The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-10
HOW A CHURCH MAY WORK.

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We are indebted to some friend in st. Louis for
sending us the Minutes Of the Annual congre
gational meeting of the Walnut Street Presbyte-
rian Church" 1t has been read with uncommon
interest, and if copy could be sent to every
church in our connection, it could not fail in Civ
ing useful suggestions to many and stimulating
them to undertake some things hitherto entirely
neglected One Of the means by which they may
provoke one another to love and good works,
| is to have some unostentatious but efectual way
by which the plans and doings proved to be excel
lent in one part, may be made known to all the
Others
Ii has been already stated that these are the
minutes Of the annual congregational meeting of
this church. The very title page is suggestive.
How many of our churches are there in which
no meeting of this kind is held at ALL If pastor
is to be elected, an old church to be repaired or
new one built, then meeting is called but no
provision is made for summing up every year OF
the work done, nothing presented palpably to the
eye of the congregation by which its progress may
be understood by all its members. There are
indeed some matters which, as to jurisdiction, be
long to the Church Courts, and not to the congre
CATION. Still there is no reason why they may not
be reported to it for information and encourage
ment.
Let us now look into this meeting Of our breth-
rem in ST. Louis, and see what was done
! The first item worthy of attention is the state
ment that the pastor, Rev. j. H. Brookes, D. D,
presided. This we are aware is according to the
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custom in some, perhaps in many places, but in
many others it would be actually regarded as an
intrusion. Why, we ale unable to perceive If
the pastor is not thoroughly identified with the
congregation as any other person, we should like
TO hear the reason. Who has naturally deeper
interest in all its proceedings? Will it be said
tnat he has charge of its spiritual concerns, but
should have as little as possible to do with its secu-
larities Under the influence of this idea many
pastors, we believe do not commonly even attend,
much less preside over, meetings of this kind
| With due respect to those who hold it, we must
consider this mistaken view. And if this judg.
ment condemns our own course when pastor, be
it so. There are many things a man ought to
learn after he is fifty years old-though some one
has said change of opinion is at that date rare
thing. Now what we would insist upon is this:
that while the pastor is only one of the elders in
spiritual rule, and only one of the congregation in
the other matters, yet as he is first among his
equals in the church session, (''prip,us inter pa
res he is its presiding officer. And so, as he is
by position the natural head man of the congrega-
ton at large this position ought to be recognised
in all its meetings. As to the propriety of his
having nothing to do with the secular matters of
the congregation there is remark which NAV be
called for; which is that there is nothing pertain
ing to the service of religion which is strictly Sc
GUAR There were doubtless good reasons why in
the times of Nehemiah 'Shabbethai and Jozabed,
of the chief of the Levites had the oversight of
the OUTWARD business Of the house of God" For
the same reason we have provision made for dea-
cons now. But let it be noticed that if it is the
out,uard BUSINESS it belongs to "the house of God"
That made it a cOnsecrated business then, and the
same holds good now. And one among the things
we need to fix In the minds of our people is that
! the very secularities Of the Church. il the word
must be used, are to be treated as things sacred
to the Redeemer. 1t would help US much to get
rid entirely of the wrong notions on this subject
infesting the minds of many good people. We
know some excellent Christians, very benevolent
and ever ready to give, who say they cannot bear
this thing of having a collection taken up during
worship The idea of mixing up money with
singing and prayer, and preaching, seems to them
like proclamation. This is all wrong. These good
people forget how aims giving was constant part
of the temple service, how it is eDjoined in the
New Testament, and in the Standards of our
Church (See Confession of Faith, chap. I, and
Directory for Worship, chap 6, sec. A.
The idea then that the business brought up at
meeting of the congregation is too worldly in its
character for the pastor to attend to or preside
over, is erroneous in its principle, and it is nil
chievous in its practice. Let all be held as belong
ing to the business of Gods house, and let the
pastor be expected to preside over it, and thus
help to present it before the people consecrated
thing in the sight Of God.
There may sometimes be subjects brought up so
immediately concerning the pastor, that it may
perhaps be suitable for him to call some one else
to the chair and retire. Many would say that
when any thing pertaining to his salary arises he
certainly ought not to be present. But even here
are there not good reasons for his not absenting
himself? If the salary paid him is to be looked
upon in lust the same light as bargain made with
a man for his years labor upon farm, then there
might indeed be good reason why he ought not to
preside over questions pertaining to it. But if
the salary be regarded as just so much paid by the
congregation, first and foremost to enable it to
support ITSELF spiritually and next and only Incl
dentaly as given to the pastor to support him in
temporal things the case is materially different
And we have long thought that if this view, which
all admit to be the correct one, were made con-
stauty and practically prominent in our congrega-
ton, the good effects would soon be apparent.
There are other points associated with those
here presented but as our printer gives out those
ominous words, we are full" they must be
omitted Dr. Brookes Will please accept our
thanks for taking the chair, as was meet and right
1t has suggested some thoughts we have many
time wished to express Leaving our excellent
brother in possession of all his rights, we promise
our readers an assortment of good things from his
congregational meeting, to be furnished next week.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
THE COTTAGE BY THE LAKE. Philadelphia
Lutheran Board of Publication. 1869.
This is really charming little volume. 1t is
translation from the German, and gives us a de-
lghtful picture of home scenes in that land, and