom had unconverted hus- bands. These wives met statedly for prayer for the conversion of their husbands. They prayed on for ten years, and received no answers to their prayers, and then many were for giving up, discouraged and disheartened from the long delay of the bless- ing sought. One poor Irish woman, ignorant in the instruction of this world, but abundantly in- structed in the teachings of the Holy Spirit, said, " we must not give up our meeting. Do you not know tTiat <3-od is faithful, to all his promises? He has never said ' Seek ye my face' in vain." So they prayed on three years more, and aU their children were converted, their husbands were converted, the Lord poured out his Spirit in great power, and their friends and neighbours were converted. The Church received large accessions, and the Lord turned almost the whole people to himself. THE ENEAGED MOTHER. A young lad came to the Meeting' one day and stated that he had been brought up a Eoman Catholic, AUSWEES TO PEATEE. ITl but by tbe blessing of God bad been converted. He felt strong in tbe faith. Christ was so precious to him that he would and must continue in His service. But he had a most painful trial. His mother was ex- ceedingly annoyed by his conversion. Indeed she was so indignant that she would not remain under the same roof with him, but had even left the city and gone to reside in Baltimore. This sore cross did not shake the steadfast faith of the young confessor. But he entreated the Meeting to join their prayers with his, that converting grace might be bestowed upon his mother. His request was complied with. Ere long the joyful intelligence came that the prayer was answered and the mother brought to the Saviour. In Baltimore her heart was changed and very soon she returned to her son. Both united in praise to redeeming love and are now happily living together just across the East river. A SERIES OF ANSWEES. The following most remarkable statement has been obtained for the author, by his esteemed friend, the Eev. Dr. Gillette, of this city, whose name is a suffi- cient guarantee for the strict accuracy of the account. A young man, who all his life had been averse to either hearing or being spoken to on the subject of religion, was at last impelled to visit the Fulton street Meeting ; and through a friend prayers were 172 NOON TEATEE MBETTNG. offered in his behalf. From that day he experienced an entire change of heart. Not two days had elapsed ere he sent in a petition that earnest prayer might be offered for an intimate companion, with whom for years he had been asso- ciated in sinful pleasures. Prayers were offered ; and the next time he met that young friend he found him under deep conviction. Now he is rejoicing in a sure hope in Christ. Not one week later this same young man offered a request that a fervent appeal might be made to God in behalf of two friends of his, a brother and sister, the only children of a pious widow, whose heart was ever yearning that they might become the children of God. One of our leading ministers arose and offered a special prayer for that brother and sister. The same night both became aware of their need of pardon, and were anxiously enquiiing, ' what shaU we do to be saved ?' And now both are come out on the Lord's side. All these persons had been for years wedded to the fleeting pleasures of the world, and every influence that had been brought to bear upon them to induce them to change their course of life, seemed useless, until these earnest appeals to God were poured forth. G. E. S. AilSWEES TO' PEAYEK. 1Y3 AHOTHEE SEEIES — ALL NIGHT IN PEAYEE. In the month of March -last, W. M., who had long been a wanderer from the fold of Christ, was graci- ously restored to the service and enjoyment of God by the Divine blessing upon the noon meetings which he attended. At once" he began to feel an intense desire for the. conversion of his impenitent friends and relations, especially his father, now aged and in infirm health. AccordiQgly he set off for his residence, an inland town in Massachusetts. Entering a steamboat on Long Island Sound, he engaged in prayer for Ms father, and continued wrestling all night long, for his anxiety was so great that he could get no sleep. On his arrival, his mother met him at the door, and told him that his father was a changed man. It appears that for some time before the old gentleman had been awakened, and sought counsel from his wife, anx- iously enquiring if there was any hope for such a sin- ner as he was. These convictioiis continued until the night when his son was wrestling for him in the steam- boat, and that very night he found peace in believing on the Saviour. The first evening after his arrival, the son took down the Bible and said, " Faither, let us read a chapter in the Bible, and pray." "Cer- tainly," said the father; " you read." After reading, without waiting for the son, the father began to 1Y4: NOON PEATEE MEETING. pray — potmng forth, sucli fervent supplicatioiiB as he had scarcely ever heard before. It was the first outgushings of the new-horn soul. The son having remained for three days at the paternal home, during which many earnest prayers were offered for their unconverted friends, especially a sister, an uncle and a cousin, went eastward to see his sister. He told her of God's mercy to their father, and of their united prayers for her soul, and entreated her to give herself to Christ. He and the other pious members of the household held a family prayer meeting, at which she was present. There she became much under concern, and set about seek- ing the salvation of her soul with all diligence. The next day, the son returning to his father, took back the joyful intelligence that the sister who was lost was found. Wliile at his father's residence, the son wrote to his uncle, informing him of the joint entreaties made for him, and urging him to become a Christian. Ten days after came a reply, in which the imcle ex- pressed his surprise, that while his friends eighty miles away were praying for him, he should be led to pray for himself. Those prayers, he said, had been answered, for he had obtained the pearl of great price. While W. M. was in his father's neighbourhood, he attended some prayer meetings there. At one of AiirSWEES TO PEAYEE. 175 these a young man arose, and asked an interest in the prayers of Christians. They prayed for him and he was exhorted to pray for himself, which he did that night for the first time. Two days after he was rejoicing in hope. A young lady in the same vicinity, was at the rer quest of her mother, made the subject of special prayer and personal entreaty by "W". M. Upon closing the interview he received her thanks, and after his return to ISTew York was gratified by the intelligence of her conversion. Since that period she has been brought to death's door, but her faith did liot waver under the severe trial. # On arriving at New York, the son at once sought out his cousin and informed him." of the prayers which had been offered in his behalf. His cousin imme- diately replied that he had beeu converted and was cherishing a Christian hope. This hope continued firm and bright even to the end, which came very sud- denly about three months afterwards. While accom- panying his remains to his uncle's house, W. M. met a young man in the cars of just his cousin's age, nine- teen years. Speaking of the melancholy errand upon which he was then engaged, he reminded the young man of the uncertainty of life and of the claims of the Saviour, and upon parting gave him some tracts, and urged him not to forget the all- important subject. The young man asked his new 176 NOON PEAYEE MEETING. found friend to pray for him, which he did of course with much fervour. Some weeks afterwards "W". M. had a letter from him, stating that he had become a disciple of Christ and had entered an institution of learning with a view of preparing himself for the ministry. "W". M. thinks that he has good reason, from ex- perience and observation, to believe that God answers prayer. Thus believing he feels it a duty, whenever opportunity is afforded, to speak a word for Christ, and then ask God's blessing upon the word. FOKTT-FTVE TEAES OF PEATEK. An aged mother in Israel, in sending in a request for prajer for a number of grand-children, prefaced it by the following remarkable statement : " Mothers of ' only sons' pray on. For forty-five years, one now present, the mother of an only son, prayed for his conversion, and in this blessed revival the Lord brought him into the visible Church. " Pray and" never cease." IS NOT MX HUSBAND TO BE SAVED ? The foUowiag statement produced a deep impresr sion the day it was made in the Meeting. It was given in the narrator's own words. " As I was leaving the Prayer Meeting, when I had gone a little distance, a lady came rushing up to me ANSWERS TO PEATEE. 177 and exclaimed : ' Oh ! my brother ; my brother. Oh 1 is not my husband to be saved ? I hare put in a re- request that he might be prayed for, three times ; and three times this request has been read ; and in each case no allusion has been made to my case in the prayers which followed. My husband has not been prayed for. "Wliat does it mean V " I said to her : ' suppose you keep on praying for him. I will pray for him. I wiU speak to others to pray for h'm. We will carry his case to other places of prayer.' " Tlie heart of this wife was very much encouraged. When I met her again I inquired, ' Is your husband converted yet ?' " ' Oh ! no, he is not converted ; but I believe he will be. My husband is certainly to be a Christian. I feel assured he will be.' " In a few days I met her again. I asked her : ' Is that husband of yours a Christian yet !' " ' Oh ! I am afraid not. I have been praying and hoping, and believing. I am so distressed with anxiety for him, that I have had to give up all atten- tion to all household duties. I cannot oversee my house. My hope is in God, and 1 will trust in him, for vain is the help of man.' " A few days after, I met the same wife again, " 'Is your husband converted yet?' Her coun- tenance lighted with a spiritual, serene and holy joy. 1T8 NOON PBATEE MEETmO. " ' Oh. ! yes, I hope my hustand is converted. "He came home from his business. He ran to me, threw his arms around my neck, and ia weeping rapture ex- claimed, ' Oh ! I have found the Saviour. - 1 have given myself up to him, and on the very next Sah- bath I am to unite myself to the people of God. 1 am with you now for time and eternity.'' " ' I asked him where he was,' said the wife, ' when he experienced the change,' He answered, ' In the Eulton street Prayer Meeting.' And this was the first knowledge I had that he ever attended the Ful- ton street Prayer Meetings at all. So while I was praying, he was going to the place of prayer, where the Lord met him in his mercy. ' " Were I to name him," continued the speaker, " you would all know him, for he is a marked and eminent man in this city." The tears were flowing freely all around the room. " jSTow just mark one thing," said the same voice, " how God by the Spirit supported the faith of this humble, feeble believer ; and how at the same time he broke her off from all human reliance, that the ex- cellency of the power might be of God and not of man." AN ANSWKE DELATED BUT SURE. In the year 1836, a Christian lady died in the triumph of faith. She had been remarkable for her ANSWEES TO PEATEE. 1T9 intelligent piety. Enjoying from the earUest years tlie benefit of faithful catechetical instructions, she improved them so well that her pastor, the late Dr. Milledoler, said that " her acquaintance with spuitual things exceeded that of any other child we ever con- versed with." After a short but useful career this lady was called to die, leaving behind her a fatherless boy of nine years. She gave him into the charge of pious rela- tives with many tender injunctions to himself and many earnest prayers for him. Those prayers lay long unanswered. The lad grew up to manhood, mar- ried and settled in life. He was amiable, upright, moral, a good citizen and a kind neighbour, but a stranger to Christ, and wholly destitute of serious thought's. In the first months of the present autumn, the conversion of a near connection fell upon him like a bolt from heaven. All at once he became in- tensely interested in religious things, and diligently used every means of grace. Especially did he avail himself of the Noon Meeting in the IS'orth Dutch Church. Before, he had never attended one of them, being as he said and supposed too busy ; but now, although overwhelmed with engagements, he care- fully planned the disposition of his time so as to allow him the opportunity to join God's people in their mid- day devotions. Seeking God thus with all his heart he found him, and became through grace a thorough 180 NOON PEATEE MEETING. and decided Christian. Then he recalled with joy the prayers of his mother, now so many years in heaven, and felt that he was experiencing the answer to those fervent supplications. At a meeting in October, the following was related as having occurred at a prayer meeting in Philadel- phia : " A written request was handed to the leader ot the meeting, that prayer might be ofl'ered to the Throne of Grace for . the conversion of the son of an aged clergyman.; A pastor, well stricken in years, who" had long been praying that his own son might be led to see the error of his ways and be brought to the feet of Jesus, rose and made earnest supplication to God that ' this son of an aged clergyman' might be brought to seek redemption through a dying and I'isen Saviour. His own son, unknown to him, sat in the same room, some distance behind him. This son had been walking through the street, and seeing a great crowd entering the door of the meeting, out of mere idle curiosity was induced to enter and take a seat. And there he heard his own father praying for the conversion of just such a son, and just such a sinner as he himself was. He left the meeting in great dis- ■ tress of mind, could not think of sleep, but walked the streets the whole night. Sometimes he would sit AUSWEES TO PEATEE. 181 down on the steps of the house whose owner he knew was a Christian, and ponder within himself whether he had not better ring the bell, rouse up the family out of sleep, and beg them to pray for him. It was with difficulty that he could persuade himself that it was an unseasonable hour, and that even though he feared the ' wrath to come,' he must wait till morning before any would pray for him. " At length morning came. He returned as a pro- digal to his father's house, and, through God's grace and mercy, was enabled to humble himself before God, and give up his evil courses, and enlist in the service of Christ, who suffered on the cross, that sin- ners like him might be saved. That same son of an aged clergyman is now daily employed in persuading sinners, such as he lately Was, to come to Christ. That same son, who went into the prayer meeting, attracted out of mere idle curiosity, is now seen daily in the Union Prayer Meeting, ready to take his part in the work and duty of prayer. How changed from the night he walked the streets in agony of mind — now rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory !" AN OLD man's PEATEE AUSWEEED. The Eev. Dr. Taylor, of Bergen, ll^. J., at one of the meetings held in the Consistory Room, narrated the following circumstances "as an encouragement for parents to pray for their children :" 182 NOON PEATEE MEETING. " Many years ago an old man, a devoted Cliristian, started a prayer meeting, "wMcli is stilT eontinned, having resulted in many and glorious fmits. As a pastor it was my privilege to be with him, particu- larly during his last ilhiess. In several visits made to this house I found him on the mount, looking over on to the Land of Promise. Finding notliing seem- ingly to mar his comfort or interrupt his joy, one morning as I went to his dwelling, (he was a poor man, and lived in straitened circumstances,) I deter- mined to satisfy myself whether there was nothing that gave him any trouble of heart. On entering his chamber, I asked him in simple terms, ' How are you this morning?' ' Oh, sir,' said he, ' I am well ; why should I not be well ? I am near home. Yes, I am near home — ^near heaven.' I took the opportunity to ask him, ' My dear sir, has there been notliing of late resting upon your heart as an occasion of trouble V He spoke not a word, but turned his head over to the wall, and lay so between five and ten minutes ; then he rolled his head back upon his piUow, -with his face towards me, and I saw the tears streaming down his cheeks. ' Oh, yes, sir,' said he, ' there is one gpsat trouble.' ' What is it ?' I inquired. ' Speak your whole mind to me freely.' 'Well,' said he, 'I have ten children, and I have prayed to God for more than thirty years, that I might see one or more of them converted before I die ; but he has denied me. AUSWEKS TO PBAYEK. 183 They are all grown up, as you know, but are not yet Christians.' ' How do you get over that trouble V I asked. ' Ah ! ' he replied, ' I get over it as 1 get over all other troubles — ^by rolling it over upon Christ. I know that God means to answer my prayers, but he means to wait till I am gone. But he will do it ; I know he will : my children will be converted.' " This man has been in his grave for fifteen years, and I have watched over his children ever since his death ; and now to-day I am able to say that seven out of the ten have been born into the Kingdom of God, and that the eighth has also just experienced conversion. This is the answer to his prayer ! God did not forget ; he only waited ; and in like manner he will answer the prayers of all parents who pray in faith for the conversion of their children. - Let us, therefore, take courage, and lay hold upon the preci- ous pr jmisos of God." CHAPTEK XI. "^Mtmm ai ^aviamxm. The number of conversions to God wrought by the Holy Spirit through the agency of the I^oon Meeting will upver be kaown. But it must be great. The services have never been attended on any two days by precisely the same individuals. At every succes- sive meeting new faces have appeared, drawn of course by very various motives, but all decorous and attentive. Of this immense multitude there is reason to suppose that many more than have come to our knowledge, have received indelible impressions of eternal things. But they have gone their way, and are seen no more. " The day wiU declare " whether they have been led to the Saviour or not — a question infinitely more important to them than to us. There is, however, no need of speculating on this point. The ascertained results in many cases indicate that the Lord has bestowed a peculiar, blessing upon the Christians who call upon God every day at noon. 1S5 186 NOON PEATEE MEETING. The subjoined illustrations,- however, are not confined to tliis class, but include several cases of conversions wrougbt by other means, although first brought to the public eye by statements made at the Noon Meeting. A SAILOE. A tract visitor once gave this account of a convert whom he found on board tbe Yanderbilt : " In the course of my tract distribution I often go on vessels to give the sailors some tracts, and leave others in the forecastle. For however fine a library you may have in the cabin, and however man;f reli- gious books there may be aft, the sailor will seldom peruse them, for fear of the ridicule of his shipmates if he asks for one. Now, leave them where he lives, forward in the forecastle, and when he gets leisure time there is no class of men more fond- of reading than the sailor. Sailors wiU select the best reader of their number, and then, seated or standing, they will tell him to ' heave ahead.' I went on board the Van- derbilt, a few days ago, on my usual errand, when a young man stepped up to me and asked for some tracts. I said, ' Do you love to read them?' He re- plied, 'These and the Bible are food for my soul.' ' Then,' said I, ' you are a brother in Christ.' ' Thank God, yes, though I have not been so long. I trust in Christ's saving merits.' In further conversation with him, I learned that the means of his conversion had nrSTANCES OF CONVERSION. 187 been Ms attendance at the Fulton street Prayer Meet- ing." THE WEITBE FOE THE SUNTDAT PEEBS. One day last summer, a gentleman of considerable gifts and culture, who was connected with one of the Sunday newspapers, wandered into the Meeting in the Consistory building. He can imagitie no motive for doing so. He had no love for a place of prayer. He had no interest whatever in religion. He was not conscious even of any curiosity to see or hear what was done in the Noon Meetings. Yet through some unaccountahle impulse -he came in and took a seat near the desk. In the course of the Meeting he be- came deeply interested, and when it closed, with tears in his eyes he besought the brethren in charge to tell him what he must do. The Missionary took him to the Eev. Dr. Cutler, the excellent rector of St. Ann's, Brooklyn, who had conducted the Meeting that day. The Doctor, himself deeply moved by the occurrence, opening the Bible which lay before him, read to the stricken sinner the precious invitations and promises of the Gospel, and pointed him to the Lamb of God. The next day the awakened man re- turned to the Meeting, and sent up to the desk a request for the prayers of God's people. Afterwards he expressed the hope that his sins were pardoned by the blood of Christ. 