Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-19
M1istellaneuns @eading.
For the YorkvilIe Enquirer.
THE NJ. f. CHURCH, SOUTH.

SYNOPSIS OF IT'S OPERATIONS IN YORK
COUNTY.
Our pastorate is subject to the itinerant
system, which we regard as being Serlptural.
This system comes under the great COM
mand, 500" 1t has been said that the
Methodist church is the command "go'' Or
panized. Samuel was a sort of travelling
messenger of God. Elijah travelled and
proclaimed Gods will to men. When God
sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach, Qike many
Methodist preachers Of modern date) Jonah
did not like his appointment. Made an eff
fort to get away from it, but had to 60 at
last, or be expelled. John, the forerunner
of Christ, came into the wilderness of Jul
dea preaching. Our Saviour travelled and
preached. He sent forth his disciples, two
and two, saying to them, "as ye 60 preach"
Christ commissioned his disciples saying,
"Go We into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature"
The essential feature of the itinerancy
consists in the change of the pastor, under
law. A charge may embrace one church.
as station, or it may embrace several
churches as circuit. The station, or cir
cult, agrees to take the preacher sent them.
The preacher agrees to goWherever the con-
stitutional authority may send him. Ihus,
as rule, all the churches have pastors, ana
that no preacher is without work, and no
church without pastor.
But for this system, many of our churches
in this county would be without a pastor
not being able, alone, to support one. And
some of our pastors would have no work.
The subdivision Of the work in the county
into four charges, instead of one, has in
creased the amount Of preaching, so that
whereas we once had but two or three places
for preaching on given Sunday, we now
have service at not less than from seven to
eight on each Sabbath. So that thus to dl-
vide is to conquer.
The change of pastors, under law, gives at
least greater variety, and also gives each
church a chance to share in the varied talent
of the ministry. While one may be more
of q revivalist, and another more of pas
tor, in the change the churches are benefited
in turn by each. There are some addition
al corners that might be taken in and worked
with good results, no doubt. There are
great possibilities in connection with church
es already established, if the ground bewell
worked! Think Of the many young people
and children in connection with these con-
gregations! What may be the future if
these are all brought in and saved.
master, Except we be born againye cannot
see the kingdom of Cod" Regarding the
church as means of saving souls, now, as
in the former day, the condition of mem
bership is, a sincere desire to flee the wrath
to come, and to save the soul. But, now as
then, such are expected to continue to evil
dence their desire of salvation by doing no
harm; by doing good. To do good in the
fullest sense, one must be gOod-must be
born again. We have experience meetings
in our system, which tests every members
experience. Each member is expected not
only to get good, but to labor for the good
of others. Also, they are expected Except
the infrm and the sick) to attend upon all
the ordinances Of God, such as the preach
ing Of the word and the sacraments. In a
word, such must be Christians at home.
Also, attend the public ministrations OF the
church and support the institutions OF Chris
tianity. .,
While we believe that God irresistibly
convicts of sin, yet we believe that the ac-
tual salvation of the soul is conditional.
Each member should study their church in
all particulars, and so give a reason OF the
hone that is in him. R. P. FRANKS.