Social Meetings—Queries.
By Editor
1. Is it advisable for the leader of a social or prayer-meeting to read a long chapter at the opening? It is not advisable to read any chapter at all. A few verses for a lesson, presenting a single prominent idea of instruction or duty, is better than more. A few words concerning the thought in this lesson would be in place. 2. How much time is it allowable for a leader to spend in looking up his chapter and the hymns, after the brethren and sisters have come together? Not a moment after the time to commence the meeting. The proper way is to have both the lesson and the opening hymn selected before coming to the meeting. Then commence on time; if all are not in, do not wait. Commencing promptly is the way to lead them to come promptly. 3. How many hymns should be sung in a social meeting? Generally but one, and that at opening. To take time to look up a hymn, and then sing a long hymn after the first season of prayer, or at any time during the meeting, is a most effectual way to kill the meeting. A single verse, struck up at once, is best. Church members, and especially the leaders, should become familiar with good devotional hymns, and not be dependent on the book for a verse to sing at proper times in a social meeting. It should be the prayerful study of a leader how to make the meetings profitable. To be so they must be spirited, alive. Cold, dull, formal meetings are a discouragement to the church. 4. How long should a social meeting continue? Generally an hour is plenty long. Better fall short of that time than go beyond it. In a small company, if the meetings are properly carried on every one will have time to both speak and pray in one hour. If not properly led, if they are dull and tedious, an hour is too long. But under some circumstances it may be advisable to run beyond the hour; but not as a rule. These questions have been some time on our table. We beg pardon for the delay. The answers are the result of long experience and careful observation.