Brother Lawrence, a lay-brother of the Carmelite order, living in the seventeenth century, devoted himself to what he called "the practice of the Presence of God." He has this to say to us respecting the habit of holding communication with God — words which are worth learning by heart:

"God requires no great matters of us; a little remembrance of Him from time to time; a little adoration; sometimes to pray for His grace; sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, and sometimes to return Him thanks for the favors He has given you, and still gives you, in the midst of your troubles, and to console yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company: the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of. It is not necessary for being with God to be always at Church: we may make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to converse with Him in meekness, humility and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less: He knows what we can do. Let us begin, then. Perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part. Have courage. We have but little time to live. Let us live and die with God. Sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us while we are with Him; and the greatest

pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel punishment to us. May he be blessed for all. Amen.

"Accustom yourself, then, by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time in the midst of your business, even every moment, if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion, but act with a general confidence in God, with love and humility."

While it is of great importance to be in a prayerful spirit as often as possible, it is absolutely essential to have fixed times for private prayer and to make definite rules on the subject. The following suggestions may be found helpful:

(1) Pray your morning prayers before you bathe and dress. You are almost certain to slight them if you wait till you are dressed and ready to engage in a wild scramble for breakfast and recitations.

(2) Pray your evening prayers before you undress. In a few minutes you will be too sleepy to pray.

(3) Let nothing hinder you from praying. In a room with other boys, in camp with guides, on a boat during a cruise, — have the courage to kneel down and pray exactly as if you were alone in your own room at home. If you can have privacy, so much the better. The want of it is no excuse for omitting prayer.

(4) Let your morning and evening prayers always

include the Lord's Prayer and a few words of your own, uttered in thanksgiving for past mercies and in request for fresh strength. If you choose, write out such a form of prayer for yourself and learn it by heart. The prayer in this book, for the appropriate day in the week, may be used both morning and evening.

(5) Talk over with God all the things that are on your mind. Tell Him about your happiness and trouble, as well as about your sin. He is a true Friend: share all your experiences with Him.

(6) Do not give up trying to pray merely because it is hard to persevere. Like everything else that is worth learning, the habit of prayer is gained only after sustained affort.

III. COMMON PRAYER

We have seen that a man may converse with God when they two are alone. On the other hand, many people may unite in prayer and praise to Him. In many departments of human activity there is found to be an enormous power in co-operation. To obtain this power people associate themselves in business. "Teamplay," in some sports, accomplishes what individual effort could never do. Similarly, there is a power in united prayer which need only be experienced to be understood.

In our branch of the Church a great and proper emphasis is laid on united or common prayer. Perhaps the greatest blessing peculiar to our communion is the possession of the Book of Common Prayer. If you and I unite with our fellow Christians in prayer to God, a wonderful spiritual power will be generated. The Prayer Book is a manual which shows us just how such common prayer should be made. In churches all over the land the Prayer Book services are being offered to God day after day. What part in them should you and I take?

We note, in the first place, that to participate in common prayer is a Christian duty, and that this duty rests upon you as much as upon me and upon both of us as much as upon anybody. This duty has a threefold obligation: First, because we dare not neglect so great an opportunity of approaching God; second, because the public meeting of Christians is as necessary to the preservation of the Church as is the meeting of a fraternity or society or the drill or review of an army; and third, because we are expressly warned in Scripture against "the forsaking of the assembling of ourselves together."

The question is not, therefore, whether we want to go to Church. The question is whether we want to approach God as effectually as possible, whether we want to preserve the Christian Fellowship and whether we wish to conform to the settled practice of Christians in

all ages. When a boy says boastingly, "I never go to Church -or only when I am forced to go" he is sometimes secretly admired by other boys for his independence. In point of fact, such talk is the utterance of an empty-headed youth who deserves pity rather than admiration. A boy who cannot perceive the importance of united effort in prayer and praise is not worthy to be called an American or to repeat the historic maxim, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Note the following points in connection with united prayer:

(1) When the congregation kneel, be sure to kneel with them. Avoid poor imitations of kneeling.

(2) Join heartily in every prayer in which the congregation are intended to join.

(3) Sing every psalm and hymn as if you meant God to hear your yoice.

(4) When you say the Creed and the General Confession, speak like a man who is stating what he really believes and is asking forgiveness for sins which he has actually committed.

(5) Whether accustomed to much ritual or little, do nothing mechanically but with a thoughtful remembrance of the meaning of what you do.

(6) Avoid criticism of the clergyman, the service, and the sermon. Think what an exhibition of yourself you would make if you were compelled to take his place.