But there is no gift more dangerous to the humility and sincerity of a minister.

While his spirit ought to be on its knees before the throne of grace, it is too apt to be on tiptoe, following with admiring look the flight of its own rhetoric.
The essentially intellectual character of an extemporaneous composition spoken to the Creator with the consciousness that many of his creatures are listening to criticise or to admire, is the great argument for set forms of prayer.
The congregation on this particular Sunday was made up chiefly of women and old men.

The young men were hunting after Myrtle Hazard.

Mr.Byles Gridley was in his place, wondering why the minister did not read his notice before the prayer.

This prayer, was never reported, as is the questionable custom with regard to some of these performances, but it was wrought up with a good deal of rasping force and broad pathos.