NEW FEATURE IN MELBOURNE LIFE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 8

NEW FEATURE IN MELBOURNE LIFE

! TOWN if ALL PRAYER GATHERINGS. A Sketch by the Rev. A. Madsen. (From "The Southern Cross," August 30, 1918.) These meetings, which are usually held from U to i o'clock 011 Tuesdays, strike the visitor as resting purely 011 spiritual forces and interests for their attraction. 'J'ho machinery of conduct was simplicity itself. Tho business which sanctilicd the Town Hall i' 01; these two hours was the"solemnity of prayer. Hero was an opportunity for ( thousands of people to escape for an hour from the secularity of business, the jangling of tram-hells, the whirl and roar of a city's movement, the depression, anxiety, or even elation of the. news from the other fiide of the world as it tells of fluctuating fortunes in the gigantic war, and by ascending a few steps enter into another atmosphere sweetened by sacred song, and reverent with the voice of intercession. Tho proximity of a noonday prayermeeting to the heart of a city is one of the wonders of the war. In the stress of oppressive periods people have everywhere appealed to heaven. The weekly prayer-gathering presents an opnortunitv to escape the social spiritual smothering by taking glances heavenward end holding communication with our Highest Friend,, in these days of nublic and domestic anxiety. Tho audiences which gather, judged 011 sight, are mainly parents. To them the war is no military pageant. Their eons and grandsons are in it. To the military mind the soldiers may be essential'cogs in a mighty and splendid machine. To these parents the soldiers are their other selves, in whom centre fond hopes and enduring affection. Around them cluster cradle memories. In giving them they gave treasure out of their hearts. Wherever their boys are they project their thoughts," Far off unseen, facing fearful perils, engaged in hand-to-hand conflict with death l in all its horrible war forms from" shell to gas, or exposed to such dangers as mutilation or blindness for a great cause —in magnificent company —yet "my hoy" fills the imagination, unci parents yearningly commit their brave sons to the cave of the Almighty and all-present Heavenly Father. Prayer is an outlet for consuming anxiety; it is sharing the burden with One who is not only potent] but omnipotent. To lay their soldier sons on the everlasting arms is relief, is faith, is snnctuarv for souls which brim 'with' soiicitious love. So they come.. mothers, fathers. _ grandparents, wives, with a sprinkling of young women to whom the boys are brothers or more than- brotlu ;'S, confiding silently but wistfully their own loved to the Infinite Love. To some, possibly, prayer is but a religious instinct. To many, perhaps to most, of these suppliants it is practising . the' presence of God, and a supreme committal of dearest interests "to tho Sovereign care. A hymn is given out, the piano plays, and'the great crowd sings. Someone reads a portion of Scripture—a chapter of that ancient literature which is I always up to date for the occasion. I One leads in prayer. These public petitions covcr the cause for which, brave ipen are hourly dying; for political and military; for the jnen in the-firing-line, in the trench, in the hospital, on shipboard, in training camp, in strange cities; for the women and wives and mothers of _ the I[k]c <,t, war: for chan'ains. doctors, nurses; for the .men who serve and save us, and for the men who serve and aid them; for grace to climb the steep gradients of national Calvaries; for those whose hearts are bowed with woo and who weep o'er tho urireturning .brave.' All personalities and phases are laid at the Throne of Grace. So the meeting goes on—hymn, Scripture, prayer for a couple of hours, the audience changing its personnel, as also the platform. One striking feature is tho prominence and prevalence of laymen. Of course, the lriinistors attend and take part, but the •pr.ayer movement seems to be mainly guided by tho Christian laymen of the city, and this is as notable as it is welcome. Just as the war is a people's war, so it is fitting that public supplication should he voiced, not 1)£ a class, but by the people, as their'recognition of God's-' sovereignty in the world's affairs. Tho consciousness which cave us the Bible and the experience which interprets it in modern life, hold firmly to the value of supplication to get things done. One of the urgent works to be done just now is to prevent war-weari-iipss—t.o save nations from th<\ collapse of will which has prostrated Russia. How may we continue .the psychic force of a people enduring the drain of this protracted and expensive war? How project the psychic wave to our soldiers from the folk in the homelands? May it not bo that, prayer Js feeding ' the nerve of those who are doing battle for righteousness—sustaining hone— nourishing will, and making a channel through which the Supreme Spirit of Right in the universe is pouring, out spiritual influence to overtake the wastage of war? i A Presbyterian padre says \that one of the commonest questions [asked of him at tho front is: "Do you think the people at home are thinking of us and praying for 11s?" A returned chaplain, who has served 011 live fronts, counselled parents, in writing to their sons, to giro them the assurance, "We' pre praying for you." A people's intercession in the 'scheme of things is providing a necessary element for the Divine to carry out His purposes. In that faith w« welcome the Town Hiill prayer-meetings, and trust that the movement will spread until it forms local centres in every town and suburb, and that our people will ho moved by the spirit of intercession as generally a 6 by the sentiment of patriotism.