singing or praying, or speaking gently one to another.

Ah! many a feud has sunk forever, many an unpleasantness has been
forgotten, many a half-ripe quarrel has been strangled, and many a
friendship has been strengthened and ripened in these services of emotion
and love, those hand-shakings of the Mountaineers. The blessings of the
peacemakers should be his who first introduced the service.

Among other invitation hymns I have heard, I remember vividly:

"Sinner, you are welcome, Yes, Yes, welcome
To the dying lamb."

This, too, is varied. "Seeker," "Brother," "Sister," and "Everybody's
welcome" being sung.

I could tell of parts I do not like, of excitements the reverse of helpful
to my devotional feelings, and of loudness mistaken for piety or zeal, but
so could others criticise the services at Dr. Cuyler's or Dr. Storrs's
church. I prefer to speak of the really good.

May I tell you of a unique service? It was at the Convict Camp, near
Baker's X Roads, in Cumberland County, Tenn.

No need to ring the bell--the congregation are assembled, and armed guards
are standing by lest someone should escape. Still a bell was tapped.
Silence at once.

"Boys," I said, "when I was here before you kindly asked me to come and
speak to you again. I am here. Before I speak I want to have you sing.
Will you sing?" A moment's pause, and in the rich tones which the colored
people so often have, there rang out from scores of throats, one of those
weird songs of the race. It was of chariots and heaven, of songs and
praises, and of Jesus the King. I cannot reproduce or describe it. I
prayed for a blessing on our service, and several responded with
apparently as fervent "Amen" as ever came from Camp Meeting or Altar
service. Then I read passages, closing with a part of Romans 6: from the
twenty-third verse. I spoke briefly of "The wages of sin, and of the gift
of God." I almost fear I was harsh. Poor fellows--they were criminals, but
who is not guilty, before God, of violations of Divine law?

As I pleaded for the starting of a better life, as I spoke of their
families, as I said "Some of you will be through with prison life soon,"
as I talked of honesty, sobriety, and purity, there were moist eyes. I
asked for an expression at the close. All who will accept Jesus Christ,
and from this very hour live for Him, and with the strength he gives try
to forget the grievances you have thought to revenge; try to love and
serve one ano