The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 07, July 1878Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 07, July 1878
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Let me give a week’s religious duties. Sunday, two of our young men
preach in an adjoining town. Quite a number go out to neighboring
Sunday-schools, and return about eleven o’clock, when our
preaching service begins. Our pastor, a graduate of Yale College
and Theological Seminary, came South at the close of the war, to
build the first Congregational church in Atlanta. For years he did
foundation-work there that placed it in the front rank of A. M.
A. churches. The past four years he has been our college pastor.
With such a knowledge of the needs of this people as his experience
gives, you may have an idea of the kind of sermons we enjoy.
Simple truth, such as young people, with such a history and such a
future, need, is presented so forcibly, that often the meal, which
immediately follows, is almost a silent one, owing to the serious
thoughtfulness produced.
In the afternoon, all meet for Sunday-school, which is
superintended by the President, who is also a graduate of Yale.
As his rich tones come to us in the hymns and Bible readings,
both in Sunday-school and at morning devotions through the week,
we are thankful for the rare gift—a good reader. In a large
school-building, of course each class can have a separate room, and
so secure a delightful hour of quiet, uninterrupted Sunday-school
work.
In the evening, all assemble in a general prayer-meeting. I do
not think it would be possible to give an adequate idea of this
meeting, or of similar ones in other A. M. A. schools. It is simply
an inspiration to one who realizes what a part these pioneers have
in shaping the destiny of their people. In all the meetings I have
attended here during these years, I do not recall ever hearing the
remark, “Improve the time, brethren,” or any other expression of
like import.
Monday, most of the school devote the time of one
recitation—three-fourths of an hour—to Bible reading and study in
classes. After school there is held a female prayer-meeting of a
half hour, led by a lady teacher.
Wednesday evening is the regular church prayer-meeting, led by the
pastor, attendance upon which is voluntary. The last half hour of
school, Friday afternoon, is devoted to a prayer-meeting, led by
the President, and attended by the entire school. This is the only
meeting at which the day scholars are required to be present, and
so is the most important of all the week. At its close almost every
member of the school deposits in the box an envelope containing his
regular weekly contribution toward paying the debt of the A. M. A.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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