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
A very profitable meeting is announced on Sunday in this way: “On
Friday evening bring your Bibles, and tell us what it says about
the evils of the tongue;” or, at another time: “Select passages
referring to the Sabbath, the Holy Spirit, Repentance,” etc.
Most of the family gladly come, each reading one of his selected
passages, and discussing it. Familiarity with the Bible and
Concordance is a very apparent benefit of this exercise. It is
also remarkable how they improve in clearness of expression, and
in confining their thoughts to one point. Best of all is the broad
view they get of Bible truth, by looking at it from all sides.
No disputed points—as Baptism or Perseverance of the Saints—are
discussed in this Bible exercise, or in Sunday-school, or any
other religious meeting. No Baptist or Methodist need fear being
proselyted in Atlanta University.
Saturday evening is the teachers’ prayer-meeting of a half hour.
The best test of the religious interest is the number of voluntary
students’ meetings. Sunday evening, just before the general meeting
of an hour, the young men always gather for another hour in a
meeting of their own. The burden of this meeting is praying for the
Spirit’s blessing on the sermon and Sunday-school, and pleading for
His presence in the general meeting that follows.
There are many other students’ meetings, among both the young
men and women, whose interest, and existence even, depend upon
circumstances. Nearly every summer term these meetings multiply.
As the pupils realize they are soon to leave this peaceful home,
and for three months take on the responsibilities and trials of
teachers, they seem impelled to a new consecration. Many, each
year, go out to teach for the first time, and all feel it is a
solemn undertaking. Another occasion for extra meetings is to plead
for those so soon to leave us, and not yet in the fold.
This is a hasty view of what may be seen of our religious work.
Eternity alone will reveal the number and effect of the private
personal appeals, or of the pleading notes written to the timid
ones. So, dear friends, do not think, because no revival is
announced, that souls are not often coming into the kingdom, and
that Christians are not receiving a most careful culture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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