The Portland daily press., 1866-06-09

A"discussion in relation to the above sub
ject which has lately been going ON in the col
umns of the Christian Mirror, seems to us to
present with SO much force the chief argu-
ments which are usually adduced on each side
of the question, that we have thought some
extracts might be of interest to the readers of
the Press In reply to note of inquiry adj
dressed to him by the Rev. A. C. Adams, of
Auburn, Rev. Geo. L. Walker, of this city
explains the reasons which have led him to
renounce, after two years trial, the system of
single Sabbath service, and to return to the
old method of two regular sermons. Mr..
Walker first states that these two years dur
ing which the experiment of the single service
has been tried, have been the most prosperous
in the history of the church with which he is
connected. Never before have such heavy
demands been made either upon the personal
efforts or the pecuniary resources of its mem
bers, and never have such demands been more
easily and promptly met, and never has the
interest of members in the growth and per
manence of the church been more constantly
manifested. This unusual prosperity he does
not directly attribute to the system of single
service, but he calls attention to the fact that
it has consisted with it.
Mr.. Walker also expresses strong prefer
ence on his own part for the single service
system, and conviction that great majority
of the working members of his church agree
with him in that preference, and then pro-
ceeds thus to set forth the reasons why, in
spite of all this, he has requested of his par
ish areversion to the old order:
A few words will say all it IS perhaps best
to say on this matter. Sur rounded by church.
es which pursue plan different from his own,
minister feels certain degree of mental un-
easiness, even while he believes his own to be
the sss3 AZ ss Ct 6 es d6na 4
emily from others. And it reminds, too. some
minority of his congregation who prefer con-
formity to the general plan, that he Is doing
differently. He thinks of this in proportion
as.he is sensitive. I think of it. 1t has di
minished to considerable extent my salts
faction in plan which, SO far as the general
interests of the Parish are concerned, has
wrought well.
Then L have been accustomed often, and
latterly very often, to lecture in the chapel on
Sabbath evening" These lectures cost me as
much labor to prepare as If was to give them
in the church, while nevertheless they do not
reach the ears OF the larger part of the con-
gregation, simply for the reason that they are
given in the chapel. A minister likes to have
fair credit for what he tries to do. But be-
cause these lectures are chapel services the
pastor OF State Street church is regarded
among his brethren as preaching but one SER
mon Sabbath, when the truth perhaps is.
that in any given time he breaches as many
new sermons as almost any minister of the
same denomination in the State. If a simple
transference OF the place of delivery of these
chapel sermons to the other part of the house,
will give mans work fairer construction
In the eyes OF those who are interested enough
to comment upon it, it is perhaps pardonable
that he should desire the transterrence to be
made. - ea1 81"
But, finally, preaching but one public dis
course in the church proper, have felt en-
barrassed about the usual fraternal interchange
OF puipits common among ministers. And I
know, too, that my brethren have felt embar-
raised in reference to me.
have been much less ready to absent nv
self from my pulpit, either for exchange" or
Tor the purpose OF giving way to an occasional
supply, than if reached the whole BODY of
my congregation twice as often as do. i do
indeed believe 1t to be generally best for a
minister to do his own preaching, in his own
place. But so long as ministerial exchange ia
regarded as one element of good fellowship
among ministers, the comparative restriction
of it made by one serm IN day is embarrass-
ing.
Mr.. Walker adds:
Preaching the gospel is becoming yearly a
harder service. The demands on the minis
Try are becoming more and more severe with
Tine increasing intelligence of society," and the
increasing spread of railroads.&c. literature
10 keep up with the progress of RELIGIOUS
thinking so as to be really religious Guide
and teacher to congregation, is a task with
every twelvemonth growing harder.
Breaking down of health is its inevitable
consequence in many instances. But not
more is the severity of this strain seen in the
falling health of ministers, than it is IN the
difficulty of getting ministers, in vacant par
ishes.
How many of the leading churches of Maine
are now seeking vainly for ministersl Sew
eral OF the very foremost churches in the |
State have been for many months unsuccess-
FULLY trying to obtain them. What is the |
reason OF the difficulty? One reason of it |
An amount of work is laid on them to do |
which deters young men from entering the
service and breaks down many who have en-
erred.
The old times come not back again. We |
.annot reproduce the habit of thought of fifty |
years ago. And modern thought requires a
style and quality of preaching more difficult
~ produce, than was required fifty years ago.
uo not say whether better or worse in ITSELF
bo hui h Inherent and more difficult. But it must
nraa aI Aman must live in his own day, and
4, .s a., " Inc needs of his own time. And in
d dl.s :. ~ hard work. 1t wears out hum
o4a,.os; ~ warns of hundreds more. A recon-
: ," ~ t 4, Tue whole plan of Sabbath labors,
!. 70 one =. e urgently demanded necessities
J, oi s .i mnu TINS not merely in the in
home circle and the Sabbath School '"'' VI 'n'
A writer in the Mirror of last week who
Uses the signature of *. Y. Z,n objects 70
Mr.. Walkers view of the question for various
reasons. He is inclined to attribute the ex.
'raordinary prosperity of the State Street
church to the unusual gifts of the pastor, and
thinks it has existed rather in spite of than IN
consequence Of the one service system; and he
aoes not fail to note the admission of Mr..
" a'ker that his own personal labors have not
oeen materially lessened by that system, as it
:, '"s 'oorSed. His chief objection, however, is
mat the one service system would, if upiyer-
sally adopted, do away with the custom Of
exchanges Though we confess
mat we do not clearly see why this result
'nouid follow as a matter of course, vet we
ire unprepared to give decided opinion that
u wouid not do so. But what tx. Y, IN has
20 saw on the suhiact IF axoh.x