RAYER is a natural force, and is subject to definite laws and conditions, just as are all other natural forces. If you shove a book off your desk, gravity does not take time to think the matter over and decide whether there are unusual circumstances in the case which may make it advisable for it to work at right angles or in an opposite direction to its usual course, or perhaps not to work at all. Certain conditions have been fulfilled, and gravity automatically does its part. So it is with prayer. vailing prayer are fulfilled, it will do its part unfailingly, seven times out of seven. The "vilest sinner" has at times chanced to satisfy these conditions under which prayer works, and at these times he has worked "miracles"-has brought into action direct spiritual energy-just as certainly as any "saint" could have done. On the other hand, very good people often fail most miserably to find the secret of prevailing prayer, in which case they usually decide that a personal God has looked into the matter and decided to turn down their requests.

If the conditions of pre

I would not willingly make prayer any less sacred or any less of a refuge to any living creature. If you prefer to look upon your prayers as personal appeals from a child to its Father, you are perfectly right, and you also have a right to decide that the matter is too sacred to be farther discussed. On the other hand, you may agree with me that prevailing prayer is too mighty and too holy a thing to be used merely as a balm

to wounded feelings, or as a last resort in cases where everything else has failed.

Most of the facts of physical science have been discovered by men who have assumed that certain ideas were true, and have reduced these ideas to formulæ or direct statements which they and like-minded explorers tested in a multitude of ways. I have tried to do something of this kind with prayer force. Long ago, it seemed to me merely a something which probably existed, but which was too vague and uncertain in its results to be of use in every-day life. Then trouble came it always comes when we need it-and this vague prayer force was the only thing which did not put up a "no thoroughfare" sign. I prayed, as the Nazarene prayed, with an agony of supplication, and gradually light formed itself in the darkness, and something delivered me from the seemingly all-potent evil that had closed down.

I am going to state some of my conclusions in regard to prevailing prayer, not because I think that I have solved the problem and have learned all that there is to be known about it, nor because I think that all I have to say is settled beyond possible correction or changing, but because, following this science of prayer which has been revealed to me, I have come into possession of a feeling of mastery and serenity which I never had before, and because one other than myself has done all that I have done. Together we have been

I believe that prayer has two poles, just as have many other forces. Receptive prayer, the negative element, is that exercise of the spiritual faculties which draws from the Infinite source currents of Wisdom, or Power, or Love. Formative prayer, the positive element, is the expression or putting into use of these

Any philosophy which limits prayer to certain formulæ of affirmations seem to me to fall short for this reason it is striving to use a force which it does not always possess, and which it takes no means of obtaining; it seeks to be always positive. We must have received spiritual energy from some source before we can utilize it to control the physical world about us, and in the tension of every-day life this receptive process means a definite and regular letting go of all self-will and desire, for sufficient intervals each day, that the channels between us and the Father may be flushed out and quickened.

In considering quickening or receptive prayer, it may be well to look upon the process as divided into three steps:

a

First, a direct and serene appeal to the Father within, definitely formulated in the consciousness. In your inner chamber or your darkened study, or your crowded office, make your body as easy as you can. Relieve it for the time of all necessity of holding or supporting itself; you may lie down or sit in chair, but be sure you can relax without having an uneasy feeling of being about to fall. Then turn your thoughts inward to that chapel of the consciousness where God is, although you may not see Him or hear Him. Everything is quieted within and without, and if you are sincere, if you are making no conditions.

rectly to your Father, He hears you as plainly as you can ever hear any spoken voice. You may say: "Dear Father, I ask that Thou wilt quicken me with Thy Spirit of Communion, so that I shall show forth Love and Wisdom and Power. Teach me to radiate life and kindliness, to be broad and tolerant and serene and fearless. And grant that at this time Thy quickening Spirit may permeate me in body and consciousness, and that I may be regenerated." Pray simply and directly for that which you especially need in the way of spiritual energy-for Love or Wisdom or Power.

This first step is easy of accomplishment, but that which follows is probably one of the most difficult things which you will ever have to learn to do. You have heard of the wonderful things accomplished by "going into the silence." Well, the silence is the second room which you must you must enter in receptive prayer. You have made your body comfortable and have turned your attention inward; you have called to the Father within to quicken you with that tide of spiritual energy which you need. Now, you must remain silent and passive, and you must neither suggest nor affirm to the energy which fills you, nor must you let your attention wander outward to the things of the material world. You are just to rest, to be conscious and awake, but passive and receptive. Don't even "try to feel" the energy which is working within you, for your imagination has nothing to do with the process; this is not auto-suggestion, nor is it always a process which makes an impression upon your feelings. You may feel nothing or you may be so shaken that you will be terrified. You are in the hands of the Great One who formed you out of His

own spiritual substance, and who best knows how to perfect you in body, consciousness and estate.

