PSYCHOLOGY OF PRAYER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 5

PSYCHOLOGY OF PRAYER

The American evangelist, Dr. French E. Oliver, spoke at the Town Hall last night upon "The Psychology of Prayer." On account of. indisposition, he postponed his address upon "Creation or Evolution" till another occasion. Dr. Oliver said that the tide of scepticism that was to-day sweeping over the world had even entered the churches. The worn-out arguments of a past generation of'atheists and infidels were to be heard from the pulpits. In spite of critics, he asserted that prayer was quite in accord with the principles of science. and philosophy. What scientist or philosopher, he asked, would dare to claim that concentration for thirty minutes a day upon the thought of purity -was harmful or not in accord with science or philosophy? Who would deny the benefit of concentrated thought upon such ideals as truthfulness, honesty, and love of God? The amazing success of wireless telegraphy-ought to convince any sane man that there was no scientific, or philosophical difficulty about prayer, and -that. the difficulty of prayer, while it might be a spiritual or a moral difficulty, did not trench upon either of the matters known as science and philosophy. He explained the nature of prayer by the use of simple illustrations, and exhorted his audience to avail themselves of its virtues.