Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1884. OPENING MEETINGS WITH PRAYER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 66, 16 February 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1884. OPENING MEETINGS WITH PRAYER.

.^yEw. days. ago the Wanganui Beneyoh lent Society discussed a motion to abolish the custoiniofr opening its meetings with prayer. After a considerable debate, and the expression ~pi i various views, the. proposal) was ; -adopted.' Thereupon, oue of the members, a Mr Geo. Howe, a retired publican, left the. meeting m high dudgeon, telling those present they bad seen the last of him). Really, it is difficult to lecpnoile such conduct with ordinary intelligence^ -Wb may state that it was found thrift was ,j to enlist the yeryvjoetjessary co-operation of members of the Catholic body, and its clergy ntore particularly, while the custom prevailed/of opeuiug the meetings with prayer. Nor is this to be wonde.red at? We cannot for the life of us make oujj why it should be considered necessary; 1 or even desirable, to open the meetings of Benevolent Societies' with grayer. Wiat do the members assemble for, but to transact the simple business of dealing with applications for relief, and discreetly ■■' -'administering charity? 'We' are not scoffing at prayer, by any means; but we say often -turn it into mockery by their absurd view.s with regard to it. As the poet beautifully expresses it : — . , Prayer is the goal's lincere deiirs— Unuttered or expressed : . , Tbe motion of a hidden flre, That kindles m the breast, j^Jgt ijprayer is to prefi^ce^very meetnig" of every sodety or body, it would soon lose the sacred character that now attaohes to it. For watanop, ftptice how little ,pf , the . !7 B^ojf|Bd., element characterizes tlie formal prayer at the opening of each day's session of our > P4rliannen& V The ,'SpejSker f mumbles 'thVtorTiiaf fhrasesrVhile fefaeStlten^ tion of members iR doubtless engrossed with thoughts of political and party questions, io(filie &t$ 'i^cli^sipn jot . any • more seiibbij'suV^cfe oY Vdntdmplation.' A^(!f if we e^ten-J the rule, and-open .all; pur nxeetin^ wHh.prjvypr, f^ata farce and' mockery of rehgioii woirid re- 1 suit, The SHbjeot is (Kfpft%j)f n©ich : more exhaustive argument^ tmt we -tjiink- k)ur readers) Wilt adnUfr'that, m the resolution to abolish th.c custom of opening its meetings with prayer, the .Wanganui. t'e^evoTent Sopi^ty sptpd m a very wine and sensible manner. Few will sympa,tf)is©., ;j with $he strained and eccentric vie**s qn the Bubject held by Mr,GEoRG]B u I]EowE, who, beea«se he could not .foree 1 his uureasouabte ponyiotions the throats of the meeting left m a _fil of spleen, Is this one etteqtqt' prayer, we wonder ] We tniht Mr George Howe will Jive tb Hdia'more' liberal and rational views on this and similar sub- ' jebt'g;; 7 -•• - _ -i 1 ;"- - '[■■•■ ' ; ! ';-' ; ' "'' '