Daily globe., 1879-12-07
PILLARS.

PILLARS.
Feed the flock of God which is among you,
! taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint
but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
| really mind; neither as being lords over Gods
heritage, but being Piles of the fock-
PETER, v: %.
Such is the duty and such the qualitioa-
| tions of pillar OF the church as described
by the apostle. 1t is an important Office
| which only the most sincere and earnest
Christian can fill satisfactorily. A pillar of
the church should set an example to all his
| associate members that is worthy of imita-
ion; should live a life above reproach:
should walk circumspectly before his breth-
rem and the world, and above all should not
assume to be the lord over Gods heritage.
In these days there arc various kinds of
pillars-other than the mere architectural
supports of the sacred edifce-in the
church. There is the financial pillar-a
very great Parsonage, both in his own and
others esteem. It is not neces
sary that he should be
protesting Christian. He generally neither
processes nor practices Christianity. But he
regards himself and wishes all others to re-
gard him as the patron of the church. He
says the religious exercises of the Sabbath
day have powerful influence on the morals
OF tho comrnunity-restrain the poor from
the commission of vice and reform the
transgressors, and he gives his check at the
end of every quarter with the air of man
who is conscious that be is performing q
noble act that will cause future generations
TO remember and reverence his name. He
goes to church usually about once on each
Sabbath. He arrives just after the close of
the first hymn and as the minister is about
to begin the reading of the morning lesson.
The clergyman pauses while the pillar moves
majostically~ down the aisle to a
middle front scat, followed by his
stately spouse, arrayed in silks
and velvets and resplendent with Jewels and
precious stones. The whole congregation
gazes admiringly on the pageant until the
pew door closes, and with hem and q haw
and a flourish of his silk handkerchief the
pillar signifies to the pulpit permission to
proceed with the service. Tho financial pill
lar, Notwithstanding his conspicuous vanity
and worldliness, is useful member of the
society, for his liberal douceurs, even though
given ostentatiously, help to pay the minis
ter's salary and the interest on the church
debt.
The pillar of department is another fea-
ture of every religious community. He is
generally of middle age and auster4 demean-
or. He makes it a point to be in his seat,
| accompanied by his wife and numerous
progeny, promptly as the organ peals out
the first notes of the voluntary. He lowers
| reprovingly over his spectacles at those who
arrive after he has become seated
or at those who venture to whisper or to
suile during the service. When the hymn
is announced hs is the first on his feet and
joins in with voice that is not always in
tune. But it is his theory that all the con-
gregation should praise the Lord, and he
wishes to show by his example that he prac-
tices what he breaches. His austerity seems
| to intensity as the service progresses, and
| not until the outer air has been reached does
| the gloom with which he has infected those
around him disappear. This is his idea of
reverence for God and his sanctuary, how.
| ever, and he is consistent in it.
The pillar of zeal is another prominent
one in the churches. He is generally found
at work. he acts as an usher if he can do
so, and seats well-dressed strangers in the
| most comfortable pews in the church. He
passes the contribution boz with alacrity,
helps everybody in his neighborhood to a
| hymn book, and after the service is over he
| stands in the vestibule shaking hands
with all whom he knows, speak
| ing a few words IN commendation
of the sermon, and urges everybody to
come again. Indeed, if it were not for this
pillar half the congregation would go home
| in great doubt as to whether the sermon
they had been listening to was good, bad or
Indifferent. They defer to the opinion of
the pillar, however, and make up their minds
that the minister is very. clever orator after
| all. He is the blower and striker in ordi-
nary to the man who occupies the pulpit, for
without his kindly words pastoral changes
would be far more frequent than they are at
present.
The social pillar is by no means an unim
portant factor in the composition of tho
church. He is generally young, cookbook
ing, fashionable and unmarried. He takes
great interest in the social entertainments
given for the benefit of the organ fund
(every church nowadays has an organ fund
which needs an occasional beneft), and is
always seen helping them along. He makes
himself agreeable to the young ladies', pays
court to the danes, defers to tue wisdom of
the elders, and fatters the fnan-
cial pillar. he is, aside from the latter per-
son, the most popular pillar in the church.
The young ladies regard him as s'just too
lovely for anything" the matrons as good
example for the young men of the chureh;
the pillar of department as a little too
frivlous, but not to be dispensed with, while
the financial pillar looks upon him benig-
nantly, and tells him not to marry for
money, but to remember that money is no
detriment to e young woman, and besides,
it gives q man an opportunity to do
good. "Ah!' he exclaims, "if I didn't
have little money could not have done O
much good to the church!'
There are other pillars of the church that
help to sustain it, which We will not refer to.
But the best of all is the one described in
the text: Feeding tho flock of God,
= taking the oversight thereof, not
BY constraint, but WILLINGLY: not for filthu