The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-24
FOA TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
REMOVING TO A NEW CHARGE.

l think / must take still another paper for
general observations, if indeed l ever get
beyond them.
You feel, doubt not, that you are now In
favorable condition to utilize your expert
ence. You must be aware that your man
agement of a congregation has failed in
some respects to be what you desired. Yet
to change your mode of action in the same
place, you felt would be difficult But now
that you are beginning a new record, you
can turn over . new leaf. Your congrega-
ton are in an analogous posture. They too
were remiss in some things under their for
mer pastor, and are well aware of it, and
have an honest desire to improve. The
providence of God is offering to pastor and
people an opportunity to take an advanced
position. 1t viii be wise in you to consider
deliberately, and with much prayer, how you
may improve yourself and them.
Of course you will not be injudiciOus
enough to make any changes merely for the
sake of change. On the contrary, you will
preserve all the forms of action you find ex-
listing, if they viii reasonably answer your
purpose. If you do not find weekly prayer
meeting existing, you will establish one of
course; but if Tuesday evening is already
JovokoI 60 +b;s avaroioa vOY, vpil1 DOf DrOposa
that the time should be changed to Wednes-
day, because this day is the middle of the
week. If you find that good many things
need amending, it will be question to be
decided by common sense, how fast you
should advance. | once asked General
jackson how he would proceed to reestablish
discipline in a school, or an army that had
fallen into disorder. He said that he would
take up a single point of discipline at a
time, elevate and secure this, then turn his
attention to others in succession. This may
be the best way, or circumstances light re-
quire the co-tempOraneOus and gradual anne
ioration of the whole.
Two truths must be borne in mind by
every man who deals with masses Of men,
and especially by the minister; one is that
he cannot do every thing that he aims at;
the other that he can do great deal. The
best established authority will sometimes be
spurned, and the most legitimate influence
disregarded. You will sometimes be very
much surprised, and very much mortified
that you cannot accomplish what ought to be
done, and what you had securely calculated
on. Be surprised then, and be mortified if
you must, but do not get angry, nor become
respondent, neither give up your purpose if
it is not realized as soon as you expect. No
impatient man can long keep in just rela-
tiOn to important affairs. The Apostle
James says, though not precisely in this con
nection: BE patient therefore, brethren,
unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit
of the earth, aod hath long patience for it,
until he receive the early and the latter
rain. Be ye also patient, stablsh your
hearts.
Perhaps at the end of the year, the con-
gregation is little better in some respects
than when you first came. Perhaps the
thought occurs to you that you are not quite
as strong a man as you counted yourself
If so, the year has not been altogether with
out profit, at least to the pastor. But pa
tience, and courage! You will probably la
Dor for this congregation for many years,
possibly as long as you live. Now if you
can only accomplish, every year, not every
thing, but some thing important, the work
of the Lord will assuredly prosper in your
hand. But if you have learned the lesson
that you cannot do every thing, do not for
get that you can do a great deal. Some
body says that no man ever does all ne
might do. 1t may be rather bold to state
this as universal proposition, seeing some
men do accomplish so much more, than those
who knew them, believed they were capable
of. Of most men, however, it is uuquestion-
ably true. Most men come far short Of
their capabilities, some through difidence,
some through clumsiness, but most through
Incidence. This is lamentable, for there is
a great deal to do, and men have a great
deal of strength. Every man can do some
thing, public men very much, and none more
than the minister. Perhaps you do not
move any one man very much, but you move
a great many little, and very often, and SC
sre the cause of great deal of motion
Let me urge you therefore to draw your
ideal upon large scale, to keep your eye
steadily upon it, and work boldly up to it
No man ever comes up to his ideal, anC
never ought to come up to it. For as soOr
as he gets near enough, he ought to move i