The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-03-30
Pulpit Troubles.
Christian at Work.

They are cons family met with. As
there Is not a second of time in which
a child is not born into the world, so
there Is not a moment when SEINE pull
pit Is not beset with trouble. There
are many kinds of them, each present.
senting its own peculiar phase. But
there is one kind of trouble as unfOr-
tunate as it Is often difficult of remov-
al. WePefer to that manufactured by
the minister himself. There are al
ways people In a congregation ready
to foment discord. Des cOn Quirk feels
that he has been sighted some way,
and straightway attempts TO make it
hot for the minister. Elder Jones
thinks the minister's sermons too long
or too short, or his amour prOpre has
been wounded, and he takes his re-
venge in consistory, or at meeting of
the vestry or session, as the case may
be. AS rule, though not always,
these troubles are easily allayed and
the obstreperous member quieted. He
is only q fraction of a congregation
and where his course Is disapproved
by the rest of the people his suppress
sion is not a very difficult task.
But when the minister himself
makes trouble it is by no means so
easy to calm the storm. And there
are various ways in which a minister
can make trouble. Perhaps he Is
fond of a liturgical service, aud at
tempts to foist responsive reading up
on his people. Or, he may prefer flor-
id singing, or precentor, and so at
tempts to manage both ends of the
church. Or, he may be a bit of a
Journalist, and Introduce little manner
isms and forms, harmless In them
hGnf Nayh tn fo
congregation. Sometimes the cause
lies deeper, and the misiSGer cannot
Withstand the temptation TO walk on
debatable ground, and, while assum-
ing to preach sound doctrine. incnl-
Gates dUgma which he thinks to con-
ceal ingeniously behind a mask of
words susceptible to various interpre-
Cations. Or, he may neglect some es-
tablished form or methods of the
church of which he does not wholly
approve. Resort to any of these will
often result in serious trouble between
pastor and people. The congregation
becomes divided, the pastor finds him
self In trouble and wishes he had new
or accepted the call. Both parties ut
ter hasty words, which, repeated from
mouth to mouth, become as distorted
from the original as the story of the
three crows.
He will be 8 wise minister who will
do all in his power 70 avoid anything
which bids fair to bring a shower OF
troubles ever his own head. In q
question of principle q minister
should always be firm; but In matters
involving only a change of form, or
some modification of the existing con :
diLiOn of affairs, It is better to make
haste slowly. Many 9 minister by
his own imprudencc has sacrificed all
possibility of usefulness TO q church
TO whom he might, with q little pru-
1ence, have happily preached the Cos
pei for years, and with rich results.
Men are weak, sensitive, irritable and
suspicious. The best of men have
their weak points which need at times
to be hnmored. Ministers who are
fend Of having their own way in little
matters would do well to remember
that no victory is often so sure as that
] which results from yielding. It was
the glory of Mr.. Lincoln's admInistra-
ton or our government, that he I'M
derstOod the art of allaying hostility,
| though he never for q moment sacri-
feed his own self-respect or Welded
what was his just prerogatiYe. Let
every christian minister think twice.
think earnestly and prayerfully, be-
fore entering upon any procedure
which will unnecessarily wound sea-
sibilities and arouse antagonism. In
this way will he keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bonds OF
peace, and his ministry prove a bless
ing alike to pastor and people.