Article December 22, 1898 Issue

PASTORS DISCUSS PRAYER

Chicago Evening Post

The advisability of propounding or discussing a thesis questioning the justification of prayer has been debated by the Baptist ministers. The thesis was the subject of a symposium responded to by six pastors, and it was propounded by Rev. Zephaniah Grenell, pastor of the Western Avenue Baptist Church. In the discussion following the symposium Rev. W. W. Dewey of Bethany Church said he was glad he was the only one of his congregation who had seen the thesis, as it was misleading and created doubt. Rev. Kittredge Wheeler in the symposium pronounced the thesis self-contradictory, misleading, and overloaded with difficulties and obstacles. The language of the troublesome thesis was as follows:—

"How can prayer avail for procuring blessings that would not otherwise come to us, seeing that God in His infinite wisdom and goodness will always do what is best, and the attempt to change God's intention, if successful, would result in diverting Him from what is best for us?"

The symposium was responded to by Rev. Mr. Grenell, Dr. J. W. Conley, Dr. James P. Thoms, Dr. Gilbert Frederick, Rev. H. M. Cook, and Dr. Wheeler.

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