Editorial March 26, 1904 Issue

"Believe that ye receive them."

Much has been said from the pulpits of the Christian churches within the past few years about the necessity for "a great religious revival," and there has been considerable speculation as to the manner and time of its coming, but the hope and expectation finding expression in this way has been quite indefinite both as to time and manner. To a careful observer, however, it must be manifest that this looked-for and hoped-for revival must include or be accompanied by greater faith in the efficacy of prayer. If prayer is not considered efficacious in all our affairs, there is little use in praying, because we must always be in doubt as to whether our prayers are within the scope of that which is a proper subject for prayer. If it were possible to conceive of a good gift which is beyond the power and inclination of our heavenly Father to bestow upon us, then would our prayers and preaching be vain indeed.

The attitude of a very large proportion of mankind upon the question of prayer is a most certain indication of the need of spiritual awakening, and to know what this attitude is we have but to turn to the columns of the daily press, not so much to read what is said by the types as to read what is said between the lines.

A case in point is that of the newspaper comment upon the fact that during the recent great fire in Baltimore, the Christian Scientists of that city prayed for the extinguishment of the fire and for the saving of life and property. Between the lines we can read that the comment has not been so much due to the fact that these people engaged in prayer, as that they expected their prayers to be answered, for we cannot conceive of any Christian people neglecting to pray, individually or as a body, when face to face with such a calamity.

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