1&8 NQON PEATEE MEETING. CONVEESION m A EAaL EOAD OAE. Ouce when the Lay liliBsionarj was getting into a Sixth avenue rail road car, he said to the conductor, in his quiet, unobtrusive way, ""Will you take a tract?" " Certainly, I will, and be thankful for it." "Are you a Christian ?" "I hope I am." "Where did you become a Christian?" "In this ran road car." "How was that?" "Why you see I could not go to the prayer meet- ings. I had to stand here all Hay. I felt very much concerned about my soul. I was bowed down with sorrow. I did not know what to do ; and so I just gave myself up to God, right here in the car. I cried to him for mercy, and mercy came quick. Oh ! what joy I had, and none knew any thing about it. God can forgive sins in the rail road car as well as any where else. I am thankful for the tracts, sir. It was these that first convicted me of sin, and it was these that led me to Christ." Who will distribute tracts ? A Swedish sailor, who spoke only broken English, addressed the Meeting. The Holy Spirit overtook him away in mid-ocean. He pursued him day and INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 189 night, and would give him no rest. "I was re.ady to cry ont," said he, "who will deliver me? Who will help me? And my heart simk down in despair. Oh ! what a miserable sinner I felt I was. My heart was sick and sore. I knew not what to do. I had no one to guide me. "What was to become of me ? "One night, as I was standing at the wheel, I be- thought me of Christ, and my heart turned to him for help. And with my very first thoughts of Him he met me at the wheel — and oh ! what words of love and mercy he spoke to me there at the wheel. 'Come to me, ye heavy laden ; come to me ; I cast none out. I am meek and lowly of heart. Learn of me ; take my yoke: it is easy. Take my burden; my grace shall make it light !' "There at tl^ie wheel, in the dark and solemn hour, the Saviour showed himself to me. I love Him be- cause he first loved me. I cannot speak your lan- guage well. But Christ understands me^ and 1 understand Him. And ever since I met Him at the wheel— poor sinner's friend— I live very close to Him. I hear Him tell me to hold up my sails to the gales of the blessed Spirit, and He will waft me straight to heaven." FOUHD CHEIST IN THE PAULOUE. The following case was related in the second stoiy. room of the Consistoiy building. It furnishes a strik- 190 KOON PEATEE MEETING. ing contrast in its outward circumstances to tte instance mentioned in Chapter YH. of "the man who found Christ at the lamp post." The case is that of a young man, intelligent, worthy, occupying a high social position, married to a gay, fashionable wife, living in one of the fashionably avenues; himself, wife, and one sister making up the family. All were devoted to the pleasures of the world. In the progress of this revival, the young man was brought under the power of the iiifluences of the Holy Spirit. Eor many days he was sad and sorrow- ful, and his wife and sister knew not what to make of it. At length, however, in one of the prayer meetings he found joy and peace in believing in Jesus. Going home, he said to himself, "Now I must serve the Lord Jesus, and I will begin at once. I must go home and tell what the Lord has done for me and pray in my family." The tempter said : "l^ot to-night, not so soon. "Wait till you get a little stronger. "Wait a few days." "No, no," said the young disciple. "I must begin at once. I must pray in my family to-night." "Do not be in such a huiTy," said the tempter. "You have never known much about prayer. You do not know the language of prayer. You will certainly fail." INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 191 "Get thee behind me Sataii, I must pray and I will pray. And I will pray to-night." When he went into his house he sought his library and there poured out his heart to the blessed Saviour in earnest entreaty for grace to acknowledge, and own, and honour him. He went into his sumptuously furnished parlour. The gas was shedding down its mellow light from, the burners. . The wife and the sister were there. The time for prayer had come. His wife noticed with a kind of awe a great cha,nge in his countenance, but said nothing. This was a wife whom he loved as he did his own soul. He turned to her and said: "My dear, have you any objection to' our having family worship 2" She looked at him with amazement and hesitation for a moment, and then answered with true good breeding and politeness : " Certainly not, if it is your pleasure." " Then get the Bible, if you please, and draw up around this table, under the gas light, and we will read and pray." He read — and then he kneeled down to pray. But he observed that he alone was kneeling, and his wife and sister remained sitting both upright in their seats. This disconcerted him for a moment — and he felt as if the tempter's prophecy had come true. At length he burst forth in the imploring cry, 192 NOON PEATEE MEETING. " God be merciful to me, a sinner !" The tongue was loosed now, and he pom-ed out a most fervent, ago- nizing, earnest prayer that God would have mercy upon his dear wife and sister, and convert them on the spot. As he went on, the heart of the wife was overcome. She slipped down from her seat — ^knelt beside him— put her arms around his neck — and ere she was aware of it, she too was crying to God to have mercy on her soul. His sister went and knelt by his other side. She, too, put her arms around him. She, too, sought a Saviour's mighty power to save. All three, on the spot, in answer to that first family prayer, were brought to consecrate themselves to the service of Him who is willing and ready and mighty to save. The peace of that now happy, but once gay and thoughtless family, flows like a river, and their salva- tion as an overflowing stream. THE CONVERSION OF A SCOFFER. It has justly been remarked that no instance has yet been known of a man attending any of the Noon Meetings and then going away to. mock at and ridi- cule them. There is in general so much that is 6 )lemn and impressive in the aspect of such a meeting, such a spiritual atmosphere pervading the room, that only the most hardened can fail to feel or observe it. Dur- ing the last summer a wicked young man from a western city — a scoffer at all religion-— came to New INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 193 Fork. Before leaving home, he boasted to his wicked and ungodly companions that he intended to attend the Fulton street Prayer Meetings when he got here, and on retm-ning home they would have some jolly times over the exhibition of what he might see and hear. With such views and feelings, he set out upon his journey. Long, however, before he got here he became serious — ^then convinced — and when he ar- rived he was in great distress of mind. He came to the Prayer Meetings, as he had said, but not to gather materials for scoffing ■ it was only to ask prayer for himself as a poor, miserable, perishing sinner. Here he found peace in believing, and he went home a con- verted man-— to preach to his associates that v.ery Gospel he had despised. So God makes the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder he will restrain. THE INTENDING StnOIDE CONVEETBD. On the 23d of last September, the day on which the anniversary of the ISToon Meeting was held in the N'orth Dutch Church, a man passing along the street had his attention arrested by the crowds streaming from every direction into the venerable edifice. Cu- riosity led him to follow them, and entering the build- ing, what he saw and heard there changed the whole current of his thoughts. He had been contemplating two awful crimes. But now he was awakened to a 194 NOON PEATEE MEETING. sense of his condition. He became convinced of the •wickedness of his heart and life. The next day he came to the Noon Meeting and also on the following day, Saturday, when of his own accord and in his own handwriting he sent up to the desk this request : " The prayers of this Meeting are respectfully re- quested for Gr. B , who lias lived all his hfe in ■wickedness, and only a few days ago contemplated suicide, and the gre,at crime of murder, in hopes of ending his misery." The next evening he attended the Prayer Meeting, ■which, conducted in much the same free andQpon- taneous manner as the ISToon Daily Meeting, is held in the lecture room. In the course of the exercises one of the brethren was delivering a fervent exhor- tation and urging the duty of repentance, when sud- denly he was startled by a despairing cry from one of the audience, " Oh ! what shall I do to be saved !" It was the poor would-be murderer and suicide, fallen on his knees and crying for mercy. Just then another poor creature near him rose, and •with tears streaming do'wn his cheeks, asked the Meeting to sing for him the well kno^wn hymn of Toplady : " Bock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee." At the conclusion of the exercises, both l^ese men •were privately conversed with and directed to go just INSTANCES OF CONTEESION. 195 as they were, with all their load of guilt upon them, to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is reason to believe that both hare done so. G.B., although a very ungodly man, was not a con- vict or a crimiaal. But in intention and purpose he was guilty of the highest crimes. He was asked once, " Did you really intend to commit murder and then suicide ?" "IreaUydid." " Whom did you intend to murder ?" " A woman who has greatly wronged me ; and to be revenged I intended to kiU her." "And what then?" " Suicide and eternal damnation." " Have you any such feelings now ?" "Not the least." " "What saved you from the crimes you intended to commit ?" " The recollection of my poor mother's prayers." And now his chin quivered, and his eyes filled with tears. " Have you ever committed a crime, and been im- prisoned ?" " Never," said he, with great emphasis and firmness. The author has recently conversed with this man, and found him in a very humble, peaceful state of mind, as far removed as possible from the gloomy, bitter, revengeful, despairing frame in which he was 196 NOON PEATEE MBBTING. when the anniversary meeting arrested his downward conrse. He always speaks with great tenderness and gratitude of the prayers and counsels of his mother, who died when he was very young. For a long time the influence of her early inculcations had passed from his mind, so that he was wholly without God in the world, but at the critical moment the memory of them revived and he was made sharer of like precious faith with her own. CONVEESIONS IN KALAMAZOO, MICH. The following account was given in one of the Ifoon Meetings by a gentleman who had been actively en- gaged in the good work : " We heard of the wonderful work of grace in this city and in other parts of the land. "We thought we ought to share in it and not stand idly by. Still we had no such feeling as was here. We appointed a daily prayer meeting however. Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, all united. We. appointed our first Union Prayer Meet- ing in much fear and trembling. We did not know how it would work. We did not know that any body would come. We did not know how the measure would be regarded. At our very first meeting some one put in such a request as this : ' A praying wife requests the prayers of this meeting for her uncon- verted husband, that he may be converted and made raSTANCES OF CONVERSION. 197 an humble disciple of the Lord Jesus.' All at once a stout hurly man arose and said, ' I am that man, I have a pious praying wife, and this request must be for me. I want you to pray for me.' As soon as he sat down, in the midst of sobs and tears, another man arose and said, ' I am that man, I have a praying wife. She prays for me. And now she asked you to pray for me. I am sure I am that man, and I want you to pray for me.' " Three, four or five more arose and said, ' we want you to pray for us too.' The power of God was upon the little assembly. The Lord appeared for us, and that right early. We had hardly begun and he was in the midst of us in great and wonderful grace. Thus the revival began. We number from four hundred to five hundred conversions." The same gentleman related the singular story of THE OMNIBUS OWNEE. " He owned a line of omnibuses ; he kept a mm shop or drinking saloon, made money, and wasted his spir- itual good in all manner of ways, useless, irreligious. His wife went to these prayer meetings. She became a truly converted woman. He forbade her going tc the prayer meetings, but she would go. She kept on going though he got angry and said she must not. Finally he told her she must leave him or quit going to the prayer meetings. He told her something like 198 NOON PEATEE MEETING. this, ' Now if you will go up into the chamber and pray with me, you may pray as much as you please, but you must not go to the prayer meetings.' She said she did not know how to pray for him or with him, for she had only just begun to pray for herself. So they went intp the chamber and he was very much surprised to hear her pray. That day every thing went wrong. Next morning they went into the chamber to pray.^ 'I thought I would let her pray it out, and by keeping her from the prayer meetings I should break the charm.' So they kneeled down together and she prayed such a prayer as took a deep hold of his heart ; as they rose from their knees he kissed her and went away. Hie heart was softened, subdued, and he came humbly at the feet of Jesus, a converted man. We rejoicfe over scores such as he. He abandoned his liquor selling at once. He wit- nesses a good confession." This was related by the convert himself, a lumber- man from the mountains of Pennsylvania. . " All through the mountains of Pennsylvania the Lord has been pouring out his Spirit, and among these thoughtless wicked men, as they are in our country, he has brought many to repentance. For forty-nine years I lived the life of an impenitent' man. It is not more than three months since I commenced a religious^ INSTAHOES OF CONVEESIOIir. 199 life. I went to a Methodist camp meeting in our neighbourhood. I did not go to it at the beginning. I thought I had so much to do that I would not go. I went toward the close of it. As soon as my pious wife saw me come upon the ground, she said, ' Ton must come into the praying circle.' I went with great reluctance. It pleased the Lord to awaken me at that meeting. But it closed, and I found no relief. I went on from day to day in great anxiety about my soul. I heard of another meeting, and I went more than a hundred miles to attend it. I sought but I did not find. I was made the subject of prayer. It came to the last day of the meeting, and I was afraid I should have to go away without any change in my heart. "WTien near the time of closing the meeting, it was proposed to spend a little tinie in prayer in the tent for prayer. Some said it was unseasonable. Some said they had a little season that might thus be oc- cupied, and I was invited to read a portion of Scrip- ture and pray. It took me by surprise. I opened the Bible to the chapter about the talents. I read. I was tempted to hide my talent as did the slothful servant. I resolved I would not do it. And I kneeled down to pray. The Lord met me in that prayer. He led me to make a gomplete surrender. The burden was gone. The anxiety was taken away. I felt that my sins were forgiven. I find peace and joy in believing. I am always happy, and happy to be iii such a meeting 200 NOON PBATEE MEETING. as this especially. I feel it my privilege and duty to bear testimony for Christ. I love him much. I have , had much to be forgiven. I have been greatly blessed since I first loved the Saviour. I intend to bear my cross and do my duty everywhere ; at all times, and on all occasions." THE PEATEE MEETING AT " HELL COENEE." Few chapters in the history of the Holy Spirit's "workings' arp more surprising than the one under this title, which a gentleman from ISe'^ Hampshire re- Tated some weeks since in Fulton street. He said : " In the locality of which I speak there are about twenty families, isolated and cut off from all association with the surrounding neighbourhoods. They have no communication with any body beyond themselves. " These families are distinguished for their profanity, wickedness, gambling, and almost every vice. They have no respect for religious institutions. They are shut out from all means of grace. They are a reck- less, hardened set of people. "On a late occasion, one of these men was in at a neighbour's house, and while there indulged in the mosthorrid oaths. The woman of thehouse said to him, " ' If you don't stop swearing so, I ai* afraid the house will fall down over oux heads.' " ' Well, I should think,' said the man, ' that you are getting very pious, from what you say.' INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 201 " ' "Well, I should think it time for some of us to be getting religious.' " ' K you feel that way, suppose that we have a prayer meeting in your house,' said the man. '"Yes, we will have a prayer meeting; we will have a prayer meeting,' chimed in from many voices. And a prayer meeting was agreed upon, and the time was fixed. Tliey got a man to lead the meeting — the only man living in the neighbourhood who had ever been a professor of religion. He was. a notorious backslider, and of course answered their purposes all the better for that ; for all this was meant as a bur- lesque upon prayer meetings. "The time came for the meeting and all assembled. The backslider undertook to lead the meeting, but broke down in his prayer, and could not go on. They undertook to sing, and could not make out any thing at that. They determined not to give up so. They appointed another prayer meeting, on the next Sab- bath at five o'clock P. M. They sent to a deacon of a Church living three miles ofi", saying, ' that there was to be a prayer meeting at ' Hell Corner,' the common name by which the place was known, on next Sabbath afternoon, and wanted him to come down and conduct it.' The good deacon did not dare to ga He thought it was either a hoax or a plan to mob him. He however spoke to a neighbour about it, and asked : <)* 2>J2 noon peatek meeting. "'Had I better go?' " ' Go, by all means, and I will go witb you,' said the neighbour. " So on the next Sabbath afternoon they went to the prayer meeting at ' Hell Comer.' All were assem- bled, preparing to give solemn and serious attention to the services. " ' I had been there but~a few minutes,' said the deacon, ' before I felt that the Spirit of the Lord was there.' Four or five of these hardened, wretched men, were struck under conviction at this first meet- ing. Another meeting was held, and more were awak- ened. The prayer meetings are continued," said the speaker, " and many of those who were brought under conviction have since been converted, and have be- come praying men and women. Tlie work is going on with anaazing power. At the last meeting heard from, more than one hundred were present. Here was a case where God's Spirit went before any man's efforts — showing us this one fact, that He can work without them. It also shows us the wide-spread range oi the Holy Spirit's influences." A PEATEE MEETINS AT SEA. A short time after the burning of the steam ship Austria, a very touching scene occurred iu the lower room of the Consistory building. The 91st Psalm had been read by " the conductor INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 203 of tlie Meeting, and several prayers offered and re- marks made, when a gentleman arose in tlie congi-e- gation and made some very affecting remarks on the snbject of faith and trust in God under all circum- stances, and by way of illustration made mention of a case on board th& " Austria." He said that he had been informed by some one, for he had no personal knowledge of the parties, that a man whose wife and son were on board that unfortunate ship, had re- cently been making most-diligent enquiry of the res- cued passengers who had arrived in our city, trying to learn, if possible, something as to the fate of his wife and son. That on describing his wife to one of the passengers that he had sought ,out, that passenger thought from the husband's description that he had seen such a woman on board. The husband produced a daguerreotype of his wife, and the passenger im- mediately exclaimed, " That is the very woman, and God bless you, my dear sir, for it was she that or- ganized a prayer meeting on board, in which my soul was blessed in my conversion." He then informed the afflicted husband that the last he saw of his wife and son, tkey were standing as far aft as they could get away from the flames, and when at last the devour- ing element rushed on them with such force as to be no longer endurable, he saw the wife and mother, with a calm serene countenance, embrace the son, 204 NOON PEAYEE MEETING. and then both committed themselves to a watery grave. When the Meeting closed, a most affecting coinci- dence was observed. A man who sat in the same seat with the one who addressed the Meeting, indeed the very next man to him, clasped his hands, and stood for a moment unable to utter a word, such was his emotion, but at last said, " That woman was my wife, and I, a stranger to every one here, have' come in to seek consolation, and to ask an interest in your supplications, that God would assuage my grief, and bind up my broken heart!" The scene was deeply affecting, and never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Of the rescued passenger referred to it was said in the meeting, that when in the water, swimming, a pious friend inquired of him how he felt in view of death ? Hereplied, ".Perfectly happy; I can now rely on Jesus, and I am safe." And looking up on the ship, he added, "There stands the noble woman, with her son's hand in her's, to whom I owe all my hopes of salvation, for she it was -that got up the prayer meetings." What a consolation to the bereaved husband, to know that the last hours of his devoted, Christian wife, were spent in such acts of love to souls ! The character of the ship's company among whom INSTANCES OF CONTEKSION. 205 tliis zealous lady organized the Prayer Meeting, which was of such blessed influence to at least one soul, may be fudged from the following extract from a statement made by Mr. Berry, a member of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, IN. J., who was one of thj rescued passengers : " On board the Austria there were but few Chris- tians, probably not more than twenty-five. There were some bold, wretched infidels. I saw the boldest and most heaven-defying of them all perish. The day before the disaster, tracts were distributed among the passengers, and were kindly received by most of them ; but this man's depravity was not satisfied to receive one and destroy it before our faces, but he stealthily gathered as many as he could from the pas- sengers, and feasted on his shame that he had destroyed them. He was as bold as a lion whenthere was no danger near ; but when God spoke the following day, he trembled at the alarm, and was scarcely able to move. " I saw him go overboard. He threw out his arms as he lay upon his back on the waves, his eyes seemed as if they would start from their sockets, the writh ings of agony were seen in his features ; and as he - was sinking, the last I saw of him was, he clenched his hands, wringing them in agony, and he just leav- ing earth for , oh ! for what ?" 