There is no certain time which you must remain in the silence. At first it will perhaps be an unsatisfactory experience; but if you are faithful you will come to recognize these periods when you are conscious but without formulated thought, and when every cell and fiber of your physical body is being cleansed and re-created, as times of wonderful blessing. At the right time, each withdrawal into the silence will terminate itself. Body and mind will awake with an unmistakable demand to be allowed to go to work. You may then shake yourself, physically and mentally, and pass from the chapel of prayer by way of the third roomthat of realization. Do not hurry away to your regular employment, but pause a few minutes and silently examine the thoughts that come to you. Perhaps the wisdom which you particularly need will be revealed to you at this time. If not, you may pass on, knowing that you are going forth regenerated.

If you find that your attention keeps wandering to things of the outer world, when you are in the place of silence, it will be a help to you to use a "key thought" to bring it back and hold it receptive to the Spirit of Communion. You may take, for instance, the words, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high." Hold them for a moment, realizing that you are now in the secret place of the most high. Or you can use those verses from Christ's prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." Realize what they mean-not that you are to give up everything worth while in your life, but that you are serenely and gladly calling in the Spirit which quickens and perfects to fill all of your life,

instead of merely a little corner of it. But do not fill this time of silence with affirmations or worded prayers; these are wonderfully potent in their places, but this is a time of passivity on your part; simply bring your attention back, if it proves unruly, and keep your receiving apparatus in tune with the spiritual vibrations by a brief consideration of the nature of the process that is taking place, then rest and receive.

MOTHERHOOD

Oh, cuddle down, my baby, with your head upon my breast,

For the hours of play are ended and the time has come for rest;

The camel's in the stable and the train

cars in their shed;

The wooden soldier on the shelf, the dolly in her bed;

You've said your prayers beside my knee, now kiss me-that's the bestAnd cuddle down, my darling, with your head upon my breast.

As o'er the Child of Nazareth the blessed Mary bent,

And softly crooned her lullaby when the long day was spent, Could she have felt a thrill more keen, a

love more deeply true,

Under the touch of baby hands, than I now feel for you?

The mystic ties of motherhood a com

mon bond suggest,

And draw me nearer heaven when your head is on my breast.

-Walter Taylor Field.

Life's a mirror; if we go
Smiling on our way we sow
Sunshine that shall make the skies
Fair and glad to all our eyes.

L

ET me call your attention to a fact well known to students of the new psychology, but generally overlooked by the average person—the fact of the wonderful subconscious use of the Will, which accomplishes such great results when once set into motion. So many persons seem to think that the use of the Will depends entirely upon its conscious direction. Many even go so far as to think of Will manifestation as a matter of frowns, compressed lips and gritting teeth. such will come as a strange revelation the statement that the majority of the activities of the Will are generated on the subconscious planes of the mind. And yet such is the fact. Modern psychologists know that the Will, once directed firmly toward a certain object, and held firmly in the mind by persistent attention, will soon begin to generate a marvelous power in the subconscious regions of the mind of the individual, which power will strengthen him and urge him on to fresh and greater efforts. This power will also attract to him the persons, things and circumstances calculated to manifest the desire-force and will-power striving toward expression.

Persons who have cultivated the power of subconscious Will have discovered that the subconscious mentality may be charged, directed or commanded to develop within the person the characteristics and qualities calculated to bring about a successful accomplishment of the things desired or willed by the individual. Moreover, they have also discovered by

experience that the subconscious mentality, charged with the awakened Will, will develop the necessary ideas, plans, and in other ways perform much of the drudgery of mental work for one. In fact, so far from it being true that the Will is absolutely bound up with the conscious activities, it is nearer the truth to say that nine-tenths of the activities. of the Will have their groundwork and foundations actually laid beneath the threshold of consciousness in the human mind. Or, stating it in another form, it is a psychological truth that Will is more fundamental than conscious mentation, and that the latter is rather an evolution of the former than otherwise. In short, that conscious mentation was evolved by Will because it was needed by the latter in its urge of evolutionary manifestation.

When we are able to manifest Will Power on the subconscious planes we have at our disposal a great elemental force awaiting our intelligent direction and control. When the race of men arrive at a full realization of the possibilities of the use of the Will Power within them awaiting expression, they will become almost as gods. It is well that the Great Plan has evidently provided that before such knowledge may become common, the race must make enormous progress in intelligence, self-control, selfmastery, and, above all, in Love, so that this great natural power may be used wisely and well in the interest of the race as a whole, rather than as an instrument of personal satisfaction and gain.