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

bihoS eiSu iOi a uIa"iuS Puiplls efeh
when the pews repel. Every member
should b. on the alert to fill up his own
pew with strangers as often as possible.
Thank the usher for showing strangers
to your pew. and be glad to find them
there, and ask them to come again. and
speak to the stranger in your neighbor's
pew.
Many young man, going to a new
home, has gone titst to \ church like his
fathers, but, finding them forgetful to
entertain strangers" has turned away to
other temples. and, in a few years mas
become pillar in the same. And many
more young men have probably gone
utterly to the bad, having been unnoticed
and neglected at church doors.
II is little thing to draw or repel a
family. an individual, stranger, Il child
but doing one or the other IN akes ineaIcu-
liable differences in the strength or weak
ness of a church latter not many days"
Eaterprise IN church work is an element
of strength. Whatever lines the church
follows, always of course within the limits
of right principles, the cooperation of the ,
whole church is needed. Ii only part /
be interested and accept responsibility I
very limited success will be gained. If
few are allowed to carry the burdens they |
will, after little, let go. In order to its
best strength the whole church must take
hold III every right enterprise. 1t is Won
derful, marvellous, how little band will
grow and develop strength if all take hold. |
Not only prayers and money, nut our
personal presence, time and toll must he
invested in our church work. Every
member should count himself train
hand-not one has Il right to be merely
guest or passenger.
The reputation of a church determines
much for its strength or weakness. 1t is
not easy for a church to die but it can be
easily hurt, and hurt in its reputation is
the worst. A good name is fortune to
church no less than to au individual.
decent, self.res pecting, pubIic.spiriled cit
zens. A name for prOmptness and integ-
rity in its business relations, y name for
harmony and brotherly love within itself,
a name for Zeal and kr owledge we'll
united, name for devotion to every good
! work, a name for consistency, will be to
| rbrist Of ctr
In this connection is to be mentioned the
reputation of official and other leading
or prominent members of the church
The first church officials under the apos-
ties were "men OF honest report as well
as full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. "
No church can aft )rd official members
with any other report.
, To the extent of his own unsavory rep
| utation church officer is dead weight
9 yea a pestlent evil. He weakens and
, disntegrates and destroys more than sew.
: eral wise and good men can build up and
: cement and save. Only pure men, just
men, true men-men known and esteemed
70 for integrity-should hold places of speca
q responsibility and authority in the church
:. of God.
,r Good business habits in church b,tsineS
,r give strength. By this is meant, no
t. worldly shrewdncss or we'll nigh question
able sharpness, but promptness and suci
> wise foresight as mark successful privat
40 enterprise.
- church has its business relations
- Property is acquired and held. Mos
: churches handle hundreds of dollars an
- many handle thousands annually. Th
=, annual revenue and expenditure of an ay
- erage church is equivalent to the interes
Of thirty thousand dollars-no small trus
! The church has to do in business way
- with "those without" as well AS its ow
- members.
ye For the sake Of peace and proSperit.
ret within as we'll as a good name without,
ch church needs to put and keep its methoc
k of revenue and disbursement upon a
adequate and healthful basis. The ehurc
-. of the living God ul-lt to be, and ougt
- to merit the cred II being the surest an
most prompt ptfntster on earth. In
church should never be last or second, br
"a first in meeting obligations. Instead {
its being 80 undesirable in moneyed inst
tutons, church paper ought to comman
~ lowest rates and highest premiums. Fh
', church should never be looked upon as
>" beggar-it should be every members fir
preferred creditor"
nj Besides the reproach, it is unbusines
70 like, and it ever weaus and weakens TO
,r annually in arrears, ever and anon sem
an ing out somebody to badger everybody f
dv help to compass deficiencies, and n
ith infrequentg turning the Sabbath servi'
N into Kimbalizing movement in beha
,,u of the minister's bread and butter
all By this late day in the nineteenth &c
nd tury Christian churches should have foul
cir out some adequate, successful method
church revenue which in ninety-nine cas-
ltV IN hundred WOulu en1Olt Iuetn 10 ply
NO they 90. Such method. righteous al
ed righteously used, would lift many
,th weaklng church out of its cradle and s
it upon its feet to "wak and not faint,
to. run and not be weary"
ter The church hiring money for cure
ak expenses, the pastor in debt all over TOW
ing or living on borrowed money or on
ion "short commons as to impair blood al
dly brain, the janitor unpaid, the chorister al
.sp- organst disconnected, and everybody
ing the church affected with financial chi
eel and fevers in view of deficiencies a
vay drummings- s-what wonder that paraly
A ing weakness is manifest in all the high
leaf work of the church!
fest Bad, slip-shod insnciering in chur
ihes business is one of the obstacles to spiritr
growth.
.ant Old debts and new debts and increasi