Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-11-06
CHURCH MATTERS.
An Appeal for the support OF the Congra-
tiOna1 Church.
ITO the Editor.l

In your last issue you give notice of a
meeting to be held in the Congregational
Church next Monday evening for the
election of trustees and for the election
of other business. On inquiry, find
this meeting may involve the very ex-
istence of ttis society in our midst, and
it therefore should interest every indi-
vidual in the community. and specially
every Protestant. We have i'm Cheboy-
gan few members Of all the principal
denominations, none of whom are suf-
ficiently strong in numbers to form an
organization alone, and yet but very
short period of prosperity would enable
any of them to attend church of their
preference; but in the meantime what
course should they take? The Congre-
gational system permits the fullest free
dom i'm church government, while en-
tirely what is termed evangelical in be-
lief, thus fitting it, perhaps, better than
other denominations for pioneer effort,
and members Of all other churches ought
to feel entirely willing either tc unite or
worship with them.
No one who has ever put his hand to
the ''plow" by Christian profession can
with safety to his external welfare either
look back or stand still, and any one who
stands aloof from some work for the
Master may rest assured that Christ's
words are addressed to hIm: '.He that Is
not with me is against me- The writer
is fully aware that the times are hard md
money scarce, yet beyond doubt If the
half of those residing here, members of
this or some other church of similar be-
lief, shoul do what they can. With lit
tie, if any selt-denial. the small amount
necessary to defray the expense of keep
ing this church open and securing regu-
lar preaching during the winter can be
abundantly secured. The present pas
tor may not be as able as some may have
listened to i'll the past may not have
been free from errors in judgment; in a
word. he may not be Perfet; and yet, we
venture the assertion that but few conn
try churches are so well supplied, and
few, if any members of his profession
have led more blameiess life
1t seems 20 me that the membership
of this church, the larger portion of
them at least. are without the shadow of
All excuse for the want of interest they
dispay. and slack attendance upon the
| church services. and have no doubt their
petty differences, the lack of harmony.
and their lnkeTarmnesS. both in regard
TO the temporal interests of the church
as we'll as its spiritual interests. is the
chief reason why the friends OF this
chuI ch and its pastor nave not done more
II sust siEing the society. We think we
know something of the way the pastor
of this church feels, and believe he is
willing either to go forward Or abandon
the field, as the church and congregation
may decide; and the question is before
the church and congregation and the
community, shall this society die out :?
| respectfully ask every one who has
honored my communication with peru
sal thus far, if this can be afforded? Can
you afford it whose children have at
tended its Sabbath school, who have i'm
the past listened to the faithful, earnest
appeals from its pulpit? Can any afford
it who realize the uncertainty of life. and
who believe that "it is not all of life to
live, nor all of death to die?' Can you
afford it who take no higher view of the
matter than the advantages churches are
to community?
We know the pastor would like to have
all members of the church and congre-
CATION present next Sabbath, and we
trust he will at least be gratified that far.
and that such action will be taken next
Monday evening as no true friend of re-
ligiOn will regret. ~ REX