The Week of Prayer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 15, 1914

The Week of Prayer

CONSIDERABLE has already been said concerning the good results attending the week of prayer in various parts of the field. We present herewith other brief reports which have reached us from various quarters of the United States and Canada.

J. C. Stevens reports for some of the churches in the New York Conference. He visited Rome and Oswego. "Excellent meetings were enjoyed in both these places, as the Spirit of the Lord was manifestly present. Scarcely without exception the brethren and sisters took an advanced step. The blessed hope seemed brighter than ever before as we considered the speedy finishing of the work." Of the work in Syracuse Brother Stevens says: "The Lord came very near to his people. All pressed forward to renewed consecration — the surrender of all known sin, and greater faithfulness in all things."

E. E. Covey, speaking of this season at Vienna, Adams Center, and Watertown, N. Y., says: "The week was a spiritual feast to us all, and I praise the Lord for blessings received. God has been doing things for his people here in Watertown, the same as at the South Lancaster meeting; for all seemed anxious to get free from sin, that they might be fully prepared for the outpouring of the latter rain." E. L. Cardy reports that the week of prayer "brought many blessings and victories to our people in Albany."

Of the work at Willet, N. Y., R. E. Bliss says: "The week of prayer has indeed been a season of refreshing and revival to our company here."

Of the fruits of this season in the Southern New England Conference, J. E. Jayne says: "Everywhere many of our people manifested an earnest desire for the rapid advancement of the third angel's message, and a willingness to do all in their power to aid it. In almost every locality one or more persons definitely decided to obey the truth of God, and many who had become indifferent and backslidden renewed their covenants."

Of his work among the churches of the Southern New England Conference R. D. Clapp says: "I believe this special week of devotion has been a great spiritual uplift to our people."

Of the meeting in West Burke, Vt., H. L. Bishop writes: "The little church at West Burke had some blessed experiences during the week of prayer. The Holy Spirit came very near the last Sabbath, and all renewed their consecration to God. Before the close of the meeting every one present who had come to the years of understanding, expressed a desire to follow the Saviour. Three of our youth gave their hearts to God."

B. C. Haak says this of the meetings which he held with some of the churches in Minnesota: "I believe I had never experienced a week of prayer in which all felt so greatly the nearness of God's Spirit as we did during the last week of prayer, nor one in which there was such earnest seeking after God. God heard our prayers and sent answers. Many victories were gained, for which we thank him." Stemple White, of the same conference, says of the meetings in several churches which he visited: "God sent us a very rich blessing. Confessions were made, and some took a new hold on God. This week of prayer, with its stirring readings, has brought new power into my life, and I believe that all who attended the meetings can say the same."

Of his visit to Williamsdale Academy, M. N. Campbell, president of the Eastern Canadian Conference, says: "The spiritual atmosphere is good. I am deeply impressed with the readiness of the students to hear testimony in social meetings. Whenever an opportunity was given, eight or ten would rise up at once to speak a word for him who has redeemed them by his precious blood. There is a good, courageous spirit in the Maritime field, and prospects for growth and spiritual advancement are bright."

C. L. Taggart says of the work in the Northern California-Nevada Conference: "Judging from what we experienced with some of the churches, we believe lasting good has been accomplished as a result of the week of prayer." One evidence of this blessing which he cites is the earnest spirit awakened in the hearts of many of the people to engage in missionary labor for others.

C. E. Ford, of the California Conference, reports that a deep interest was taken by the students of the Lodi school and members of the church. There was an earnest endeavor to draw near to God, and many consecrated themselves for further service.

E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific Union Conference, spent some time at the Pacific Union College during the week of prayer. He reports that "almost every student in the school who had not before given his heart to the Lord did so at this time, and many were revived." Brother Andross states that he never saw the Lord work more manifestly than for the students there during this occasion.

The week proved a great blessing to the Sanitarium (Cal.) church. On the closing Sabbath one hundred and fifty testimonies were given in fifteen minutes.

B. M. Schull, one of the officers of the Mountain View (Cal.) church, says: "We experienced much of the Lord's blessing during the week of prayer. A. E. Place led out in the study on the first Sabbath, and gave us valuable help. We had meetings every night, conducted by A. O. Tait, M. C. Wilcox, E. W. Farnsworth, L. A. Reed, and others. We experienced the presence of the Spirit of God among us in great measure. Especially was this true of the meeting on Friday evening, when we had a consecration service, and many who had become discouraged consecrated themselves anew to God. Excellent meetings were held every morning in the Pacific Press. There was marked evidence of the Lord's presence, and every one connected with the institution took part."

Of the week of prayer in College Place, Wash., O. A. Johnson says: "The week of prayer proved a real blessing to the church and college here. The work which began a few weeks previous at the institute for the young people, was continued during the week of prayer. Elder Meade MacGuire, who began the good work during the institute, gave valuable help, by the blessing of God, both to the school and church. We had three baptisms during the month of December. Forty-two have been baptized. God be praised for his mercy and blessing to his people here."

Mrs. C. C. Olney says of the week of prayer in Loomis, Wash.: "We had a most blessed experience during the entire week of prayer. Every heart was deeply inspired, and felt the great need of a deep, personal consecration, and a fuller surrender to our soon-coming Lord."

C. J. Cummings, chaplain of the Portland (Ore.) Sanitarium, says: "The church here was greatly blessed by the observance of the week of prayer. Many victories were gained, and some started anew to serve the Lord. An excellent spirit pervades the institution."

Jackson Johnson says of the week of prayer in the Kent church, located in the Western Washington conference: "This season has been a blessed one for the Kent church. The Spirit of the Lord came into our first meeting, and was with us in a marked degree. One precious soul was restored to church fellowship. One made a new start. Many confessions were made, and we all felt our spiritual strength renewed."

W. T. Hilgert reports for the Moscow church, of the Upper Columbia conference: "The Lord was with us, and we had a refreshing season. At our last meeting the note of courage and devotion was heard in every testimony. The last Sabbath of the week of prayer I spent with the Viola church. It was a good day, and seemed to be the crowning of a week of blessing."

C. S. Channing says of the week of prayer at Nachez, in the same conference: "We have had a very profitable season indeed during this week of prayer. The Lord came very near to us by his Spirit. This was particularly noticeable in the school, where, at the time of the sixth reading for the children, nearly every one bore testimony. We feel to thank our God for blessing us so abundantly."

These are only examples of reports which might be published from every conference and church in this country. It is very evident that the week of prayer this year, above any preceding occasion of this character, brought great blessing to the people of God. In these services there was manifested more of a revival spirit than ever before. We believe that the fruits of this blessed season will be seen in increased devotion, faithfulness, and efficiency in the year to come.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Col. 2:6.