Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-21
The Reach OF Preaching.


The Reach Of Preaching.
There are two mistakes often made con-
corning the number of those who cOmeu
der the influence of the pulpit which ought
frequently to be noticed and exposed. The
first which is the only one we propose
now to consider refers to the proportion of
those who in effect hear the gospel in the
House of God in towns where churches eX-
ist. Superficial estimates taking the num-
bers of those who actually attend church
as the basis of reckoning make the proper
ton very small We confess to this error
in our first ideas upon thissubject. Those
whom we might appropriately call "home-
heather" we had taken to be in the major
ity in most of our towns. The way in
which we came to this opinion was some
what as follows: In a town of sixteen hun
dred inhabitants, the maximum number be-
longing to different congregations would
be from three to four hundred, giving a
proportion of from one fifth to one fourth
of the people. This is a fair statement of
the facts viewed from this standpoint, in
most of the towns in this vicinity. But
there is an error in this sort Of estimate
which experience has shown us.
The fact is that families must be taken
as the units of measure in any proper com
putation. The family is the unit in socie-
ty according to Bible teaching Practically
it is such in an emphatic sense in the mat
tiers we are considering. Upon this basis
which the experience Of any observing
man will show TO be the correct one, APP
proach this question. In a town of the
size we have named there will be found not
to exceed four hundred families, of these
over two hundred will in average towns be
found connected with Protestant congre-
cations. Add to this number a small per-
centage Of Catholics, larger percentage
of these who are 50 situated, or have such
religious preferences, As to attend church
regularly or occasionally in other towns,
and still larger number who in district
meetings hear the gospel preached, and the
number Of families that are not reached by
preaching, is reduced to a small minority
In illustration Of the truthfulness Of thi,
general estimate, take one or two actual
cases. For example, Barton, which accord
ing to the census OF 1860, has population
of 1890 persons. This number is some.
what below the true number now, but al
estimate of four hundred families for the
town is shown by the number Of voters tC
be large enough. Belonging to the Con
gregational congregation are over seventy
families. The two Methodist congregation
in town have fully double this number
Besides these TWO hundred and ten fami
lies, three are at South Barton, seyera
families Of Free Baptists who support oc
casional preaching at that place, and a
other times attend stately or occasionall
at sutton Several families at the oppo
site side Of the town belong to congrega
tions in Bloomington village or Centre
while some in town 60 occasionally if nc
regularly to Glover. Reckon proper pc
centage for Catholic families whom tn
priest visits regularly, and for families VIII
at district services hear preaching wit
more or less regularity, and the truthfI
picture thus presented, though by no NEAR
so bright as it ought to be, is far bcttt
than the casual observer would imagine.
The town of Coventry affords simil;
illustration. With a population of b
tween nine hundred and a thousand, it
safe to say its families do not exceed
number two hundred and fifty. OF the
eighty six are reported to belong to the Co
gregatiOns at Coventry Falls. Several far
lilies from the North Neighborhood," al
others from other districts contiguous
Newport attend church at Newport Villa
or Centre, while Others still 60 to Brow
ington. 1t is thus easy to be seen by o.
conversant with affairs in Coventry tn
the proportion of families in that town W
attend church at some place within
without the limits Of the town is more tn
one half These towns named are but spC
linen cases. We do not believe they pr
sent more favorable view of this matt
thar will the average towns in our count
There is call enough for effort in bring
into our congregations those who are n,
non-attendants; but let not good peoI
be discouraged in this work by the thong
that the church and the preached word h
comparatively little access to our popu
ton. There is much to be done for the
who do not attend church, that they m
attend more constantly and give more di
gent heed to the things they have hea
lest they should let them slip, and mu
for those families that practically pay /
even outward respect to the institute
of religion, but it is not the fact that t
established means of grace in our tow
have been as imperative as the statist
made by casual observers would indicat