Prayer and fasting

Prayer and fasting have always been important rituals in the Exclusive's life, and their efficacy has never been doubted. Prayer meetings are held in small groups each Monday evening. Each male member prays, whatever his age. These meetings used to be lengthy affairs of at least an hour and a quarter, but they are now compressed within the space of an hour. Big Jim likes prayers to be a minute long. At the beginning of the meeting, a member reads aloud the 'agenda' (as the Exclusives term it) of things to be prayed about. There is a printed copy of the agenda in every house. It lists the localities of conventions which have been arranged, prominent leaders, those who travel, the sick, and current affairs affecting the Brethren like their young men on Hospital Aid in Vietnam. Ardent members of the sect fast every Saturday afternoon and evening and all members may be called upon to fast for two or three days during a serious Exclusive emergency. There were several fasts during the exodus of a large number of members who left in the late 50's in horror at the "eating matter" (the Brethren's code-name for this particular aspect of the doctrine of separation). The last fast that I can remember was held during the third reading of the Family Preservation Bill in the British House of Commons in 1964.