206 NOON PEATEE MEETING. About the middle of August, a young man sum- moned courage to add his voice to the many which had gone before him in grateful acknowledgment' of the Lord's distinguishing goodness. He said : " I wish to bear my testimony, and tell what the Lord has done for me. Fifteen years ago I came .from a neighbouring village into this city. I had pious parents, who prayed constantly for me all these fifteen years. Yet in all that time I do not know that I had a single serious impression. I don't remember that I ever had any anxiety on the subject of religion till last January, when I heard a sermon upon this passage, ' Cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground.' I heard it as every word of it addressed to me. I did not suppose that there wag another one in the house that it applied to. I was the unfruitful fig tree. 1 was plunged into the deepest anxiety, and knew not what to do. I had a wife, and I did not know how she would regard my state of feeling. At length I found that she had been awakened by the same ser- mon. We went to our pastor and told him all oar hearts, and in a little while were -permitted to hope f'T pardon and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. J hare been often at these Meetings, and have wished f>ften to speak, but never could get courage to do so. There may be some young man who hears me, whom mBTANCEB OF CONVEKSION. 207 1 may persuade to come to Jesus— some one for whom a father and mother are praying or have prayed in times past. I have exchanged the theatre for the church, and the drinking saloon for the prayer meet- ing. I earnestly entreat you to do the same." JJTOBLrrT OF A COlSrVEKTED EOMANIST. A little more than a year ago, a young Irishman came with his wife from Halifax, one of the British provinces, to establish himself in this city. While without employment he was attracted by a news- paper notice to the H^oon Meeting in Fulton street, and out of curiosity went there. He became inter- ested, and began to attend regularly. He was ob- served by some of the brethren, who invited him to attend the other services held in the North Dutch Church. He did so, and at last passed from darkness • to light, renouncing the en-ors of his ancestral faith, and embracing the Lord Jesus Christ as his only and complete Saviour. As he was without employment, his means gradu- ally wasted away. In his destitution, being a stranger here, he naturally applied to his relatives, not for money, but for such recommendations as would secure him a situation, having every reason to believe that a word from them would answer the purpose. The result is shown by the annexed letter from a man whom the convert's own father had edu- 208 NOON PEAYEE MEETING. cated and establislied in a lucrative businesfrr-a man of station, influence and wealth, having extensive mercantile relations in this city. " Sir, — ^Your letters have been received, and in re- ply, I have to inform you, that you have by your own course of conduct precluded the possibility of our rendering you that assistance which we may naturally feel disposed to. Doubtless you now see, that your present condition is only one of the natural and merited consequences of your disgraceful and unpardonable apostacy from the Church of Christ. Could my brother or myself, with any degree of pro- priety or consistency, recognise you again, it could only be on your atonement, and, if by any possibility, obtaining the pardon and reconciliation of the Church, made manifest to us by the production of a certifi- cate, to that eJBfect, from the Bishop. " I am. Sir, "Tour obedient servant." Shortly after this, he providentially learned J;he existence of a sister whom he had not seen for many years, and who was living in very comfortable cir- cumstances in a southern city. On making himself known to her by letter, he was at once cordially re- cognized, and invited to repair to the place of her residence, where suitable provision would be made INSTANCES OF CONVEESION. 209 for liim. He received several letters from the same source, all of the same encouraging tenor, before he was ready to go. But these were written in ignor- ance of his change of faith. He however thought it light, before accepting the offers made to him, to in- form his relative of his change of faith. As soon as he did so, all communication was broken off, and he was left to struggle alone in his poverty. He did not complain, nor was his faith shaken. So far from returning back to the superstitious formalism from which God's grace had rescued him, he deliber- ately connected himself with a Protestant Church, and thus sealed his renunciation of Romanism. Having obtained a temporary employment sufficient barely to maiatain himself, he waits patiently till God shall open some way by which he may earn a competent support, and thus become able to recall his wife, who, by the pressure of want, was com- pelled to accept a situation which removed her to a distance from him. A YOUNG CONVEEt'b AEDOTIB. Last month a new voice was heard in the Noon Meet- ing. It was that of a young man recently made to see the preciousness of the Saviour. He said, " One week ago I was an enemy to Jesus Christ. JSTow I stand here to tell you how much I love him. A change has taken place in my heart, which is an 210 NOON PEAYEK MEETING. astonishment to myself. All last winter and spring I never attended one single prayer meeting. I was not willing tkat any one should speak to me on the sub- iect of religion — ^I would turn and would not hear. One day last winter, a lady came to my father's store, to invite me to go to the prayer meeting. She came in her carriage, and invited me to get in and go with her. I told her that I did not thank her for coming after me — ^that I was not to be persuaded or urged to go to the meetings. Now I am here, to tell you I did come to the prayer meeting ; and I feel that my sins are pardoned. My inic[uities are blotted out, and I am owned and blessed of God. "No one thing im- pressed me that I know of. I am sure I can attribute it to nothing but the Holy Spirit. I have been more thoughtful than usual for two months past. My father and mother and sister have been praying for me. And now my dear, precious, praying mother goes up and down the, house thanking God for having had mercy on me. There is not a room in the house that she has not made vocal with her praises and thanksgivings. The lady who invited me to go with her in her carriage to the prayer meeting, inquired of me if I would go with her now, if she would call foi ! me in her carriage. I told her I could go on foot, and did not need a call in a carriage to induce me to go to the prayer meeting, for I would not stay away ; and I find enough to do. I am determined to do INSTANCES OF CONTEESION. 211 sometliing for the Master I love. I will persuade my young friends to love Him too." ANOTHEE. " One day a young man obtained the floor and said, " It is but two weeks since I found an interest in Christ. I am but two weeks old as a Christian. I am im- pressed with the deep conviction that I am not my own. I have been bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ. I have begun in earnest to do the duties of a Christian. I have conversed with and urged my best friend to the duties of a religious life, aiyi I know him to be anxious on the subject of religion. I am desirous you should pray for him. 1 am anxious for his conversion. I hope we shall live a religious life together, shall together run up the shining way, and be associated together in the great work of leading sinners to Christ. I have also a bro- ther for whom I request your prayers. He is the only one now left, who is without a Christian hope, in our family. If he were brought into the fold of the Good Shepherd, then we all should be the sheep of his pas- ture. Pray for him. "And if there be a young man here, having no inter- est in the Saviour, let me say, the pleasures of this world were as much to me as to any young man. I had as much to enjoy in them, and as much to enjoy with my associates as you. And yet I must say, that 212 NOON PEATEE MEETING. in the past two weeks I liave enjoyed more real, solid, substantial happiness, than in all my life before. What I before enjoyed I count as nothing. I count it less than nothing, in comparison with what I now enjoy. Surrounded as I. was with every thing that could make life a pleasure, I had as much to give up as any one. And long, long was the struggle maintained in my own heart between giving up the pleasures of sin for a season, and submitting myself at once and forever to the service of God, But at length the contest was ended, and I yielded to the unspeakable claims which Christ has upon me. I exhort my young friends to come to Christ. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. • I had tried every thing but religion ; I feared religion would strip me of all happiness, that it must be endured for the sake of gaining heaven. How mistaken I was. It is heaven below to be a real Christian, and it will be always heaven, and by and by heaven completed." AN AOTOe's EESOtlE. On a subsecLuent day in the same month, a young man arose, and said that he had a few words to say in relation to his own experience. " I trust that during this past summer I have been led to embrace Jesus Christ as he is offered in the Gospel. I had attended these Meetings nearly every day for two months, and I bless God that he has made INSTANCES OF CONVERSION. 213 tJiese Meetings the means of my salvation. My career has been a sad one, wretched beyond all description. Ten years ago I was under the conviction of sin. I was then preparing for college. I grieved away the Holy Spiiit. I took to the intoxicating cup, and it nearly proved my ruin. Twice did I suffer terribly from that dreadful disease, delirium tremens. For two years my friends did not know whether I was dead or alive. During that time I was an actor on the stage, with all its vice and allurements dragging me down to ruin, deeper and deeper down, continually sinking — down, down, by the power of the ' evil one.' But God's grace has been mercifully shown me, and a mother's prayers have been heard, put up in my be- half. These, coupled with the influence of these Prayer Meetings, have been the means of bringing me, a poor repenting sinner, to the Saviour. How thank- ful I am that he can save to the uttermost, and that he has said, ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' " A Homan Catholic young lady, during the last month, was invited to attend the Noon Prayer Meet- ing. She did so to please the person who invited her, but the next day went again of her own accord. A few days afterwards, without suggestion from any one, she sent the following request : 214: NOON PEAYEE MEETING. "A lady — ^Eoman Catholic — ^who lias attended a few of tliese Meetings, wlio came at first out of curi- osity, who heard here such things as she has never heard before, would be very thankful if the Meetings this week would pray for her. She does"^ot think she is a Chiistian. She knows she is a sinner. She slept not a moment last night for anxiety. She wishes to be led to faith in Christ. She wishes to know how to believe." Her case was tenderly remembered, and it pleased God to lead her in the right way, and to teach her by his Spirit how to believe. She has renounced all works, forms, penances, and puts her trust in Christ — ^in Christ alone. In him she is now rejoicing as an all- sufficient Saviour. " ASHAMED TO BE SEEN GOING TO THE NOON MEETINGS." Last winter, a young man of infidel principles and loose habits, was invited by one of the firm for whom he was a clerk to attend the JSToon Meeting. If ot hav- ing been in a church for seven years, he scornfully re- jected the invitation, but was afterwards induced to go, out of respect to the relations and character of the gentleman who invited him. "WhUe there, his atten- tion was arrested and his heart touched, although he carefully concealed his feelings from all others. For some time he continued to attend the Meeting, but took care to wait until his employer had gone, so as INSTANCES OF CONTEESION. 215 not to be observed. And then, instead of going on the direct way to the Consistory building, he would cautiously move around by a circuitous route through by-streets to the place, because, as he afterwards ac- knowledged, he was ashamed to be seen going to a prayer meeting. But at length this would no longer do. His state of mind became such that it could not be concealed. He avowed his concern for his soul, sought counsel from Christian friends, and went to the prayer meetiug, not skulMngly as at first, but openly and boldly as one not ashamed of Christ or his cross. The result is shown by an extract from one of his letters written some weeks afterwards. " On Sabbath next I shall unite with the Church. The cross is easy to bear, and the burden light. Were there no hope of heaven, the happiaess of this life in Christ's ser- vice would pay a thousand times for all the sacrifices it requires." CHAPTEE XIL §t\ix Innlitttts. Undee this head are arranged some interesting narratives brought out in the course of the Meetings, and not properly referable to any of the foregoing chapters. One of these is a signal example of fidelity to prin- ciple in the case of the captain of a western steam boat. A reference having been made to him one morning in Fulton street, a correspondent of the New York Observer sent to that journal the follow- ing full statement. ■ THE STEAM BOAT CAPTAIN. ^ "Captain was, comparatively, born and reared on the Ohio river, among the keel boatmen, as reck- less and immoral a set of men as inhabited our country, but who are now extinct. When steam power came into use, Captain being an active and entei-prising man, he soon became one of the 10 81T 218 NOON PEATEE MEETING. most efficient and responsible commanders of boats in tbe "West ; and if worldly gain had been his object, probably the best situation on the river would have been awarded him had he desired it. In the winter of 1840 he commanded the steamer Boston, which was lost in the ice on the Mississippi. About this time a religious interest existed in the Third Pres- byterian Church, of this city, Eev. Dr. Riddle's. "Captain 's wife attended the prayer meet- ings, and experienced a change of heart; in the mean time the writer sent her 'Advice to a Young Christian,' by Kev. J. B. "Waterbury. Shortly after, he returned home and was displeased to find his wife in this state of mind, and opening the book he ex- claimed with an oath, 'Who sent this book to you?' When she stated who it was, in a highly excited manner he said, 'What business has Mr. to send such a book to my wife.' His wife being a pereon of a cool and kindly temperament, fealmly invited him to attend the prayer meeting with her ; on the first evening he sunk under the convictions of the truth, which being deep, he became like a little child, modest and imassuming ; he did not obtrude on his brethren to tell his troubles and experience, oi lean on an arm of flesh. Some friends feeling that he was under the influence of the Spirit, and believ- ing he had experienced a change of heart, visited him, presenting to his mind the promise and requi- OTHEE INOrDENTS. 219 sitions of the Gospel, and advising him to place all his trust in God. His great trouble was, concerning the running of his boat on the Sabbath, which boatmen deemed unavoidable. He was fearful of embracing the privileges of the Church, because he might be tempted todo violence to his conscience and dishonour the cause of Christ. He waited eight or ten months before he united with the Church, all the time strictly- fulfilling the duties of a Christian as regards the Sabbath. !N"ow began the trial of his faith, his sorrows and disappointmeiits. He set an example of Sabbath keeping for the Christian world, amid the jeers and scofl's^of steam boat men, who, when pass- ing his boat tied up, made such expressions as the 'Godly keeping craft,' 'Sanctified line,' &c. But this soon ceased-; he lived it down, and these men began to look on him with reverence and respect, and spoke of him in such terms as these : ' Captain — - — 'b religion is genuine, and he is a true Christian.' But duty became a daily martyrdom ; passengers left his boat when he tied up, and professors of re- ligion among them. Merchants sent their freight by other boats for fear of a loss of one or two' days. Once a company, of clergymen, after commending his enterprise and bidding God speed, said their necessi- ties compelled them to go on, left his boat on Satur- day night, took another, ran aground, and arrived at the place of destination one day after Capt. did. 220 NOON PEATEE MEETING. Tiiiis he persevered, his property melting before him, with a growing family, the world opposed to him, and the Cliristian Church an indifferent spectator of his labours, we might almost say, an obstacle; for many professing Christians were steam boat owners. " When his boat was laid up on the Sabbath, and he would retire to his state room for reading and prayer, his ears were often assailed by the noise, profainity, and ribaldry of his crew. He could have no calm enjoyment of the Sabbath. He gave up passenger boats, and built freight boats. His peculiar circum- stances became very trying. I visited him, to con- sole him. His wife, who was his strength and stay in all his trials, remarked 'that she would rather live on bread and water, than that he should betray his Master.' I ventured to advise him in this way : ' " ' You have beaten the track for the Christian Church, proved your sincerity, have sacrificed pro- perty, comfort, and religious privileges, and in my opinion duty does not require you, to go further; why not quit the river, and find some business on land ? ' He heeded not the advice, but continued on, and has now attained a competence — ^by settii.j| up a proper rule for his business, and making tlio community come up to that rule, as every busiue&s man should do." But it was eighteen years before the tide began to OTHEE INCroENTS. 221 turn, and all that time he persevered in a sort of martyrdom, so far as property was concerned. THE DAXGEE OF DELAY. This was once strikingly set forth by a sailor, a Scotchman hy birth, who said : "Will you take a sailor's advice, a stranger sailor, you who are now deciding that at some future time you will be a Christian; will you take a sailor's advice and not delay your ch,Qice another hour, but come now and be on the Lord's side. You cannot possibly magnify the danger of delay. Tou cannot beKcve it to be half as great as it is. " I remember when in Panama, one of my brother sailors was taken very sick. I had previously, on many occasions, urged him to take Jesus as his guide, counsellor and friend. But his answer had ever been, 'Time enough yet.' That fearful putting off; that delivering himself up to the power of Satan, who was constantly whispering in his ear, ' Time enough yet,' reached its fearful crisis at last. As he lay sick upon his mattress, his writhings and contortions denoted the fever and pain that were within. But the fever of his soul was causing much more anguish than all his bodily ailments. " I said to him, ' you need a Saviour now. ' ' Oh,' he said, ' I have put off seeking Jesus too long.' I earnestly begged him to look at the cross of Christ, 222 NOON PEATEE MEEITNG. and there learn what Jesus had done and suffered, that a poor sinner like him might not perish, but have everlasting life. But he replied, with choking sobs, 'Too late, — too late. Oh!' he cried, 'no rest for me. I am going to some place I know not Avhere. Oh! I know not where!' His head fell back upon the pillow. I cried, 'Ned, are you dying?' But all I heard was — through the gurgling in his throat — 'no rest,' — and my dying shipmate was gone." Another touching incident he related as intimately connected with his own conversion, bearing upon the danger of delay. It was at his own home. He had a very pious God-fearing mother, who had never neg- lected any opportunity which offered, to impress upon his young mind the urgent need of seeking a Saviour in his youthful days, but he had constantly neglected to pay more than a passing attention to his mother's admonitions, until one Sabbath morning his mother invited a young girl, a neighbour's daughter, to ac- ^ company them to the house of prayer. She replied in a light and trifling manner, " Oh ! no, I cannot go until next Sunday. I shall have a new bonnet then ; my old one is too shabby." " Alas ! that next Sabbath never came for her. On Monday she was taken quite sick. On "Wednesday she died. My mother told me, with streaming eyes, as she came home from watch- ing at her bedside, ' Emma is gone ; and gone, I feaj. OTHEE INCIDENTS. 