Smyrna times., 1884-03-05
Sunday at the M. Il. Church.

a good congregation assembled at the
NJ. Il. Church Notwithstanding the
snowy condition of the weather Sun
day morning, it being the last sermon
OF Rev. }. ID. Riggs three Years pas
torate. The choir sang a pretty anthem
while the weather belated members of
the congregation were getting snuDIv
hXed III comfortable seats. followed nv
the opening hymn and PRAYER bv Rev
L. +. Martindale. After readino tho
Scrlptural lessons the pastor remarked
tlat he was before them without text
OF sermon but presumed thew were
expecting to hear something from the
pulpit III the nature Of what is called n
farewell discourse" He soid ho
wished that an itinerant preacher could
close his term and his successor take
up the work just where he left off with
out any alluslon to the change of the
passionate, Just as conductors are chan
Geu at different points on a route with
out disturbing the passengers. He was
hrmly convinced that the itinerant svs-
tenn with its frequent changes and sew
erlng OF social and religious ties wos
much better for the preacher and peo-
pie III ettecting the work for which ho
was called and commissioned. some
Methodist ministers had tired of the
frequent changes and thought they
could do better in settled pastorate
Dut alter trial the most of them had
returned again. He reviewed the three
years of his ministry among this nao.
pie, large charge with lab0rs rcduir-
ell and responsibilities difficult to meet
but III the various demands that had
Deeh made upon the Office from those
interested only in the pulpit efforts
down to the quieter and more retired
pastoral work, he had tried to do his
duty as best he could. He had seen
and felt the demand in certain direc-
tions, but all the wants of large con-
gregatlOns cannot be met in n single
man. The preacher who can have
each succeeding sermon, Sunday ofter
sunday and year after wear. fresh
new and sparkling is rarely met with
and when he is, it will be found that
nearly every other thing has been
neglected for the study. AVOIDING
style and suh hjeGts that were sensational
he had ende4vOred to give them the |
gospel simple and plain, so plain in the |
use OF familiar words and phrases that |
even the children could understand n |
Whatever there had been of unpleas- |
antness he passed it by in the recollec-
Iions or pleasant and christian fellow
snip many of which he said would be
bright spots in his memory to the end
of his pilgrimage.
He passed from this charge to n new
people and new scenes (he knew not
to cultivate new friendShips
and associatiOns-hew would be cut loose
ana gone-and his successor should he
greeted by their warmest sympathies
ana affections. He then dwelt at some
length on the popular requirements of
me pastor: he must be eloduent
oglcal, profound, have a rhetorical
voice, intact finished speaker with
something sparkling every Sunday.
This class and it is a large 6nc' are in
crested only in the entertainmEept of
he pulpit. Some committees 90 to
Conference he said ip search of pastor
'ePy much as they go into the horse
market; he must not haye gray hairs
age he must be good look.
ng, of fine social qualities, an adept i'm
vi that entered into good society. n
plendid preacher, q good singer. nm
.flicient visitor, &C., and after poinw
trough the rounds of these and simi-
ar questions, then they set to with ;
lmliar requirements of fitness for lead
rshlp IN his poor wife. These re0uire-
Rents he declared could not be met i'm !
ne man especially unless the people
themselves attended to church duties
Flth more efficiency. He alllided td
ow the various means OF grace were
by the larger part of the
ociety. and urged them to fill their
bligations, avoid church headaches
nd-thus l.GId Up their pastors hands. !!
ie further urged them 10 gySet him
nth n warm welcome TO encourages
i'm in his work by letting him knowit n
'hen he had done them good. and ),
Iosed after again abiding to the ties
nat were qb94t 70 be seyered between
i'm and this people. Enc Discourse !,
coupled over fifty minutes. ''''' u A
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSIONARY Q
ANNIVERSARY.
At night the missionary anniversary =
the Sunday School was held which I
rs largely attended and interesting Y
lVonehgqt, After the opening hymn, a y
horus by the school, and pTeyeTby the
perintendent, q shopt and iilteresting -.
idress was delivered by Rev. r. ID. Mar 2,
Ddale. He spoke of the missionary ~
qPk and the great increase the church u
~ making IN its appropriations for its
pport, the amount In tbs past doeade =,
,ceeding $50,000,000. This and the W W
instant activities of the church In its ~. ~
yiyais qf gsligi0n at different points W ~
q the GF9Wth af ths ehupel work -
nerally, coafuted the tiippaat rep.slll :
az infidelity was on the iinorenseiatfd
on the wane. The church
= giving for the spread of the gospel
u never haf given before, and the pr
ucation OF the'chfidren tc give as is IN, II.
W being done by the missionary CON De De
buttons, statedly and systematically. sig
y make the church in twenty wears a0'
come o much more liberal and eifec- A
e e, power IN disseminating the gospel. lea
walter d. Hoffeckcr read the ra,s,,.f