Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-28
Elements Of Church Strength.

The location, convenience and attract
iveness of the house of worship, and also
the numbers in the membership and their
culture and pecuniary possessions are
items in the account. The best location
within reach and the most appropriate
temp pie are to be insisted upon. Numbers
are wanted, and men of means and in
crease. and the more scholarly and intelli-
tgent the better.
Yet with all these a church may be
weak-and without these church may be
a mighty power for good. We should not
daspise or neglect or depend upon any or
all of these We should desire them or
seek them and then use them never rest
ing ourselves in them.
All human circumstances may favor
and yet no life, no power, no salvation be
Inexperienced. Strength and sufticiency are
of God In order to church strength
there must be truth in doctrine, faith in
God and conservation to God. With du,
measures of worldly wisdom the poores
and weakest church may become strong il
the strength which God supplies. But +
little false doctrine, one fundamental
error Qike " one sinner,) destroyeth mucl
good" And without faith and devotion
and zeal there will be no growth. We
must abide" in Christ. If we forge
God, added names and improved churcI
ed fees and every added dollar will weak
en- church.
We must not let go of God and mus
look well to all human conditions o
church strength.
1t is probable that many churches are
losing while they might be gaining AM
growing.
acquaintance and cordially anon
themselves betoken strength and preserv
strength and promise increase of strengt
in church membership. Such is tn
condition OF some churches that five o
Ten minutes given to hand shaking an
kindly iuquiring for one another's welfar
at the close of the weekly prayer meetini
would benefit them spiritually more tina
the whole hour of praying. Everybod
in church should be acquainted wit
Z every other body in the same church
Time and circumstances may not allO'
n all to interchange calls and visits, yet a.
members Of any one church should be an
0 feel at home one with another in the
place of worship.
Such acquaintance and due cordialit
u bind aud link together. In cultivatin
% acquaintance they find themselves care
. for by one another. Theirs is the strengt
" of united hearts.
5 But, alas, how many strangers sit tt
gether in the same sanctuary year aft
$ year! They 90 in at the same door, wal
up the same aisle, sit in neighborir
pews and come to the same commune
y table, knowing each others faces, hard
= knowing each others names, never gras
W llO each OllltE , tltuuf
Is look or nod of recognition, never fee
IS ing, never putting themselves in the Wi
% to feel, as brethren mutually beloved!
,s congregation of people, blind and de
oo and dumb, ought to have and mantle
70 70 more iellow.feeling than some church
g that might be named.
% AHentioD 10 strangers is another eleme
Is OF strength. The face of the stranger
90 often seen in our congregations. Wheth
g visitor from neighboring church, or
i5 new conner into the community, or pa
q ing stranger In any case it is imPorta
% that he carry away pleasant memor
q Toe church needs TO secure his favorat
% opinion and good will.
n z Ia order to this the church in the P'
81 sons of few or many must show b
g g attention. Every member should be
= the lookout for strangers on the way