223 without conversion.' This was so sudden, so unex- pected, that it woke within my heart the cry, 'What must I do to be saved V And blessed be God, that cry was not made in vain. Jesus had mercy on my soul. He has been to me ever since that time the Eock of Salvation. Oh ! come to him, all you who need the saving grace of a dying risen Saviour? "WUl you take a sailor's counsel? Will you come? God is calling you. Come now." THE SAME SUBJECT, ET ANOTHER SAILOE. * At a prayer meeting in Philadelphia, a stranger arose and begged the privilege to speak, announcing himself as a captain of a vessel now in port, and a pro- fessor of the religion of Christ. " I wish," said he, " to warn the impenitent here that delays are danger- ous. It is not safe to put off until to-morrow what ought to be done this day. It was my lot, when sail- ing, to fall in with that ill-fated steamer, the Central America. The night was closing in, the sea rolling high, but I haUed the crippled steamer, and asked if they needed help. " ' I am in a sinking condition,' cried Captain Hern- don. " ' Had you not better send your passengers on board now V I replied. " 'Will you not lie by me until morning?' res- ponded Capt. H. 224 NOON PEAYEK MEETING. '• ' I -will try,' replied I ; ' but you had better send your passengers on board.' " ' Lay by me till morning,' again said Capt. Ilemdon. " I made an effort to lie by him ; but at night, with such a sea rolling, no vessel could control its position, and I never saw the steamer more. In one hour and a half after the captain said, ' Lay by me tin morning,' the vessel, with its living freight, went down, and he himself, with a great majority of his passengers and crew, were coffined in the deep. So much for procrastination. But for this delay, the entire crew and passengers of the Central America might have been saved. Sinners ! when urged to im- mediate repentance, do not say to beseeching friends, to offered mercy, to a striving Spirit, ' Not now, lay by me a little longer, till I have a convenient time.' This night you may sink in the waves of perdition." LITTLB CHILDEEN SATING GEAOE. " It had been noticed," said a speaker, " that some- thing was the matter with four little children from the same family, in one of our public schools. One of the teachers inquired what the matter was, and she ascer- tained that these lovely little children were suffering for lack of food ; that all they had to eat for days was a crust of bread and water They had come to school OTHER INCIDENTS. 225 with no better. They were German children, and their parents were unable to obtain food for them. " This teacher, who had ascertained the facts, went to the head teacher and communicated them to him. He sent home immediately, and had a good dinner pre- pared for them. He then took them to his own house. On arriving there the youngest refused to go in.. He said he did not know what kind of a house it was, and he did not like to go into a house without his mother knowing and approving of it. Finally, after very much persuasion they got them all into tl^e house. They took them to the parlour : there was an abundant meal set out. They seated them at the table ; they urged them to eat : they not could' not persuade them to touch a mouthful. Finally it was resolved to leave these little children alone ; perhaps they would eat then. The lady of the house paused at the door, and looking through the crack, what was her sur- prise to see the oldest little boy put up his two Kttle hands together, and say grace — asking for God's bless- ing, and thanking him for his mercies. May we not all learn a lesson," said the speaker, " from these lit- tle children, who, though they were starving, refused to eat till they had first acknowledged God's hand in the food provided." THE DYING SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLAE. This narrative was given in one of the meetings. 10* 226 NOON PEAYEE MEETING. Thfere was a poor family which had an intemper- ate father who often used to abuse his wife and children. One of the children attended the Sabbath schoil and became pious. Afterwards she was taken sick. The physician told the father that his little girl would die. Ifo! he did not believe it. Yes, she will; she must die in a few hours. The father flew to the bed-side, " would not part with her" he said, " Tes, fathei_ you must part with me, lam going to Jesus ; promise me two things, one is that you wont abuse mother any more nor drink more whiskey." He promised in a solemn steady manner. The lit- tle girl's face lighted up with joy.' " The other thing is, promise me that you will jwoy," said the child. " I cannot pray, don't know how," said the poor man. " Father, kneel down, please. There, take the words after me, I will pray ; I learned how to pray in Sun- day school, -and God has taught me how to pray too ; my heart prays, you must let your heart pray, now say the words." And she began in her simple language to pray to the Saviour of sinners. After a little he began to repeat after her ; as he went on his heart was interested and he broke out into an earnest prayer for himselr; be- wailed his sins, confessed and promised to forsake them, entered into covenant with God ; light broke OTHEE INCIDENTS. 227 out npor him m nis darkness , liow long he prayed he did not know ; he seemed to have forgotten his child in his prayer. "When he came to himself, he raised his head from the bed on which he had rested it ; there lay the little speaker, a lovely smile was upon the face, her little hand was in that of the father, but she had gone to be among the angels. A LIVING SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLAR. On another occasion, the following was related: Away in the West lived a Eoman Catholic family, in which there was a little girl seven years old. She was induced to go to a Protestant Sunday school. The father became very anxious about his soul. His distress increased daily, and one night, at the mid- night hour, he arose from his bed in agony. He begged his wife to pray for him, as he said he did not know how to pray himself. She told him she " could ' not pray — no better than he could." "What shall I do, then?" " Perhaps," said she, " our little Mary can pray." So the father went up to the chamber where she was fast asleep, and took her up from her bed in his arms, and bore her down stairs, and putting her gently down, he said to her with great earnestness, " Mary, can you pray ? " " Oh yes, father, I can pray." 228 NOOH PEATEE MBETnSTG. " "Will you kneel down and pray for your poor father?" " Tes, I will pray for you." So she kneeledj put up her little hands, and said, " Our T'ather, who art in heaven "-agoing through with the Lord's Prayer. Then she prayed for her father in her own language, asking God to love him ajid have mercy on him, and to pardon all his sins for Jesus Christ's sake. When she had finished her prayer, her father said to her, " Mary, can you read in your Bible?" " Oh yes, father, I can read. Shall I read to you in my Bible?" " Yes, read to me." She began at the third chapter of the Gospel ac- cording to John. She read along till she came to that verse — " As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up : that who- soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." " Oh, Mary," said he, " is that there ? " " Yes, father, it is here. Jesus Christ said so." " Well, that is just what I need — what your poor father needs." " Yes, father, and hear the rest of it :" " For God so loved the world that he gave his OTHEE INCIDENTS. 229 only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life." " Oh, that is for me — ^for just such as me : ' who- soever believeth in him' — I cam, believe in him — I do believe in him." And from that hour that father went on his way rejoicing in Christ Jesus with great joy. EOMAN CATHOLICS. Several instances of the conversion of persons of this class have been mentioned, and these 'are only specimens of a considerable number. Two features have marked nearly every case which has come imder the writer's eye. * One is the rapidity with which the saving change has been wrought. Almost in a moment the whole crust of forinal religion has melted away under the subduing grace of the Holy Spirit convincing the soul of sin. For example, the pastor of a town in Massa- chusetts, speaking in the Fulton street Meeting of the work of grace in his own place, said that some very remarkable conversions had taken place among men of wealth, but none more remarkable than that of a Eoman Catholic servant girl, who was awakened under the first Protestant sermon she ever heard, and in the first Protestant meeting she ever attended, and brought almost at once to Christ. He had received 230 NOON PEATEE MEETING. her into his own Church, and she was now walking in humble obedience to the truth. The other feature is, that in nearly every case there liave been opposition and trials to be endured from friends or .eniployers who continued in the old faith. To these converts it is given not only to believe on Christ but also to suffer for his name. Take, for ex- ample, one of the most recent instances — that of a young man whose heart was toucbed by the Spirit of God as he attended the Noon Meeting. He was em- ployed by the day as a labourer by a contractor for laying pavements. After his change, he was seen one Lord's day going to an Episcopal Church. The next Monday morning the following dialogue occuiTed. He was asked by his employer, " Did you go to the Protestant Church yesterday?" " I did, sir." " And leave your own Church ? " "I did." " We want your services no longer.^' "Have I been unfaithful in my work?" "No." " Have you any other fault to find with me? " "None." "Must I go 8" " Yes, we do not want you any longer." It speaks well for the genuineness of the spiritual change which tbese converts profess to have under- OTHEB raCIDENTS. 231 gone, that althougli dismissed from employment, ban- ished from friends, treated as outcasts, they still hold on their way and appear willing, like the Apostle, to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. LINGEEING AT THE DOOE. The following incident is the counterpart of what has very frequently occurred at- the Consistory build- ing. Persons impressed by the regular exercises of the hour, after its expiration have still lingered near the entrance in hope of hearing further about the things of Salvation. Not often are they disappointed. A writer, reporting a union meeting in an eastern town, said that while the meeting was in progress the bell was tolling. Toward the close of the meeting, a pastor arose and said that a few weeks ago, as he was passing from the prayer meeting, he noticed a modest, retu-ing young lady standing beside the door, linger- ing, evidently hoping that he would pause and speak to her. " I did speak to her," said he, " and found her anxious about her soul. I led her mind to Christ, and directed her as well as I was able, aujd in a short time she hoped that she had found the Saviour pre- cious to her soul. That bell is tolling for her funeral, and in a few moments I am going to attend it. A few days ago I was sent to attend her sick bed. I conversed with her, and found her anxious and 232 NOON PEATEE MEETING. agonizing. She was filled with doubts ai^d fears lest she had not experienced the great change — ^the change of heart, but had deceived herself. Her mind was beclouded and darkened. I counselled her and prayed with her. I visited her from day to day. In a short time the darkness cleared away--^the doubts vanished — her confidence that she had been forgiven and accepted returned, and all was sunshine and peace down to her dying hour. Oh ! how im- portant was that single step of pausing at the door." OUGHT WE NOT TO HAVE FAMILT WOESHIP ? At one of the Globe Hotel Meetings, a gentleman, after speaking of the blessed effects of a union daily prayer meeting established in Geneva, N. T., related the following incident as having recently occurred. A young man became convinced of sin, and was in great distress of mind. He had a very wicked and ungodly father. One night he said to his father, "Father, ought we not to have famUy worship?" The father looked at him in astonishment, as if in doubt whether his son could be in his right mind, but said nothing. The father, however, could not get the matter of family worship out of his mind, with all the efforts he could make. An arrow of conviction had been sent to his heart. The Holy Spirit was striving with him. He at last resolved to establish family worship, OTHEE INCIDENTS. 233 L though hie had no Christian hope. He began in fear and trembling and much embarrassment — ^but he began. In five days from that beginning, that father, that son, and two daughters were rejoicing in the hope and peace of believers in Jesus. "m A HDEKT TO BE A OHEISTIAN." Careless readers of the narratives which have been given, may conclude that the missionary work in the Consistory building is always prosperous ; that con- viction is always followed by conversion. Alas ! it is not so there any more than elsewhere. The follow- ing report of a case was published a number of weeks since. It respects a man who was deeply agitated respecting his soul, and thought that he had good reason to be. . • "He had been a man of such a course of life that he had much to repent of. He had been a great transgressor — profane — idle — dissolute — intemper- ate — a hater of religion and all its duties and require- ments — a disbeliever in much that is called religion. He had lived a hardened, ungodly life, till he chanc- ed to stray into one of the Fulton street Meetings. "He came up to the upper lecture room in great tiepidation of mind. He wanted to find some place where there was a temperance pledge. He wished to sign it. He wanted to begin, at the beginning — and the first thing was to quit the abomination of 234 NOON PKAYEE MEETING. strong drink. This was the beginning of 'Let the wicked forsake his way,' and then he hoped he should be able to forsake every thing else that was wicked. He appeared to be in great haste. He said he was 'in a hurry to be a Christian.' This surely was according to the Scriptures, and yet he seemed to be wholly taught of the Holy Spirit. "We saw him a few days after this. He had been faithful in coming to all the meetings. He had been faithful to his pledge of total abstinence. He was very jealous of himself. His great fear was, that some old 'evil companion' would get power over him — ^would get him to drink just one drop ; then all would be gone, soul, body, — all would go to hdll together. He said his continual prayer was, 'Lord! hold thou me up and I shall be safe. I cry to God continually, for I feel that God must help me or I shall fall. No man can realize the power of this appetite, who has not felt it. I must be a Christian to be safe.' " It would be pleasant to be able to relate that one so humble, so enlightened, so conscious of his de- pendance, had persevered and been saved. But it is not in our power. It is not known that he has found the Saviour. It is known that once at least, after the occurrence of what is recorded in the foregoing extract, he fell into his ruinous sin. Tliere is reason to fear that he illustrated his own declaration, "I OTHER nsrCIDBNTB. 235 must be a Christian in order to be safe." Not having the safeguard of renewing grace, he fell, fell, perhaps, to rise no more. Yet even here there is no reason to despair. Many- men have fallen repeatedly, and yet have been finally raised .by God's grace so as to stand even to the end. Indeed, one of the most important lessons taught by the recent displays of Divine power and mercy, is that no case is to be given up as hopeless. We can- not read the counsels of Him who "givetli not ac- count of any of his matters;" we cannot possibly know when any man's day of grace is past; and therefore to us, "while there is life, there is hope." The prayers and efforts of Christians for any uncon- verted person should cease only with the cessation of his vital breath. ^SENTOB- FASrOH OF IfB CLlLLEaiATf; CHfmCS CHAPTER Xm. %\t first ^mMmt On the approach of the 23rd September, 1858, the day which would mark a twelve-month since the first Noon Meeting was established, it was deemed proper to hold a formal meeting for thankful praise and ac- knowledgment of the mercies God had bestowed upon his people. Such Meeting was duly held — ^the North Dutch Church being opened for the purpose. When the hour arrived the building was thronged to excess. The galleries, aisles, organ-loft, indeed •every spot where there was any standing room, was fully ocau- pied by a congregation such as is rarely seen even in this city. Nearly every evangelical Church in New York was represented by. some of its members, while not a few Christians from abroad, including some from a considei'able distance, were present. We are indebted to the Christian Intelligencer for a very full and faithful report of the exercises, which we copy at length. 287 238 NOON PEATEK MEETING. The hour of twelve having arrived, the exercises were commenced by the venerable Dr^ De "Witt, the Senior Pastor of the Collegiate Church, who presided on the occasion. He said : When the associations connected with this Meeting are remembered, made up as it is of different religious denominations ; when the special providences that it recalls are taken into account, together with the object that is set before us in the future, I trust every heart here is imbued with the spirit of prayer. Let us begin our exercises with invoking the Divine direction and blessing in these services. The introductory prayer will be offered by the Rev. Dr. Henry Scudder,' a re- turned Missionaiy from India. OPENING PEATEE BY EEV. ME. SCtTDDEE. The Eev. Henry M. Scudder, M. D., one of the missionaries of the Eef. Prot. Dutch Church at Arcot, India, offered up the following prayer : O Lord Jesus Christ, thou art our King, our Pro- phet, our Priest, and our God. To thee we come for light, for pardon, for purity, and for wisdom. Thy righteousness is the only refuge of our souls, and we pray thee to be present with us at this hour of prayer, when we have come to meet thee, and to ask for thy intercession, who art seated at the right hand of our Father in Heaven. We pray thee to' offer our peti- tions, which we bring before thee, and to hear the THE FIRST ANHIVEESAET. 239 voice of our supplications — especially to breathe upon us, that we may receive the Holy Spirit of promise, so that we may know how to pray, and what to pray for. Lift upon us, we pray thee, the light of thy countenance. "We bless thee for all that thou hast done for us. We thank thee for the institution of this Meeting; we bless thee for all the gracious results which thou hast connected with it, and we pray thee now to pour out upon every one of us the Spirit of grace and of supplication. And in the times that are to come, we beseech thee that we may experience more of the convincing, the converting, the quicken- ing and the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, and to thy name shall we render the glory for ever and ever. Amen. The congregation then joined in singing the first two verses of the 137th Psalm, third part, commen- cing: " I love thy kingdoin, Lord, The house of thine abode ; The Church our blest Redeemer saved With his own precious blood. "I love thy Church, God 1 Her walls before thee stand. Dear as the apple of thine eye. And graven on thy hand." Kev. Dr. Leland, of Charleston, read the sixty- 24rO NOON PBATEE MEETtNG. Becond chapter of Isaiah, which was very appropriate to the occasion. EEMAEKS BT_ DE. DE WITT. The President spoke as follows : It may be proper for me to make a very few re- marks in reference to the design and appointment of this Meeting, and of these services. Ton all under- stand that on the 23d of September, last year, the first Ifoon-day Meeting took place in the adjoining buildiag. Only a few Christian brethren assembled at first, but the numbers increased, and there was soon an evidence that God had mercy on his Church, and that there was an awakening and a revival among Christians. And so the numbers gradually increased, and the right spirit of united prayer prevailed before the throne of grace. The establishment of this Meet- ing was the means of spreading similar meetings throughout the land. We have been greeted with ^ intelligence from the north and the south, the east and west, of the like union in prayer and in effort, and an outpouring of the Spirit. I always have felt, and have freely expressed it, that we should guard against any thing like glorifying human instrumen- tality, should keep very low and humble before the throne of grace. We should be very thankful, and cherish gratitude, but that thankfulness is always to be embedded in and nourished by humility. We come THE FIRST ANNIVEESAEY. , 241 to review here with thankfulness, in this assembly of Christians of different denominations, God!s work- ings of grace in the midst of us and throughout the lg,nd. We are in a responsible position of great pri- vilege, amidst large blessings, and we should be urged to continued effort. We need to guard and discipline our own spirit in dependence upon the Spirit Divine. We have heard gratefully that throughout the land, and in the fashionable watering places, Christians have gathered together; and as they htve returned to the city, may we find that their graces are in lively exercise ! All the Churches need now to put on their beautiful garments. It is in this union of spirit, and with this design, that we come to commemorate the year that is past, and to in- voke the grace of the Holy Spirit to rest upon us, and upon all the Churches. The exercises will be, in their order, of a very similar character with what has been observed in the adjacent room, which may be viewed as the home of prayer. Short prayers and short ad- dresses, from different brethren, will be interspersed. Of course the review of the past year and supplica- tion for the opening year, will be the great theme ; therefore, we have no specific individual requests on this day; to-morrow will open that subject again. Although there the limit of the hour is necessarily observed, yet on this particular occasion we shall not 11 r r 242 NOON PEATEE MEETING. strictly confine otirselTes to the hour, but shall not largely go beyond it. The Bev. Dr. Mc Carroll, of the Associate Ke- ibrmed Church, Newbttrgh, led the devotions of the assembly, in a brief prayer, after which followed the SPEECH OF DE. KEEBS, (o. S. PEESBTTEEIAN.) The Eev. Dr. Krebs, of New Tork, spoke thus : My brethren in Jesus Christ, when a few moments ago the venerable minister who is presiding in these exercises, requested me at this point to makt a few remarks, I could not refrain from retorting upon him the question, "What about?" His reply was, "What you please." I suppose this is the spirit in which we are to go forward. Upon this solemn and affecting anniversary none of us, certainly not myself, shall pretend to instruct, but perhaps to say a few words from an overflowing heart — ^perhaps to touch some ten- der chord of recollection and of sanctified emotion that shall gather itself into the sentiment and the affection, to thank God and take courage. What hath God wjought ? It was about the close of the month of May, in the year 1830, that I first set my feet in this city, and the following day being the Sabbath, I came to worship God in this house. It was crowded almost as. it is now, and being unable to find a seat upon the lower floor, with some little difficulty I obtained a place at THE FIRST ANNIVBESAET. 