The Daily Morning Journal And Courier

GROUP SERVICES HELD BY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES YESTERDAY.

The Topic Was "The Need of a Spiritual Awakening"-Addresses by Various Pastors.

At the united or group meeting of the Center, Howard avenue and West Haven Congregational churches, held at the United church last evening, the topic was the "Need of a Religious Awakening" and "How to Bring It About." Rev. A. J. Haynes presided and said there was no doubt about the need and in a few words he pictured the disheartened disciples the day before the great day of Pentecost.

Rev. George F. Prentiss said the need was largely caused by the want of an earnest personal element, as shown by the small number attending prayer meeting; the few who volunteer for church work and the dearth of additions to the church from the outside world and lastly, the needs of the church are largely caused by the domination of selfishness.

Rev. Dr. McLane spoke of the means to bring about an awakening. First, Christians must give more thought to God-give more time to prayer; the day of Pentecost was preceded by whole days of earnest prayer by the assembled followers of Christ: the power of prayer is not fully realized.

The union service at the Dwight Place Congregational church last night deeply affected the large congregation assembled. Dr. Leete presided and spoke words of explanation and introduced Rev. William J. Mutch, Rev. E. F. Goin and Rev. Watson L. Phillips, D. D., made the addresses of the evening upon the general topic, "A Religious Awakening."

The choral society of the Dwight Place church rendered effectively Professor Parker's anthem, "The Lord Is My Light" and the quartet sang fittingly "It Is High Time to Awake," while the splendid congregation rolled out such grand old hymns as "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone" and "Jesus Lover of My Soul."

The congregation had representatives from Plymouth, Dixwell avenue, Taylor and Dwight Place churches in it and there was evidenced a real fellowship which augurs well for future meetings which are likely to be held during the Lenten season.

Although the audience was supposed to be of Congregationalists who are never thought to be given to shouting a loud and explosive "Amen" was heard toward the close of the service as if the owner of the voice could not stand the pressure any longer. And all the rest as they went away thinking over the earnest words to which they had listened thought "Amen" even if they did not say it.