The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-14
DIR. DoDDRIDGE,s PAsTORATE.

Review of the Progress of Fletcher-Place
Church for the Past Three Years.
Rev. j. FL. Doddridge who is just closing his
pastorate Of three years at Fletcher-place NJ. e.
Church. devoted the morning yesterday to a
view of the three years work. He took for the
text Luke xvi, 2: ''Give an account of thy stew
ardship, for thou mayest no longer be steward"
In his opening remarks he dealt at some length
upon the economy of the church that compelled
triennal changes. He said the wisdom of
changing pastors by the calendar" rather than
their usefulness or the needs of the charge has
been questioned by many good people. One
among the greatest disadvantages of the system
was the loss of localinfuence 1t requires time for
minister to acquire such influence and identify
himself with local interests. These triennial
changes, in many instances, remove men just
when they have acquired that influence in
community so essential to real services. In this
respect the settled pastorate' has decided
advantage. 1t seems that sufficient elasticity
should be given system to permit men to
remain longer than three years when the good
of the charge or the cause in that locality
should so demand. All the advantages of the
settled pastorate would thereby be secured to
Some of the advantages named were that it
furnished an excellent arrangement by which
a church could dispose of an
objectionable man with the least
friction and pastor an easy method of leaving
an undesirable charge Then it is the only sys-
tenn that makes possible a perpetual pastorate."
No idle ministers, no vacant pulpits The official
act which removes preacher from one charge
places him in the same relation TO another.
DR. Dorchester tells us that in two leading de-
one % per cent of the pulpits are vacant, in the
other 10 per cent Such condition of things
and the decentralization which must necessarily
follow is not possible IN the itineracy. Under
snd system hs ad tns Of the church n
listers which guide the bishop in making the
appointments, are better known to him through
the presiding elders than would be possible
under the system of ''candidating, hence, must
insure better results Then the wishes of both
preacher and people are met as far as possible.
By this inexorable law relation as pastor
and people will be severed in a few days 1t
seems to me we might spend the hour with profit
in reviewing the field where we have toiled to-
gether. Let do it with heart searchings. for
regrets will come that more has not been done.
Yet we shall find much for which to be thankful,
and our hearts made glad to know that our
labor has not been sin vain in the Lord" Be
all praise to Him that sitteth the throne for
ever.
The money raised during the three years was:
For ministerial support, S. 365; for the cause of
missions 1861. 90; church benevolence $24S 45:
general benevolence, $549 10; current expenses of
the church, 81, 450.92 current expenses of
the Sunday-School $3.50 Ga: total amount raised
for the three years, So 20041.
There were received, from probation, 211; by
certificate 143; total, 354; dismissed by letter,
deceased, Withdrawn. etc. $780, making the net
increase in membership 204
The Sundays school has done earnest efficient
work. This is attested by the fact that ninety
l ~
conversion, while 100 of the probationers received
into full membership were from its ranks The
average attendance at the Sunday-school for
the three years has been 444, a net increase of
| forty the preceding three years The
largest average attendance in the history of the
| school was 502, in 1883.
The class meetings have been spiritual and
helpful. The leaders testify that there has
been an advance all along the line. Taking a
single quarter in each year the attendance was
as follows: The quarter ending March 81, 1883.
the average attendance for the quarter was III;
the quarter ending March Is, 1884, the average
attendance was l65; the quarter ending March
go 1885, the average was 49, making general
average of 164 for six classes or an average for
each class of twenty-seven. The leaders report
forty conversions in the classes Seventeen
weeks were given to revival work During these
meetings about five hundred professed CONVEX
sion. The church was greatly quickened.
Heaven came down our souls to greet
And glory crowned the mercy seat"
The fruits of these meetings were not alone to
Fletcher place Church. Many converted here
united with other churches in the city and else
where. The calendar of heaven alone will show
the result of this work of divine grace But
some will ask, Were they all faithfull 1t makes
our heart sad TO be compelled to answer this ia
the words of the Master:
Some seed fell by the wayside; the fowls came ind
devoured them up.
Some fell on stony places. where they had not
much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, because
they had deepness of earth:
And when the up they were scorched; be-
cause they had no root they withered away.
Some fell among thorns. and the thorns sprung up
and choked them.
But others fell into good ground and brought
forth fruit. some an hundred-fod, some sixtyfoid,
some thirty fold.
Not few Of those converted around these