243* last in the farthest corner of yonder gallery, and heard Dr. De Witt preach the Gospel. A great change has taken place in this part of the city, and it has been supposed that, commerce encroaching npon it and driving out the inhabitants, it must necessarily be abandoned as a scene of religious service. What is in the future we know not, but here is an imposing spectacle, and only crowning that- which we have seen during the last year, when the adjoining edifice was crowded from day to day with men retiring from the haunts of business, from all the cares and toils of commerce or mechanical engagements, who came to- gether to pray. Here we have come together to thank God. and take courage, and to exclaim again, What hath God wrought ? In the midst of this great commercial city, it is to me a wonder to see such an anniversary as this. But I am reminded of the in- fluence that has gone forth from this spot. This is but a specimen of~what has been witnessed throughout the length and breadth of this land. The origin of this service is sufficiently ventilated. I only remind you, beloved friends, of the fact that God hath put it into the hearts of his people to honour him ia the mid- dle of the day. Oh, think of it. Christians leave the counter, the shop, the ship yard, the exchange, and all the marts of business, and come together to pray. These brethren of all denominations did not refuse to acknowledge each other as servants and ministers in "244 NOON PEATEK MEETING. the Ohurches of Jesus Christ; but notwithstanding that aeknowledgjnent and interchanges of communion and of pulpits, and in other ways, we were separated as we have not been within the last twelve months. Since then our hearts have fused, and our prejudices have been broken down. Oh, how the souls of breth- ren have been united, and how they have learned to love and respect each other in the midst of denominar tional differences, just as distinct as ever ; but oh, how different from the jealousy and siispicion which, through the infirmity of our partially sanctified na- ture, has been the characteristic of the sectarian divi- sions of the Church of God. Thus, when we came together we made brief speeches and brief prayers. There was not need to say much, for the heart spoke. . And this is right, and this practice has effected a vast improvement in the daily and weekly Prayer Meet- ings. There is such a thing as speaking too long and praying too long, and especially in such services. God by means of this has taught the brethren to utter from the heart briefiy, pungently, and urgently, what was there, and to leave it indifferent to human criti- cisms, referring only to Him who seeth the heart. By this means hbw many weak souls have 'been en- couraged, and how many have been brought into the Kingdom! And aU this has been accomplished in the face of predictions. It was said that the religious awakening was mere enthusiasm, and it was madethe THE FIRST ANNIVEESAEY. 245 subject of ridicule by a ribald press. All the enemies of righteousness were gathered together against the Lord in this demonstration of his people, but God gave them strength and courage to perseyere. Now, I simply remind you of these things. You knew them when I spoke of them, and before I spoke of them. But what is to be done? Let us look forward. Here is an argument, a demonstration ; here is a lift- ing up of the standard to which the gathering of the people shall be. All the history of the past is a rea- son why every Christian, and every minister, and every closet, and every Church should resolve in the strength of God to go forward therein, invoking the Spirit of grace and supplication. It is God's work ; it is marvellous in our eyes ; to him be the praise. EEMAEKS OF THE EEV. DE. BANGS' (mETHODIST). The Eev. ISTathan Ban^s, D. D., then rose and ad- dressed the audience. Sesaid: The recent revival of religion among us, and throughout the country, I have considered as a very remarkable manifestation of the goodness of God. I have been in the ministry now for a little over fifty- seven years, and I have seen a great many powerful revivals during that time in various parts of this country and in Canada. Many sinners have been awakened and converted, and believers sanctifief' ; but those revivals of religion were of a local charac- 24:6 NOOS PEATEK MEETING. ter ; they were confined to one or two denominations, and they were opposed, in fact, by a great many pro- fessors of religion, as fanaticism. But what is the character of the present revival ? It is not confined to time nor to place. It has been begun, it has been carried on, and, I trust, is still in progress. It has spread through all the different denominations of P;-o- testant Christians^pretty much all, I believe ; sonie, perhaps, have not shared so largely of it as others. Still, what has been the effect of it ? Why, sir, we see. the effect of it here to-day. It brings the different denominations together, and makes them for a mo- ment forget their denominational peculiarities ; it tears down their sectarian prejudices, and makes them feel all as one. So I feel, and so, I trust, you feel also. Allow me here, if you please, to tell you an anecdote. Soon after the Christian Alliance was called together in England, the delegates having re- turned to this country, uiS^ertook to foiin an alliance here. They did form one, and'appointed a President, a Vice President, and a Board of Directors. I had the pleasure and the honour of being one of the Board of Directors, made up of different denominations. One day, while we were assembled together, we made a proposal that we should interchange pulpits one with the other, and that we should all preach on brotherly love. That was to be the theme. At the next meet- ing that we held, I asked one of the brethren what THE FEEST ANNIVEESABT. 247 progress he had made in the plan suggested at the pre- vious meeting. "Well," said he, "I thought of it, but I have done nothing." Another said, "I have thought of it, but I have done nothing;" and so it went around. "Well," said I, "I have not only thought of it, but I have done it— I preached upon the subject of brotherly love. I have been a man of war," said I, "all my days almost. I have fought the Calvinists, the Hopkinsians, and the Protestant Episcopalians, or rather I have defended myself and my denomination when they have been assailed by them, but," said I, "I have laid aside the polemic armour long since, and I felt it my duty to preach, brethren, upon brotherly love." Well, when I sat down, up jumped a Calvinistic brother, and said, "How glad I am to hear Brother Bangs speak in that language. I fought him, and he has fought me, but now I feel like giving him my hand." He held out his hand and I seized it, and we had a time of rejoicing there together. Well, that is just my feeling. I feel as though it was my duty to preach principally upon experimental and practical religion, and I am ready to give the right hand of fellowship to every man that will join me upon that theme. Now, the great question remains, Shall this revival continue ?. I think it may continue, and it ought to continue. It depends upon the fidelity of the people of God whether it shall or not. K the professors of religion could be induced 248 NOON PEAYEE MEETING. to go forward, press on, and fix their minds upon the mark, as Paul did, the revival of religion would con- tinue to spread. He fixed a mark at which he aimed, and so must professors of religion. "We must always fix 0U3" minds upon that mark, and aim at it. And what is that, short of holiness of heart, of life, and of conversation? And if we can all feel the quickening influences of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts, urging us forward to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus, he certainly will not forsake his Church, hut wiU continue to pour out his Spirit more and more abundantly. The venerable gentleman then led the devotions of the congregation in a brief address to the Throne of Grace. One stanza of the 100th Hymn was sung, which reads thus: " Kock of ages cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the "water and the blood, From thy side a healing flood. Be of sin the double cure. Save from wrath, and make me pure." BPEEOg OF THE EEV. DE. GILLETTE (bAPTISt). Kev. Dr. Gillette. rose and addressed the assem- blage in the following words : On receiving a note of invitation to be present TUB FIEST AKNIVEESAEY. 249 here, from the venerable Cliairman of this meeting, my heart responded with gratitude, and I felt that it would be a privilege, and, indeed, my highest, my chosen privilege, to be a listener and a spiritual pai^ ticipant to-day of these services. Yet at his bidding I have consented to occupy two or three minutes of your time. The remarks of Dr. Krebs carried me back to my first visit to the city of New York, and to my second visit to the house of God in this city. My first visit was to an evening meeting in the old Bap- tist church in Gold street, and my second was to an evening ineeting in this house, with the same venera- ble man preaching in this pulpit on the occasion, who preached a few years previous, on the occasion of Dr. Kj-ebs's first visit to the city and to this church. Running over the days and years, looking at the past, and recurring to peculiar instances in the pro- gress of our Zion, generally, we must exclaim, as has been already uttered upon this floor, "What hath God wrought?" I recollect that at the time of the last war we had with Great Britain, there originated a com- pany of venerable men, somewhere along the Hudson (I know they extended up towards its sources, into Rensselaer and Washington counties), who had been in the Revolution. They formed themselves into some organization, a battalion I think, known as the " Sil- ver Grays," and pressed on to the northern frontiers of our country to aid their younger brethren in de- ll* 260 NOOH- PEATER MEETING, fending themselves against the common foe. I re- memher in my boyhood, hearing some of the officers and men of the army, after they had retired upon j^ace terms with the mother country, allude to these Teterans. They said that they had more of the spirit of war, the spirit of true independence, and a deter- mination to conquer, yet a stronger desire for peace, than the younger soldiers possessed. No doubt they remembered the severer times and the gi-eater wrongs and oppressions which they felt in their early days. ITow as I sat here to-day, whilst our venerable father in Christ was speaking of himself and others who have grown gray in the service of Christ, I could not but draw something of a parallel between the history of the Church and' that of our own country. There was a time when pur Kevolutionary ancestors were required, when all their valour, all their courage, all their prow- ess, and all their zeal was requisite — all of the spirit of war which they possessed. I do not pretend, to say but that there was a time in the history of the Church when some sort of a spiritual warfare was needed. And when it was, these veterans of the Cross wielded their weapons, defended their positions, and contend- ed for the faith in that good sense which we know this man of God (alluding to Dr. Bangs), meant by the words, "fought their brethren," But I thank God that the day in which I was called into the ministry, my .call, if I ever received one, was to a work of THE FIEST AKNIVEESART. 251 peace. It was a day of peace and a work of peace. I honour these venerable men of war ; I see no scars upon them but those of honour. I do not believe their fight was an inglorious one, though they may look back upon it with some regret. But, brethren, peace reigns now ; peace on earth so far, we trust, as the true spirit of Christianity prevails. And, in my humble judgment, that for which we have most to be thankful to-day in the history of these Meetings, is the fact that it has inaugurated permanently in this city a concert of Christian peace and Christian union. We have had allusion to the attempts at union, to the or- ganizations for expunging various articles from our creeds, and the getting up of a creed upon which we could all unite; and we have found it was man's work, and it came to nought ; but just so soon ^s this Meeting was inaugurated in the adjoining lecture room, and men forgot, as it were, to what denomina- tion they belonged — to feel that they were Jesus Christ's, men stood up and spoke for him and for his cause, and called upon him to help them to fight tl^e common enemy of immortal souls, their peace ad- vanced over the hearts of men, because that spirit was from the God of peace and the God of love. And if we wilj. but pei-petuate this kind of instrumentality and encourage this disposition, wo shall need to spend no time, brethren, in regulating our creeds ; we shall 252 NOON PEATEB MEETING. find that they will all amalgamate in the general creed, love to God and love to the souls of men. " May this Meeting be continued," is the prayer of all here to-day. And why not ? As has been stated, its failure was predicted. I knew coalitions were formed to oppose and destroy it, and if they had suc- ceeded we should have discovered their sources and resom-ces ; but having been defeated, thay have hid- den themselves as far as possible in the darkness of oblivion and have not dared to show their heads. It is of God, and oh, who can begin to calculate the in- fluence which these Meetings are exerting ? I have a letter addressed to this Meeting, but as the Presi- dent stated that this was not the time for any com- munications of that sort, I concurred in his wisdom and put it in my pocket. It came from the far off prairies of Missouri, and is written by a venerable minister of Christ. It shall be handed to some of the gentlemen having the Meeting in charge, to be read hereafter at their convenience. The letter tells of the influence which this Meeting has had upon the com- munity =there, and beseeches you to remember them. But what is Missouri in the geography of the sway of the Spirit of God, that has gone forth from the origin of these Meetings ? "We must circle the globe, beloved brethren, if we-would trace its ramifying in- fluences ; we must pass through, the grave illumined by the Spirit of God, and see the glorified body of THE FIEST AmnVEESAET. 253 our Lord Jesus Christ ; we must sit among the harp- ers, harping- with their harps around the. throne of God and of the Lamb ; we must go home to the fire- side of that man who, having neglected his closet and family altar; influenced by the spirit that gathered together the people that originated these Meetings and instituted others, has reerected that altar and re- lit the fire there, and has continued to call upon the God of families to bless his family ; we must go to the man that was dishonest who is now honest ; we must go to the numbers of young men and young women who have been gathered from the ways of impeni- tence and folly, and have consecrated themselves to Christ, who have lives of usefulness yet to live on the earth ; we must finally go to Him who knoweth all things, whose smile we trust is upon us, whose pro- mise is to-day what it was one year ago. As that promise encouraged a few hearts then who believed it, to plead it, so may it encourage all our hearts, and the hearts of all who read and all who hear it, to believe and plead it just as it is : " Ask and it shall be given you." REMARKS OF THE REV. DR. VAN PELT v^DUTOH REFORMED). The Eev. Dr. Yan Pelt took the floor and spoke as follows : As I have attended the Prayer Meetings in the ad- joining room, and watched the progress of the good 254 NOON PEATEE MEETING. spirit that pevmeated the assemblies, I cannot but say, that from the beginning and in its progress the Spirit of God has been signally manifested in its calmness and in its secret and powerful operation on the hearts of Christians, and those that prayed as poor sinners ever ought to pray, confessing their sins to God, and asking for the Holy Spirit to take of the things of Christ and to show them to them. And that is the way to commence in this great and good work. I cordially concur with you, sir, and with Brother Bangs, that exp^erimental and practical pie|y should be preached, but then I would not forget what the Apostle Paul told Timothy. He told him to give at- tendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. We are to be on a platform, on a foundation such as the Bible- presents us, and then to go and serve the Lord. Let me further say, that I regard this as a very uncommon meeting. We are here not to commemo- rate a temporal victory, nor to celebrate the martyr- dom of saints, but to commemorate an event very extraordinary indeed in this city and in our land — a Prayer Meeting held in the middle of the day ; when men are willing to leave their business to attend to the duties that God has enjoined upon us all with regard to the salvation of our soiils. My brethren,., our King (and we have but one), is the King of Glory, and to him be all the praise. He will reign till all his enemies are made his footstool. '■: THE FIEST AITNIVEESAEY. 255 Prayer was then offered by Rev. Dr. A. D. Smith, N. S. Presbytei'ian. SPEECH OF DE. WILLIAM ADAMS (n. S. PEES.) Rev. Dr. Adams was introduced by the President, and addressed the congregation in the following lan- guage : "We become used to things that are marvellous. Objects which once would have convulsed us with wonder, come at length to be regarded by us, through familiarity, as every-day oeenrrences. Two or three years ago, perhaps, there was some godly minister who had an imagination in his mind of a scene like this. Perhaps some one of these venerable pastors, coming from his pulpit to his closet in a time ot gloom and depression, saying, " Who hath heard our report,' and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" iudulged in some hope that the time might be when the people of God, forgetting all minor distinctions, would be drawn together in fer- vent prayer, and. great multitudes would believe. And now we see it, and we have seen it for a twelve- month. There are here representatives of very many Churches. As my eyes pasS over this congregation, I have been surprised to see the number of Churches that are represented, and the different communions, and not merely of this city, for I see here strangers from every part of our beloved country. This morn- 256 NOON PEAYEB MEETING. ing the east and the west, the north and the south, who have heard of this Meeting for prayer in this metropolis, who have enjoyed similar seasons at home, have been drawn by a convergency of sym- pathy to this hour of joyful devotion. Brethren, do not let us be indifferent to the xnagnitude of this event that is passing before us. "What is it ? God has made us prayerful, and Jbe has disposed us to pray. What a great thing is that ! Some times we look upon prayer as a means, and altogether as a means. "Why should we not be gladdened to-day when we reflect upon it as a great thing in itself. I thought, when that glorious strain of sacred song was swelling in this temple of prayer, that we might, all of us, say, " God ,have mercy on the prayerless, for thou hast done every thing for the prayerful in dis- posing them to be prayerful." "What a great result is this, that we may find devotional refreshment in such services as the ISToon Prayer Meeting. Now, as for the objects and occasions of our gratitude. Allu- sion in several prayers, hath been made to them. How many here to-day who have immortal hopes in their souls, who, a year ago were in darkness and were of those who had no hope and were without God, would go back a twelve-month ? And if gold hath been poured into their coffers, would they exchange what they now possess for what theyhad a twelve-month ago? How many happy homes have THE FIEST .4IJNIVEESAKT. 257 been blest ! Oh ! Taow many homes in this city and thi'oughout our land, that are redolent with praise and fragrant with joy at the rising and the setting of the sun. What changes ! If we could only gather into one congregation, upon this anniversary, those who have been hopefully converted to Christ through our land during the past year, what a choir, what a vast assemblage would they be! How spontaneous their joy, liie the rolling of the waters! Let us think of them, and be grateful. How many have been ad- ded as available forces of the Christian- Church! How many who will consecrate their talents and their property to the great work of Evangelism! How many at home ! How many abroad ! The tidings of what God has been doing at this Meeting have been reported oftentimes. It was but yesterday a friend, a layman in this city, who is ac- customed to find liis annual recreation in the wilder- ness of the Adirondac, who is truly a Christian man, . told me how, a year ago, when Saturday evening came, he instructed his guide to tarry upon the beach, the morrow being the Sabbath. The man listened to him for a while and said, "Well, you have been brought up in one way, and I have been brought up in another. I am going a hunting this afternoon." And so he went, though his friend remonstrated with him. This year he goes to the same place and finds the same guide, and the first thing tlie man tells him is, 258 NOON PEATEE MEETING. " I have become a praying man ;" and beneath that ehanty in the wilderness, as they sat by the light of the evening fire, they read the word of God, and sang hymns and prayed together. I have just been in re- ceipt of a letter from a distinguished person in Switz- erland, asking for some definite information about this matter, this great revival of religion in America, and specifying a great many, enquiries which he wished me to answer definitely upon this point. We must not forget that new life that has beeli diffused in^the Old World. The thmg is there, though they do not use the nanae that is familiar to us. Who can read what is now going on in the city of London? Who can read what those excellent, men in the Established Church of England are doing now for the salvation of the working classes in that great metropolis ? Who can read of those services in Westminster Abbey, in Exeter Hall, and in the open air, a mission under the sanction of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, and the noble corps of men asso- ciated with them ? They do not call it a revival, but they have a revival of religion. Let the name pass for what it is, the thing is there. Who can doubt that there is in the Old World just now among Chris- tians an increase of evangelical power ? And to that point I think our hearts all converge at this par- ticular moment. It is the increase of evangelical energy, and the most hopeful thing I have uot yet THE FBEBT .ilfllfVEESAET. 