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Editorial
August 18, 1825
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Editorial presents and endorses a critique of long prayers in social religious meetings, arguing they exhaust attention, kill devotion, and should be short and comprehensive for edification, quoting Boston Recorder.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The following is a lesson deserving the attention of many ministers of all persuasions.
We cannot forbear asking the meaning of the writer, where he tells us that long prayers are "not uncommonly the offspring of death as well as the parent of it"!!
Long Prayers.-It seems to be a settled principle with some good men to make their prayers in social meetings as long as possible. They exhaust all the powers of attention in those who join with them, a long time before they come to a conclusion. This practice has no sufficient apology. It is death to all genuine devotion. Indeed, not uncommonly it is the offspring of death, as well as the parent of it. In all social meetings, prayers should be short and comprehensive.-They will then be edifying; all devout hearts may unite in them. If they are long, the speaker will probably be the only person in the company whose heart is engaged. Long prayers, and long addresses answer no good purposes.-Bost. Rec.
We cannot forbear asking the meaning of the writer, where he tells us that long prayers are "not uncommonly the offspring of death as well as the parent of it"!!
Long Prayers.-It seems to be a settled principle with some good men to make their prayers in social meetings as long as possible. They exhaust all the powers of attention in those who join with them, a long time before they come to a conclusion. This practice has no sufficient apology. It is death to all genuine devotion. Indeed, not uncommonly it is the offspring of death, as well as the parent of it. In all social meetings, prayers should be short and comprehensive.-They will then be edifying; all devout hearts may unite in them. If they are long, the speaker will probably be the only person in the company whose heart is engaged. Long prayers, and long addresses answer no good purposes.-Bost. Rec.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Long Prayers
Social Meetings
Devotion
Religious Practice
Prayer Length
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Long Prayers In Social Worship
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Long Prayers, Advocating Brevity
Key Arguments
Long Prayers Exhaust Attention Before Conclusion
Practice Lacks Apology And Kills Genuine Devotion
Often Offspring And Parent Of Spiritual Death
Prayers Should Be Short And Comprehensive For Edification
Long Prayers Engage Only The Speaker's Heart
Long Prayers And Addresses Serve No Good Purpose