In loving Christian fellowship the chorus abides.  No difficulty that could not be settled among themselves has ever rent it; no jealousies mar its peaceful course.  Professor Wood is a wise leader.  He leaves no loophole for the green-eyed monster to creep in.  He selects no one voice to take solo parts.  If a solo occurs, he gives it to the whole of that voice in the chorus or to a professional.

Dr. Conwell reads the hymns with so much expression and feeling that new meaning is put into them.  The stranger is quietly handed a hymn book by some watchful member.  The organ swings into the melody of the hymn, the chorus, as one, rises, and a flood of song sweeps over the vast auditorium that carries every one as in a mighty tide almost up to the gates of heaven itself.  And as it ebbs and sinks into silence, faith has been refreshed and strengthened, hardened hearts softened, the love of Christ left as a precious legacy with many a man and woman there.

CHAPTER XXVI

SERVICES AT THE TEMPLE

A Typical Sunday.  The Young People’s Church.  Sunday School.  The Baptismal Service.  Dedication of Infants.  The Pastor’s Thanksgiving Reception to Children.  Sunrise Services.  Watch Meeting.

Sunday is a joyous day at The Temple, and a busy one.  It is crowded with work and it is good to be there.  Services begin at half after nine with prayer meetings in the Lower Temple by the Young Men’s Association and the Young Women’s Association.  The men’s is held in the regular prayer meeting room; the women’s in the room of their association.  Each is led by some member of the association who is assigned a subject for the morning’s study.  These subjects, together with the leaders’ names, are prepared in advance and printed on a little schedule which is distributed among the church members, so that they may know who has charge of the prayer meeting and the topic for thought.

Dr. Conwell has for twenty-two years presided at the organ in the men’s meeting, and usually before the services are over takes a peep into the women’s gathering, leaving a prayer or a brief word of cheer and inspiration.  The meetings are not long, but they are full of spiritual strength.  Men and women, tired with the business life of the week, find them places of soul refreshment where they can step aside from the rush and press of worldly cares and commune with the higher, better things of life.

By the time the prayer meetings are over, the members of the chorus are thronging the Lower Temple, receiving their music and attendance checks, waiting for the signal to march to their seats in the church above.

The morning services begin at half after ten, with the singing of the Doxology, the chanting of the Lord’s Prayer by the choir and congregation, followed by the sermon.  At the close of the service, Dr. Conwell steps from the pulpit and meets all strangers or friends with a hearty handclasp and a cordial word of greeting.