259 heard alluded to in this service, though this presence indicates where tiiis power is lodged. To whom does it belong ? The ministiy ? We are your servants for Christ's sake. I do not believe that the clergy are the Church. Brethren, you do not merely belong to the Chui'ch — ^you are the Church. You, Christian lay- men, are, in concert with those who will endeavour to aid you, to lead, guide, and instruct, to do what the providence and the ordination of God hath appointed us to do. "We will do this in concert, and we are to direct our thoughts unanimously to an increase of evangelical power. And where is that ? It is in the heart, where God's Spirit dwells, and in the increase of that very love to which reference has been made. Let us read the Epistles of John over and c^ver again, and see if we do not find there the vital energy and element of all Christian success. Let this power of . the heart be increased, and we may stop veiy soon all special efforts, as it regards methods and agencies by which we have been endeavouring to diffuse the Gos- pel all around us. It will break forth like the light of the- morning ; men shall see and feel it, and be glad. "What a joyful thing is this union of Christian laymen at this hour, in the midst of business. What a testimony is it for Christ ? As these old churches stand down in these crowded streets day and night, ' sendhig their spires to heaven, they remind us — and ' it is a testimony to the world — that there is something 260 NOON PBATEE MEETING. kigher and better than the world. As I came down to this Meeting in a car, we passeA a funeral, and loaded carts and crowds of men about their varied concerns. I thought, of this blessed Christianity of ours, that we have in our hearts. We had better, my brethren, remember continually and testify to it, that the rails are laid, and the highway of the Lord is pre- pared; and through all these sable funerals, these gilded chariots, these loaded wains, and all this crowded commerce, this noise, bustle, confusion, and vanity of the world,, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is go- ing to rule through the whole of it, and we shall see how it is to be made subservient to the glory of our common Lord. EEMAEKS OF THE PEESIDENT. The President said: — ^Some observations which 1 made at the commencement of the Meeting will be re- membered. I stated that there was a specific charac- ter to these exercises, though the order in which the services should be observed would be similar to the dai- ly Meetings.. The individual requests that are brought by brethren from day to day, will be read at the re- gular Meeting to-morrow. The general object of this Meeting is to offer thanks for the -grace of the Spirit, and the application of it for the future, aiid, as is cus- tomary there, we have not laid the services open to the whole audience at the beginning. I understand THE FTEST ANNIVEESAEY. 261 that the brethren at Philadelphia, who worship in Jayne's Hall, have a similar remembrance, and unite in the very same service with us. Now, if there be any one from that city, or any of the cities of the land, brethren from a distance, who will speak a word on this occasion, we shall be very happy to hear them. SPEECH OF A MASSACHUSErrS MENISTEE. , A minister from Massachusetts, who occupied a seat in the body of the church, responded to the invitation of the President, and said : We have felt the influence of this revival and of this Prayer Meeting in Massachusetts most exten- sively ; not only in the cities, but in the country. In a little parish over which it is my privilege to preside, and where it is my privilege, and has been for several years, to preach the Gospel, God has poured the bless- ing of his grace iipon that people. One of the results of this wonderful work of God has been, as has just been stated by the last speaker, the increase of evan- gelical power in the hearts of God's people. This work of grace goes on — 1 was going to say, almost without the aid of the ministry. There has been a^ wonderful power developed in our Churches. Let me give you a single example : About a year and a-half ago, a young married woman connected with my congregation was, asshei trusts, brought into the 262 KOON PEATEE MEETIIirG. fold of Christ. She became deeply interested for her husband, but more especially so in the commence- ment of the spring. As God poured out the Spirit of his grace upon the people, slie became more and more anxious for her husband. On one Sabbath afternoon, after coming home from the house of God (for he did not, attend church, and was not in the habit of doing so), she said to her husband, " I want you to go to the prayer meeting to-night." She was deeply anxious that he should go that very evening. He said, " I will not go to night, but perhaps next Sun- day night, if 1 live, I will go." But she became deeply anxious and importunate with him, so much so that he took his hat and left the house. Her mother, seeing her distress, said that she ought not to be so distressed about him, that he would go to the prayer meeting some other time. She replied, " I feel deeply impressed with the conviction that to-day must be the day in which his soul must be saved or lost." She followed him out, and with tears streaming down her cheek, she besought him to go to the house of God. " Well, to gratify you, I will go," said he. He went, and there the Spirit of the Lord met him. I had ap- pointed a meeting for prayer and religious conference, and how was my heart rejoiced as I saw that man, who had seldom been at the house of God on the Sab- J^ath day, coming in with his wife. As I passed around conversing with fifteen or twenty, I presently THE FEEST ABTNTVEESAET. 263 came to liiin and said, " My dear friend, I am glad to see you here to-night. Do you feel interested in your Boul ?" He replied, " I have felt myself since last evening to be such a great sinner that I have scarcely known what I have been about all the day. I want to be a Christian. I want to get rid of this load of sin that lies upon my heart." Said I, " Are you not will- ing to confess your sins to God and confess Christ in this little room?" "I am willing to do any thing," was the reply. " Will you kneel down here while we endeavour to commend you to God, and pray that he will grant you pardon ?" "We all knelt down, and there I trust he gave his heart j;o the Saviour. Before we separated he said, " I will go home and set up the family altar to-night ; God helping me, I wiU pray with my wife to-night." He fulfilled his promise, and his wife said a few weeks afterwards to me, " It seems to me I have heaven upon earth. Whereas once my husband was wont to spend his time with his compan- ions, he stays at home now, and we pray, read the Bible, and sing the praise of God together, and we go in company to the house of God." How much depended, under the grace of God, upon the importunity of that wife ! She felt that she must have her husband goto the prayer meeting that night. And just so it was with the four men that brought the poor paralytic to Christ when he was in Cap- ernaum. Although there was a great crowd around 264 NOON PEATEE MEEHNG. the door, they felt that that was the time, and being- unable to get in, they took the poor man on the roof of the house-top and broke it, and immediately his sins were not only forgiven, but he took up his bed and went to his house. " He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with Mm." Let each individual resolve, " I will try and save some soul ; I will go to my husband, my son, my father, my mother, and my dear children, and I will try to save some soul to-day." Let him know that " he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall hide a multi- tude of sins." The congregation joined in singing the subjoined stanza : " Oh for a closer walk with God, A cahn and heavenly frame ; A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb." The President said: I have received letters from two distinguished ministers of the Protestant Episco- pal Church, (understood to be the Kev. Dr. Tyng, oi St. George's, New York, and the Kev. Dr. Cutler, of Brooklyn,) expressing their great regret at not being able to be present at this Meeting on account of previous engagements. Tlie closing remao-ks will be made by the Kev. Dr. Spring, followed by a THE FIKST AlWIVBESAEY. 265 prayer by the Rev. Mr. Cuyler, and the benediction wUl be pronounced by the Eev. Dr. Bangs. SPEECH OF EEV. DE. SPEHTG. Eev. Dr. Spring took the floor, and spoke thus : I would hardly consent to make -these remaits, were it not that the pathway of thought has been made very obvious to my own mind in the earlier part of the Meeting, from the observations which fell from your own lips, sir, and which I was most de- lighted to hear reiterated from the lips of the second speaker. It is to that great thought that I wish to bring my own mind ; it was to the subduing power of that thought that I wish to lay the emotions of my own heart. When I heard it uttered by my be- loved co-presbyter, I could not but turn to the early prediction of the Prophet Isaiah, andTsee how beautifully in keeping with such a scene as this was that triumphant thought, that in viewing what God had promised to do in the latter day, and in survey- ing what he had done, and in throwing out these glowing truths which should ignite and enkiadle the emotions of the hearts of God's people and the people of prayer all over the world, this simple but wonderous announcement should be made, " In that day, the loftiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted." This is the thought, sir, which has an effect upon this Meeting, and has 12 266 NOON PEATEE MEETING. an effect upon tte Churcli of God, and wMcli will go througli tlie world and carry with it the power and might of the Holy Ghost. We want nothing but to be humble in order to be holy ; we want nothing but to behold the glory of God and to see him exalted by all, and every where, to be happy. Why, sir, when I read the descriptions of the heavenly world, I see nothing so prominent as these two great truths : Man abased, and God exalted. The bright seraphs who sit at His footstool cover their faces with their wings while they cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord oi hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory ; " and the redeemed, who have been washed, sanctified and justified in the" name of the Lord Jesus, cast their bright crowns at his feet, made bright by omnipotent grace, uniting in one song. And oh, -sir, what is that ? " Blessing, and honour, and dominion, thanks- giving and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever." This is the spirit, sir, of which I, as an aged minister of Jesus Christ, stand in so much need. This is tjie spirit which I desire to see imparted more and more to my coadjutors in the ministry and my yoimger brethren, and the spirit which I long: to see more and more in the Church of God. "Behold! what hath God wrought?" This is an inquiry to which the hearts of this assemblage, I have no doubt, respond to-day. Look back during THE FTEST AITNIVEESAEY. 267 the past year. "Who has wrought what has been done? One of my brethren inquired, "Where has been the motive power?" His object was wise and good in making the enquiry. But I must not enquire of laymen not of ministers. There was a motive power above ; and we shall be as lifeless as mere corpses, inanimate dead remains lying in the grave, until the Spirit of God moves. I look back the past year, sir, around these congregations, and there is no question so appropriately presents itself to my thoughts. Oh, look at it ! We love to look at the works of man, and they are interesting when they exhibit human ingenuity, invention, and persever- ance. But this work of God — oh, this wondrous work of God, for which all other works were made ! I love to look at yonder star, and sometimes think of the beautiful thoughts of the great English tragic poet when he said — " Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patiuea of bright gold ; There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings Still quiring to the young ey'd cherubims." But here over this moral, this Christian horizon, ten thousand times ten thousand bright stars have been glittering, which we can look upon and exclaim, "Behold, what hath God wrought?" each one ex- 268 NOON PKATEE MEETING. claiming, " The hand that made us is Divine." Sir, if we can get low enough ; if ministers can lose the spirit of self-glory and mutual self-glorification; if we can have silent and secret piety enough ; if we can lose sight of self as delightfully as "Watts lost sight of self when he said, " The more thy glories strike my eyes . The humbler I shall lie ; Thus while I sink, my joys shall lise Immeasurably high." Oh, sir, this will be the revival of God's work. This is what we want throughout the world. We shall have no disputes if we have the spirit of our Methodist brother. The Oalvinist, the Hopkinsian, the Epis- copalian, and the Baptist will all combine if they have the spirit of Christ Jesus, in giviag God the glory, and take their places prostrate in the dust. And if I understand your invitation, the object of this Meeting to-day is to give the God of Heaven all the praise. " Oh, praise him sun and moon, and aU the stars of night. Praise him, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure. Praise him young and old ; young men and maidens, and little children praise him ; and let the whole earth be filled with his praise.' And to this poor, aged, hard heart, I would say, " Bless the Lord, O niy soul." THE FEEST AUMTEESABT, 269 The closing prayer was offered by the Rev. T. L Cuyler. The sixteenth Doxology was then snng : " May the grace of Christ the Sayiour, And the Father's boundless love. With the Holy Spirit's favour, Best upon us from above. Thus may -we abide in union With each other and the Lord, And possess in sweet communion, Joys which earth cannot afford." The benediction was pronounced by the Kev. Dr. Bangs, after which the immense mnltitiide separated. CHAPTEE XrV. ^t 'gam Pfjting in IplaM^lk Among those wlio attended the first business men's prayer meetings in New York was a young man not twenty-one years of age. As good had re- sulted from these meetings in New York, why might not equal good be done through their instrumentality in Philadelphia? Surely it was worth the effort. Some of his fellow members of the Young Men's Christian Association, with whom he conversed, being of the same opinion and promising their cooperation in the matter, he applied to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Union Church, for the use of their lecture room. The request was promptly com- plied with, and the first Noon Prayer Meeting in the city of Philadelphia was held in the Union Church, November 23d, A. D. 1857. For a time the response on the part of the business men was far from encouraging ; thirty-six being the highest number present, and the average attendance 2T1 272 KOON PEATEE MEETING. not exceeding twelve. At lengtli it was deemed expedient to remove the Meeting to a more central position, and the ante-room of the spacionB Hall of Dr. J^Pie having been generously granted by him for this purpose, the first meeting was held there February 3d, 1858. Even there the increase in num- bers was very gradual indeed; first twenty, then thirty, forty, fifty, sixty persons. So little in the first instance did the kingdom of God come by observ- ation. But now almost as in an instant the whole aspect of affairs underwent a most surprising change. In- stead of reproducing the scene from memory, permit me to quote the description given at the time by an intelligent and competent witness. "By Monday, March 8th, the attendance in the smaller apartment of the Hall had reached three hundred, and by the next day it was evident thai many were going away for want of room. The persons present, with much fear of the result, yet ap parently led by Providence, on Tuesday, March 9th, voted to hold the Meeting the next day at twelve o'clock in the large Hall. It was cur piivilege to be present at that time, "Wednesday noon. The Hall has seats for twenty-five hundred people and it was filled. The next day it was filled again, with the galleries, and it was obvious there was not room for the people. The curtain was therefore drawn away from before the PHILADELPHIA. 273 stage, and that thi'own open to the audience. The next day, Fi'iday, the partition between the smaller and larger rooms was taken down, and the Hall from street to street thrown open. " The sight is now grand and solemn. The Hall is immensely high. In the rear, elegantly ornamented boxes extend from the ceiling in a semi-circular form around the stage or platform ; and on the stage, and filling the seats, aisles and galleries, three thousand souls at once on one weeh-day after another, at its busiest howr, how before God in ^ayer for the revival of his work. The men and women, minister and people, of all denominations or of name, all are wel- come — all gather. " There is no noise, no confusion. A layman con- ducts the Meeting. Any suitable person may pray or speak to the audience iarfive minutes only. Khe do not bring his prayer or remarks to a close in that time, a bell is touched and he gives way. One or two verses of the most S]f)iritual hymns go up, ' like the sound of many waters ;' requests for prayer for in- dividuals are then made, one layman or minister suc- ceeds another in perfect order and quiet, and after a space which seems a few minutes — so strange, so ab- sorbing, so interesting is the scene — the leader an- nounces that it isi one o'clock, and punctual to the moment a minister pronounces the benedictionj and the immense audience slowly, quietly and in perfect 2T4: NOOH PEATOSB MEETING. order, pass from the Hall ! Some minister remaining, to converse in a sniall room off the platform, with any who may desire spiritual instmetion. " No man there, no man perhaps, living or dead, has ever seen any thing lite it. On the day of Pen- tecost Peter preached ; Luther preached : and Living- ston, "Wesley, and "Whitfield ! Great spiritual move- ments have been usually identified with some elo- quent voice. But no name, except the Name that is ahove every name, is identified with this Meeting. ' Yes,' said k clergyman, on the^ following Sahbath, ' thini of- tiie Prayer Meetings this last week at Jayne's Hall, literally and truly unprecedented and unparalleled ia . the history of any city or any age ; wave after wave pouring in from the closet, from the family, from the Church, from the union prayer meet- ings, untir the great tidal or tenth wave rolled its mighty surge upon us, swallowing up for the time being all separate sects, creeds, denominations, in the one great, glorious and only Church of the Holy Ghost.'" But even these descriptions fall short of the real extent of religious feeling in the city at large. Jayne's Hall, immense as it was, was not the only place where Christians of every name met for the purpose of xinited prayer. Towards the close of that same Pen- tecostal week a Union Prayer Meeting was called in a church conveniently situated in the northern part of PHILADELPHIA. 275 tlie city. At the hour appointed some twenty per- sons might be seen slowly making their way through the unhroken snow drifts to keep their faith with God and with each other. But from the very moment that they crossed the threshold it was manifest that God was with them of a truth, and that the blessing was " coming" to them also. On Friday afternoon it came with all its fullness ; the large lecture room, capable of holding some five hundred persons, was full to overflowing. The number of requests for prayer on the table was so great that the leader only looked at them with wonder and did not pretend to read them. "Doubtless," said he, " we all feel just in the same way for our unconverted friends and rela- tivek. For my own part J must ask you to pray for my foui" sons ! " " For my two sons and daughter," said a second. " For my father," said a third. "For my husband," said a lady with a tenderness and energy that thrilled us to our very souls ; and thus in less than three minutes perhaps, a hundred similar requests were presented throughout the whole room. Then as with one accord we lifted up our voices and wept together. The place was indeed a '^ Bochim," and of all the scenes that have been witnessed through- out this whole revival, perhaps there was none more perfectly characteristic and overwhelming. A few days subsequently, at this same meeting, the people of God as by a common impulse rose to their feet, and 276 NOOIT PEATEE MEETING. there standing before the Lord, solemnly consecrated themselves afresh to his service. The history of that meeting " in souls renewed and sins forgiven," (vould make a volume of itself. At the close of one meeting a lady approached a little group of ministers and others, and called one of them aside to speak with her. " I could not find it in my heart," said she, " to leave this room, until I told what God had done for my soul. I came here this afternoon in darkness, heavily burdened with my sin, and well nigh in despair ; but during the third prayer I felt as if I could believe in Chiist ; peace came to my soul, and now I must go home a/nd tell Tnother." The tone of voice, the expression of countenance, the tears rolling down her cheeks, and joy meanwhile beaming from her eyps, it is utterly impossible for us to describe. Conversion was to her a change as real, as for one asleep to awake, for one who was blind to be made to see, for one who was a captive in darkness and a dungeon to be made free. The lecture room having become too strait for the multitude of Worshippers, similar union prayer meet- ings were established further west and north in the afternoon, and also in the Handel and Haydn Hall at .noon, th^ attendance at the latter place amounting at times to a thousand or twelve hundred persons. Taking all the union prayer meetings together, in- dependent of the regular Church prayer meetings in LL PHILADELPHIA. 2Y7 the evenii ig, the number of those who daily met for prayer about this time was at least five thottsand. In connection with the Union Prayer Meeting, as if by common consent, union preaching was also established. That all might feel equally free to attend, the favourite places for such preaching were the great public halls, such as Jayne's, Handel and Haydn, and the American Mechanics', all of which were freely tendered by the proprietors for the use of the people without expense. The time appointed for these ser- vices was usually on an afternoon of a week day, or at such an hour on the Sabbath as would not interfere with public worship in the churches. Two sermons in this course, by Eev. Dudley A. Tyng, were very memorable, especially the last, where the congrega- tion numbered more than five thousand persons, and where "the slain of the Lord" were more perhaps as the result of a single s^mon than almost any sermon in modern times. Meanwhile the increase of attendance at public worship on the Sabbath, and the number of churches opened for services dui-ing the week, was beyond all precedent. During the latter part of the winter, rarely indeed would you pass the lecture room of an evangelical Church in the evening, that was not lighted up for prayer or preaching. Sometimes even the main body of the church itself was not able to accommodate the multitude of worshippers. In some 27S NOON PEATEE MEETING. these services had. commenced months or weeis be- fore and were only continued. In others they were now held for the first time. In nearly all there were the manifest indications of the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. The action of the Union Meetings upon the Churches, and of the Churches upon the Union Meetings, was reciprocally delightful and pro- fitable. No rivalry, no collision, the revival spirit was due and the same every where ; the same spiritual songs, the same fervent iutercession for sinners, the same earnest invitation to come to Christ that they might receive the Life Eternal. "While sucu wonders as these were occurring aU through the city, public attention and interest were awakened in no ordinary degree. In vain was an oc- casional cry raised here and there of "priestcraft," " enthusiasm," " fanaticism." No definition of these terms seemed at all applicable to the case in hand. In vain did the boldest of the transgressors endeavour to rally an organized opposition. The disposition to cease from the instruction that causeth to err, left the synagogues of Satan deserted and desolate. In vain was every possible expedient resorted to to involve the followers of Christ in angry and unprofitable con- troversy. Speaking the truth in love, and believing th9,t the best way to refate error was to teach the truth, they humbly relied on the Holy Spirit to make the truth manifest in every man's conscience. The worse PHILADELPHIA. 279 the man, the more did they pity him. The greater the enemy, the more did they pray for him. On one occasion, at the l^oon Prayer Meetidg, Nena Sahib himself was proposed as a subject of prayer, and by whom of all other persons in the world but by a Christian mother, whose own son was one of the Mis- sionaries so foully murdered by him. As an evidence of the reality and the extent of the revival, the number of conversions during the year, in Philadelphia, may be safely estimated at ten thou- sand ; one denomination having received three thou- sand, another eighteen hundred. Perhaps never, in the entire history of the Church, since the days of the Reformation, were the winds and waves that too often disturb the bosom of the Church, more thoroughly subdued and hushed to rest, than during the few days that intervened from the death of our beloved brother Tyng, until his remains were committed to the tomb. Once more Chris- tianity seemed to reach her true summit level. The kind fraternal cooperative spirit that had thus been developed taust of necessity find some appropriate sphere in which to manifest itself. It looked for a field in which to enter, and lo ! it found it at once in that of "Union Missions." Union in prayer and effort for the conversion of men ; charity in allowing them afterwards to join such denomination as would seem most nsCtural to them. The history of the 280 NOON PEATEE MEETING. " Union Tabernacle," the " Big Tent " for field preach- ing, and of the Firemen's Prayer Meeting, wonderful as they are, are only the ripened fruits of the little germ that was Divinely planted in the Fulton street Prayer Meeting, ISTew York. From that hallowed spot it was that the cry first went forth : "The Lord has risen," which since that time has been heard all over the land. G. D., Je. CHAPTER XV. €mral 'guMxms. I. "No devout or thoughtful mind can review the history which has been given, without being iiTesis- tibly led to the conclusion, expressed by the words of the Psalmist upon a different occasion : "This is the Loed's Dome ; it is mauvellotjs m oim eyes." It is easy to trace the hand of Providence in every step of the course we have narrated. The ap- pointment of the Missionary just at the period when it was made, the upspringing in his mind of the con- ceptipn of a business men's prayer meeting, its pe- culiar features, the state of the times prompting men to pray, the absence of any unusual attractions, the extraordinary rapidity with which mid-day meetings for prayer were multiplied ; all these indicate the immediate agency of the Most High. The Lord alone was exa;lted in that day. There is no room for human merit to insinuate itself. A few men, by no means eminent for influence or 231 282 NOON PEATEE MEETING. position, meet for prayer ia the tHrd story of a build- ing in the heart of a dense population devoted to material pursuits ; and within a hundred days similar meetings are counted by scores and their attendants by thousands. No new revelation is made or pre- tended ; no mighty machinery set in motion ; no Whitfield or Spurgeon appears ia the pulpit; no start- ling tales of conversion are reported, for these fol- lowed rather than preceded the popular movement. Yet the minds of men as if by one consent, are turned to the place of prayer. Wo sooner is a room opened for the purpose than it is filled. And such rooms are opened in every part of the city — a circumstance which was blessed of God to one man's soul in this singular way : A resident of Yermont was in town for some secular purpose, and was struck by the number of signs he saw in different parts of the city, bearing the usual inscription, " Business Men's Prayer Meeting, for one hour," etc. In Fulton street, in John street, in the lower part of Broadway, in the upper part of it, in Ninth street, etc., etc., he was met by the same call to prayer. Now he did not attend one — ^not one of these Meetings, but after his return home he could not -get the thought out of his mind, that busi- ness men in New York were in such large numbers meeting for prayer at mid-day. That thought finally was the means of his conversion. But besides the public gatherings of this nature, i GENEEAL EEFLECTIONS. 283 there were innumerable private ones wherever any number of men or womeD were habitually assembled on the same premises, — a fact, of which the following remarkable illustration was given at the time in the public prints : " At one'of our large restaurants, a gentleman haiji taken out a book to read while his dinner was pre- paring. On the arrival of the waiter with the articles he had called for, he laid down his book, when the waiter said, ' Is that a Bible, sir ?' ' 'No,' was the reply. ' Do you want a Bible ?' ' Yes, sir, I should like to have one.' The gentleinan promised to briag him one the next day. He did so, asking the waiter whether he attended any of the daily prayer meet- ings. 'No, sir, we have not time, being engaged here from early ia the morning until late in the even- ing ; but at ten o'clock we close, and then all the waiters have a prayer meeting in one of the rooms in this house, and*we know that good has resulted.' " Now on what known principle of human nature shall this be accounted for ? Some have attributed it to fashion. But who set such a peculiar fashion, and how came it to be so generally followed. When no or- dinary inclination of the carnal heart was appealed to? For surely it will not be claimed that worldly men, however upright or amiable, have any natural proclivity for a simple prayer meeting. Others en- deavour to explain it by saying that it was an 284 NOOIT PEATEE MEETENG. awakening of the religious sensibility in men's hearts. But this is the very thing we are enquiring after. How came that sensibility to be thus suddenly and widely awakened ? No one believed the end of the world to be just at hand ; no baleful comet excited the fgars of the ignorant or the superstitious ; no cunning appeals to popular prejudice subjected the multitude to the control of unseen masters.- !N"one of these, nor any thing like them, can be pretended for a moment. A third class said, and with much apparent show of reason, that this result naturally followed from the pecuniary pressure of the times, driving men to reli- gion as their only solace. But does adversity always lead men to God ? Is it not, alas ! common to see both individuals and communities acting after the ex- ample of that wicked king of old, of whom the em- phatic record runs, " And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord : this is that king, Ahaz." Besides, in the year 1837, there was a commercial revulsion, quite as wide-spread and un- expected as that of 1857, and tenfold more disastrous ; . yet there was then no unusual turning to religion, no mighty movement of the popular mind, no upheaving of the foundations. The people as a whole were far more intent upon examining into the political or eco- nomical causes of the pecxmiary pressure, than into its spiritual bearings, or its final cause as ordained in the providence of God. GENEEAL EEFLE0TI0N8. 285 No, no ; that movement whicli far more than the opening, of China, or the re-conquest of India, or the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable, has rendered the present year memorable ; which without exagge- ration may be emphatically called the event of the century; which has been more like a literal repi-o- duction of the scenes of Pentecost than any other which has taken place since the tongues of fire sat upon the heads of the Apostles; that movement can justly be traced to no human or earthly source. Look at it as we will, in its commencement, its pro- gress or its results, the conclusion is still the same. This is the fingee of Gtod. The contact of the Di- vine author with his work was so direct and close as scarcely to allow the human instrument to appear, much less, to become prominent. The only unusual instrumentality was that of which this volume de- scribes the origin — Daily Union Prayer Meetings. Yet prayer is always the confession of want, the resort of weakness, the expression of dependence. As well might the way-side beggar make a merit of stretch- ing forth his hand for casual alms, as Christians at- tribute inherent worth to their devotions, whether individual or collective. Prayers are indeed the satisa sine qua non, but never, never the causa qua, of spiritual renovation, and least of all, of a general awakening like that which has just visited so large a part of Christendom. 286 NOON PEATEE MEETING. This is the work of Him who rides upon the Hea- vens by his name Jah. As he looses the bands of Orion and brings forth Mazzaroth in his season; as He, with the breath of spring,' dissolves the icy bands of winter, renews the face of the earth and clothes all nature with verdure, freshness and beauty ; so He alone breathes upon the cold, torpid, insensible hearts of- men, and says : Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Then Lazarus in his tomb feels the pulsations of re- turning vitality. The dry bones leap up covered with flesh and sinews. The dead in trespasses and sins are quickened into new life. Only He who first created the human spirit can re-create that spirit after its fall and decay, so that the Divine image shall once more be reflected in its various faculties and operations. And if this be true in the case of a single individual, much more is it true when the question is of great masses convulsed as if by a moral earthquake, of whole communities swayed by a single impulse, of nations bom in a day ! One of the distinguishing characteristics of this work, is not only that the Lord has done it, but that it is so manifest that he has done it. His people bave been called, like Israel at the Eed Sea, to stand still and see the salvation of God. Their enemies have been compelled to say, " The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among thefii." The extreme frailty of the earthen vessels in which the GBNEEAL EEFLECTIONS. 28Y lieavfenly treasure was put, showed, as if witli the force of demonstration, that the excellency of the power was of God and not of man. Thus has the pride of human glory been signally stained. Thus have Christians been taught to sing with new empha- sis the song of the old Psahnist, "Ifot unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." All who with unprejudiced minds consider the work and its origin, arrive at the opinion so clearly and distinctly expressed by the eloquent and evan- gelical Bishop Mcllvaine, in his address to the Dio- cesan Convention of Ohio, in June last. "As for myself, I desire to say that I have no doubt 'whence 'it cometh.' So far as I have had personal opportunities of observing its means, and spirit, and fruits ; so far as I have had opportunity ot gathering information about it, from judicious minds, in various parts of my own Diocese, and of the country at large, I rejoice in the decided conviction, that it is ' the Lord's doing ; ' unaccountable by any natural causes, entirely above and beyond what any human device or power could produce ; an outpour- ing of the Holy Spirit of God upon God's people, quickening them to greater earnestness in his service ; and -Upon the unconverted, to make them new crea- tures in Christ Jesus." 288 NOON PEATEE MEETING. n. The true thajiry of Oheistian Union has been remarkably developed in the progress of the l^Toon Prayer Meeting in Fulton street and the innumerable meetings elsewhere, which took the same type. The Noon assembly as originally planned by Mr. Lanphier and afterwards successfully carried out, was designed for Christians as such, without respect to denominational distinctions. They who came were not expected to deny or to ignore their peculiarities as members of distinct branches of the Church mili- tant, and still less to forsake their customary ecclesias- tical associations for the pm-pose of forming a new one as a sort of eclectic society, retaining the best features and dropping the worst of all the rest. "No such chimerical idea was entertained. On the con- trary, nothing was said of denominational views. Men were invited to come simply as those who felt their need of prayer and were willing to subtract an hour from secular duties for the purpose. As such they came with remarkable unanimity and cordiality. Arminians and Calvinists, Baptists and Pedo-Baptists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and Congregationalists and Friends, sat side by side on the same benches, sang the same hymns, said Amen to the same prayers, and were refreshed and comforted by the same exhortations. The simple rule, "No Con- TEOVEETED PoiNTS DiscussED," suflSccd to prevent any topic or tone being assumed by one to the annoyance GENEEAI, EEFLEOTIOBTS. 289 of others ; sufficed, I say, with the occasional ^nd rare exceptions, which were alluded to on a former page, and which really are scarcely worthy of no- tice. The glory of Christ, the progress of his king- dom, the wants of perishing souls, the need of the Holy Spirit, the desirableness of greater consecration to the Master — these and kindred themes furnished sufScient occupation to mind and heart. And while dwelling on these, other points faded from view, and the worshippers felt that they were brethren, and as such freely mingled their songs and sympathies and tears and hopes and vows. The natural consequence of this was a warmer spirit of Christian love and a heartier union in all common and general efforts for the good of souls. The participants in these services understood each other better than they did before. Prejudices and miscon- ceptions were removed by close and friendly contact, and while each held his own peculiar views of dis- puted points, as strongly as ever, yet they saw and felt that outside of these there was a common ground where all could act in concert and harmony. This impression was made the more deeply because it was undesigned. It was no part of the original object oi the Noon Meeting to unite Christians of various names more closely together. Yet this was the result. For when men had experienced the blessed . influences of the service, had felt that the Spirit of 13 290 NOON PEATEE MEETING. God was there, had found their highest spiritual joys reuewed, and received a fresh unction from above, their hearts were irresistibly drawn out toward each other. They became more tender of each other's feel- ings, interests and good name. They rejoiced in each other's prosperity, and sorrowed in each other's ad- versity. They could not but feel that although they were distinct regiments, with different uniform and equipments, still they all belonged to one great army, were under the same illustrious Captain, and fought against a common foe, even the zealous and implaca- ble»-enemy of God and man. This after all is the only practicable, perhaps the only desirable form of Christian union in our day. Certainly it is not evil alone which denominational divisions produce. They often secure a division of labour, a variety of service and address, an adapted- ness to different classes of men, and a degree of zeal and activity, which could scarcely be looked for from any other source. And if all wrath, clamour, bitter- ness and evil speaking were done away ; if Christians could learn to differ without angry contention; if jealousy, suspicions and self-seeking were resolutely frowned upon ; by far the worst evils of the prevail-- ing sectarian divisions would be made to disappear. But however this may be, all observation and expe- rience concur to show that these distinctions cannot now be removed. Christians do not see all truth GENEEAL EEFLEOTIONS. 291 with BufiScient clearness ; they are not free enough from the hias of natural temperament, habit and edu- cation ; they have not the requisite ascendancy in the inner man of the spirit over the flesh, to be able to agree in all the details of faith, order and discipline. And it is perhaps hopeless to look for any such at- tainment under the present conditions of Christian life. Perfect knowledge and perfect holiness aa-e in- dispensable to perfect unity. The notion of an entire coincidence of thought and feeling among. Christ's followers, so that the Church shall realize the ideal conception of a large and variously organized body with a single soul, is an impossible dream for the pre- sent, although it is one of the brightest visions which the sure word of prophecy reveals to us for the future. But there remains, quite apart from this beautiful vision of hope, a wide field in living reality, for the cultivation of what the Apostle calls " the unity ol the Spirit in the bond of peace." That blessed unity which arises from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all who hold the Head, binding them together, des- pite all diversities of race, colour, customs, name and denomination, into one great whole, animated by the same great purpose and tending to one common end. The condition of this indwelling of the Spirit ■and the consequent unity of the whole is the bond of peace, that is, the bond which is peace. For the Spirit, as is beautifully shown by the symbolical form 292 NOON PEATEE MEETING. which he assumed when he became visible to the eyes of holy men of old, flies from the scenes of strife and abides only where men dwell together in concord. It is, then, by the cultivation of love, humility, meek- ness and mutual forbearance, that th« Spirit's pre- sence is attracted and retained. Where men, despite conflicting views on minor points, recognize in each other the great features of Christ's likeness, and cherish reciprocal love based upon this common bond uniting t^em to Him as the Saviour, there is unity — not outward, formal, nominal, and therefore worthless, but inward, real and spiritual ; a unity which in its mea- sure fulfills the earnest repeated supplication of Christ for his followers, in the great intercessory prayer recorded in John's Gospel : " That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ; that the world may believe that thou has sent me." Thus an incidental, but very important part of the usefulness of the Noon Prayer Meetings is seen to lie in the spur and stimulus which they gave to this sacred unity. Christians have felt since as they did not feel before. Not that the bands of denomina- tional organization and attachment ha-ye been re- laxed. This was neither sought nor desired. But men have learned, while firmly holding their own views, to respect those of their brethren ; while cul- tivating their own field, to look with entire sympathy GENEEAIi EEFLEOTIONS. 293 upon the labours of others; while rejoicing in the particular ecclesiastical name they bear, to feel that there was one yet nobler, which, while it leaves out of view no fundamental truth, yet is able to include every child of Adam who ever learned to lisp the story of the Cross. This is the name CHEisTiAif. in. The place of the Lay Element in the diffusion of the Gospel, is another point which the Noon Meet- ings have contributed to bring out and establish with precision and clearness. In these services, the responsibility for interest and success has been made to rest directly upon the laity as such. It is true clergymen were not excluded, but on the contrary, were gladly welcomed. Yery many of various names have attended from time to time and have often added largely to the interest and instruc- tiveness of the occasion by their fervent intercessions and their judicious and pointed addresses. StiU the hour and the place of meeting show that no reliance was placed upon any special agency and influence of the clergy. The assembly was designed for persons actively engaged in secular pursuits — that they might be refreshed amid the toils and cares of life, by a daily season of prayer and praise, and, in accordance with the Apostolic precept, " Exhort one another daily," by simple unstudied words of mutual exhortation. This end, we have already seen, was fully accomplished. 294 NOON PEATBE MEETING. Christians found it good to be there. They loved the place of mid-day prayer. They found their hearts cheered and their souls edified by the exercises. ■Simple as these exercises were, free from any factitious excitement, destitute of aught which could minister to other than religious tastes, they were found to possess a charm which induced men to make it a point to at- tend them and to participate actively in them, as the Lord gave the ability and the opportunity. Had this been all, the intention and desire of the originators of the enterprise would doubtless have been fully gratified. But it was not all. A kind Providence, here, as so often elsewhere, made the re- sults of the movement far outstrip the- views of its projectors. Such a meeting could not long remain a mere scene of enjoyment, however pure and spiritual, a place only of comfort, and exhilaration and rest. The rest remcdneth for the people of God. It is not en- joyed here, save in a qualified sense. Life is a season of work, and the true Christian asks day after day, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? and asks it, not as Pilate did his weighty enquiry, without waiting for the answer, but with an earnest desire to run with en- larged heart in the way of the Lord's commandments. The opening for Christian activity in this case soon showed itself. Bequests for prayers for impenitent or awakened persons, presented sometimes by the pai-ties them- GENERAL EEFLEOTIONS. 295 selves, but more generally by their friends, began to multiply. And the voice of intercession became daily more tender and tearful and urgent and impor- tunate. God's people wrestled with Him like the patriarch of old, and at times the place became a Bochim. Now it was impossible for men with Christian hearts to join sincerely in such supplications, and then sit still. It was impossible for souls touched with the love of Jesus to have the condition of Christless per- sons brought habitually before them, and yet remain unconcerned and inactive. The fire burned within, their own minds got into a glow, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth spoke. They be- gan to work for Christ and for the conversion of sinners. They conversed in private with impenitent friends, they invited them to the Noon Meeting, when that overflowed they instituted other meetings of a similar kind, they distributed tracts and handbills and books, they made it part of their biisiness to labour in one or all of these ways, and they expended time and pains and money in such labour. Of course it is not meant that this was now done for the first time ; for earnest Christians have always been engaged more or less in doing good in these or in similar ways. But the thing was now done on a broader scale, by a larger number of persons, and with a greater proportion of immediate siiccess. The 296 NOON FBAYEE MEETING. Noon Prayer Meeting was a laymen's meeting from the commencement, and its success acted directly npon laymen in revealing to them the immense amount of unemployed talent which lay wrapped up in a nap- pin, and in stimulating them to an active, diligent and conscientious use ot their faculties and opportunities. The too common notion that the minister, with possibly the elders and deacons, is to do all the work in applying the Gospel to the hearts of men, and that the main body of believers are to be gently wafted to heaven " on flowery beds of ease," was effectually broken up. The true conception of the Chui-ch, given so often by the Apostle, as a living organism composed of various parts, each of which has its appropriate function, the performance of which is indispensable to the integrity and perfection of the whole, was beau- tifully brought out and exemplified. Nor was the movement marred by extravagance or misguided zeal. The sacred oflBce of the ministry was in no degree trenched upon. There was no rash interference with institutions of Divine appointment and immemorial usage. The energies of men were employed in coordination with the commissioned minister of Christ, or under his direction ; and so far from the two agencies clashing, each was furthered by the other, working in its appropriate sphere. There is a work which the ministry alone can perform, because they alone are called and trained for it. And GENEEAL EEFLECTIONS. 297 there is a work wliicli laymen only can do, because no minister who seeks properly to discharge the other duties of his office, can find the requisite time for this; and moreover, there i^a large class of persons who feel the weight of an exhortation or appeal much more when it comes from one who, it is known, does not and cannot utter it as a matter of profession- al duty. There is therefore ample room for hoth these in- strumentalities, and both should be employed. Both must be, if ever the millenium is to dawn on the gloomy and troubled horizon of this world. Eveiy man is to say to his neighbour. Know the Lord. The Christian is to get good by doing good. He is to be watered himself by watering others. He is to work in the vineyard. He is to follow the^exampIe of Him who went about doing good. He is not to go to Heaven alone, but to take others with him. Carry- ing in his heart from day to day a fresh sense of his obligations to the One who bought him with his blood, he is to labour to bring others to the service and praise of that blessed Master — a sentiment which we find exemplified even under the dim light and narrow restrictions of the elder dispensation. In the most humble and touching of all the penitential Psalms, no sooner does the royal penitent obtain a ray of hope and feel the hand of Divine forgiveness healing his broken bones, than he anounces his pur- 13* 298 Nooisr peatee meeting. pose to point others to the same great source of de- liverance and blessing : "Then will I teach trans- gressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted \into thee." Such is always the natural instinct of a renewed nature. "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." Too often this spontaneous impulse is crushed by timidity, the fear of man, a false shame, or a foolish regard to conventional usages. Then, by a natural reaction, faith is weakened, love grows cold and the sense of eternal things declines in vividness and power. And. great is the loss to the believer himself and to the Master's cause I But if it be fully seen that it is part of the normal conception of a Christian, that he should have the salvation of others always as a dis- tinct and well defined object before his mind ; if be- lievers act habitually under the conviction expressed by James, " He which converteth the sinner from the error of his ways shall save his soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins," then there is a vast gain on all sides. There is gain to the Christian labourer, for, not to mention other considerations, the blessed work is its own reward. And there is gain to the Master's cause, for such labour is never in vain in the Lord. One may sow, and another reap ; but in the end, "both he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together." GENERAL EEFLECTIONS. 299 lY. Another truth repeated and signally verified in the Noon Meeting, is the Power of Peatek. As has been related, the Meeting arose ont of a fresh and vivid sense of the present value of daily prayer amid life's cares and toils. The same ex- perience was continued, and enjoyed in a still larger measure by those who used this means of grace. A joy- ful feeling *of relief, refreshment and peace was dif- fused through their souls, when they thus turned aside from secular pursuits, and held communion with God " in humble, grateful prayer." Care was lightened, burdens were removed, the damaging taint of world- liness wiped away and a sweet sense of the Divine presence shed abroad in the heart. It was experience of this kind which at an early period drew many Christians of various denomiaations to the Consistory building. They were drawn there by a spiritual at- traction, which is always irresistible to a living Christian. Just as the inhabitants of the air and of the sea love the element in which they live and move, so do renewed hearts love the atmosphere of a pray- ing circle. There they are at home. There they breathe freely. There they enjoy life. • But this effect of prayer — its influence at the time upon the offerer,— although great and important, is not the only, nor even the principal end which suppli- ants seek. There are theories of so-called Christianity, which maintain this soulless dogma, holding that it is 300 NOON PEATEE MEETING. impossible for human petitions to affect the stately march of the Divine purposes, and that therefore the sole function of prayer is to bring the suppliant's mind into a proper frame by his conversance with God and eternal things. But it may well be ques- tioned whether any human being ever did or could prayunder such a conviction. Hemayhavebegunwith this view, but if he continued, inevitably the heart would get the better of the head, and the man would plead as though he were directly seeking and expect- ing some gift from above. It is only when the direct benefit of prayer is before the mind, that its indirect advantages are obtained. Keverse the order, and make the latter the primary objects of desire, and they are lost. The soul cannot be worked up to genu- ine feeling through an idle form, the very terms of which must all the while appear a solemn mockery. The attendants at the Noon Meeting were not phi- losophers or theorizers, but humble believers. They put implicit faith in the Divine word. God having been pleased to appoint a fixed connection between the prayers of his people and the reception of his blessings, and having therefore enjoined habitual prayer as an indispensable condition of prosperity in the Divine life, they, in the devout conviction that by obeying the Lord's direction they would surely secure his favour, came together to entreat the fulfill- ment of his promises. They came together, not to GENEEAL EEFLEOTIONS. 301 go through a form, not to repeat set words, however excellent or even scriptural, but to pray, to call upon God as did the perishing mariners who were carrying Jonah to Tarshish, or as Peter did when he began to sink beneath the waves of Galilee. Immediate, pressing wants were before their minds, wants which no earthly power could meet ; and they came to God with a feeling of entire dependance upon his power and grace. They cried aloud with fervour and con- stancy. And they were answered with a promptness and celerity never surpassed in the history of the Church. The instances were not rare in which persons under conviction of sin would have their condition spread out before God, and his grace implored in their be- half; and the next information which reached the Meeting would be that these very persons had passed from jdarkness to light, and were rejoicing in the assurance of forgiveness through the blood of Christ. At other times, prayer would be offered in behalf of souls far away, quite beyond the possibility of any direct efforts for them being put forth by those who presented their names ; and it would be found after- wards, that just when God's people were praying, he was exerting his mighty power, even that power by which he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking I will hear." 302 NOON PEAYEE IVIEETING. It was impDssible not to notice tliese direct and speedy answers to prayer. They were thankfully ac- knowledged, and made the basis of renewed and earnest supplication for still greater blessings. There was, therefore, a deep conviction that there is power in prayer, that it takes hold of the Al- mighty arm, that the connection between asking and receiving is as fixed and invariable as between any cause and its effect in the natural world. The hand of the Lord could operate any where and under all circumstances — -just as well in a foreign land or in mid-ocean, as at home, where every means of instruc- tion and appeal existed in profusion^ Nothing was too hard for him. I^o case exceeded his power. No circumstances could exclude his gracious influence. Encouraged by such unusual and striking manifesta- tions of the Divine presence and faithfulness, men prayed with an ardour, a boldness, an urgency not often seen. Faith became more simple and mighty, in proportion to its simplicity. Cutting loose from an arm of flesh, it rested with full assurance upon the tried and sure word of God, and, as in the case of Abraham, hoped even against hope. This has been decidedly the most distinguishing and characteristic of all the features which marked the Work of Grace pf the present year. It began in prayer, and it was carried on by prayer. Wherever ' the reviving and awakening influence of the Divine GENEEAL REFLECTIONS. 303 Spirit was enjoyed, almost invariably it was preceded by the assembling together of the people of God to pray. The "Word of God was honoured, the various collateral agencies of the Church were recognized, the movements of Providence held a distinct and promi- nent place, but far above all other means towered this one of fervent, believing supplication. God was on the throne, and his people in the dust. Penetrated with a deep sense of unworthiness and helplessness, they took hold of the Divine covenant and promise, and pleaded them with an importunity like that of the Syro-Phenieian woman, or of her who, by her con- tinual coming, wrung even from an unjust judge the recognition of her rights. God heard his own elect when they thus cried unto him. He turned their captivity. He did great things for theni whereof they were glad. He poured out blessings even beyond their expectations. They could well address him in the Psalmist's words : " thon that hearest prayer ! " V. The duty assigned to the writer of this Tolume was simply that of narrator. His endeavour has been to weave together the chief facts which make up the history of the Noon Prayer Meeting, with such ex- planations as seemed necessary to show the connection of events, and put the distant reader on a level with . those in the immediate vicinity of the place where God 304 NOON PEATEE MEETING. made this gracious development of his power and wisdom. It was no part of his purpose to sit in judg- ment upon the work itself or any of its details, or to furnish an exhaustive analysis of its principles and its lessons. But having ventured in this closing chapter to specify some of the more marked features of the history he has recorded, he is unwilling to conclude the Book without at least a caution on two points which seem to him of no small importance. 1. The first one of these is presented in the follow- ing brief extract from some remarks made in the Consistory building a month or two ago, by an intel- ligent gentleman from the interior of this state : " He considered that the great power of the Church for the conversion of souls now consisted in the union prayer meeting and the union Sunday school." Were this but one person's opinion, the matter would be scarcely worthy of notice. But there is reason to fear that many, carried away by tlie impulses of the hour, share in the same extravagant sentiment. Beholding remarkable results following almost at once from the gathering of Christians of diiferent names for pi'ayer, and comparing this with the protracted periods dur- ing which the simple preaching of the word not nn- frequently seems to be almost without effect, they leap to the conclusion that the latter is a worn out and ob- solete instrumentality, and the union prayer meeting the chief means for bringing in the latter-day glory. GEKEEAL EEFLEOTIONS. 305 To name this preposterous notion to a sober-minded man is to secure its condemnation. The ministry of the word and ordinances is and ever has been, and, we need not scruple to say, ever will be, the grand means of conviction, conversion and sanctification — all other agencies whatsoever being subordinate and accessory. To teach otherwise is to impeach the wisdom of Him who appointed this agency, and who has perpetuated it through all the ages of time down to our own day. To it He has given the commission, the promise, the authority and the blessing. More than once have men, fired with a zeal without knowledge, conceived the plan of a shorter road to great results, but they have always had to come back to the foolishness of preaching — the foolishness of God here as elsewhere being wiser than men. So will it surely be now, if the sentiment we are opposing, should succeed in gain- ing even a temporary foothold. But the misfortune is that while men are practically discovering the fal- lacy of the notion, great dishonour will be done to God, and great harm to the souls of men. Fervent exhortation and conversational appeals are of inesti- mable value in supplementing and carrying out the instruction of the pulpit, but they cannot take its place. They lack the tone of authority, the systematic presen- tation of ti'uth, the power to illuminate the understand- ing which the pulpit, honestly managed, always pos- sesses. Tlie usefulness of the union prayer meeting 306 NOON PEATEE MEETING. presupposes previous indoctrination of men by the ministry. Take away that groundwork for its exer- cises, and although feeling may be excited even to a violent pitch, it will be the rapid blaze of stubble leaving the field " bui-nt over" and hopeless, whereas the excitement which is based upon the truth, will last as long as the material upon which it rests. 2. The other error is the exaggerated importance attached to the exercises, and especially the prayers ofiered, in the Consistory building. Good people from all the parts of the country and even from the other side of the ocean, send requests for prayers to this Meeting, as if they supposed there was some hid- den efficacy, some mysterious power in the place or the persons occupying it, by virtue of which prayers offered there ascended directly and necessai-ily to the exalted Mediator, and were by Him so pleaded before the eternal Father as to secure a certain and imme- diate answer. Sometimes persons otherwise intel- ligent and pious, have been known to say that they "have great faith in the Fulton street Meeting" — ^thus degrading the object of faith from the word and promises of the Most High down to a mere company of fellow worms, themselves every day and every hour in need of the Divine compassion. Here again to name the error is to condemn it. It is not to be denied that a sacred and tender interest attaches to the Consistory building, where the first GENERAL EEFLECTIONS. 307 If 001. Prayer Meeting began. Doubtless, that spot has been the birth-place of more serious and saving impressions during the past year than any other in this land or elsewhere. Hallowed memories will en- dear it to the hearts of the people of God for gene- rations to come. But all this is no excuse for giving to it the honour which is due to God alone And if there be in the whole category of human events one thing which is calculated to strip it of its prestige, to cause IcHABOD to be written upon its walls and to ren- der it offensive and abominable, it is this of regard- ing it with superstitious reverence, and tying down the glorious and adorable sovereignty of omnipotent grace to its prayers and intercessions, every one of which, however fervent and spiritual, yet needs to be sprinkled with atoning blood, before it can enter with the least acceptance into the presence of the Most High. God is a jealous God, and his glory will he not give another. The attempt has often been made in the history of the Church to rob him of his honour under various plausible pretences, some of them exhibiting a remarkable counterfeit of gratitude and piety, but in the end his outraged dignity has avenged itself to the confusion and dismay of those who rashly invaded the crown rights of Zion's great King. And as the Lord has done before, so He can and He will do, now and hereafter. But the Author, while compelled by a sense of duty. 308 NOON PEATEE MEETING. not to be satisfied in any other way, to express these views, yet hopes better things and things which accompany salvation, although he thus speaks. He hopes that God in his mercy will give grace to the brethren who assemble daily in the old spot, to guard .carefully their own hearts ; that he wiU clothe them with humility as with a garment ; that he will imbue them more and more with a sense of their entire de- pendence, and inspire them with the mind of those glorified saints in heaven, who, exalted as they are, yet cast their crowns at the feet of the Lamb. With such a spirit dominant in all hearts, with penitence and humility going hand in hand with faith and zeal, with the maintenance of a zealous regard for the Divine honour, there will be reason to look for a con- tinuance, and even an increase of. the blessings hitherto vouchsafed. The House of Prayer shall be a House of Mercy, a genuine Bethesda to innumer- able souls, and the fervour of petition shall be rivalled by the fervour of thanksgiving for what God has done and is doing in the unsearchable riches of hia grace. 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