The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-12
DIR. ALABASTER'S FAREWELL
The Labors and the Tribulati0ns Incl
dent to a Pastors Life.
Rev. A. w. Lamport breaches His First Ser
mon as the Pastor of the Central-Ave-
nue. Church-0ther Services.
DIR. ALABAsTER's LAST SERMON.


Two Years.
Yesterday morning. at the Meridan-street M.
e. Church, the Rev. John AIabaster preached
the first of his last two sermons pastor of that
congregation. The church was crowded, and
the interest was heightened by the reverend
gentleman's following statement, PREDATORY to
his discourse:
II wish to give a brief statement of my labors
among you during the past two years. This L
do chiefly that you may obtain view of the
busy life of pastor in these days, and also OF
some phases of the life and work Of the church
During the time, L have attended thirty
riages, and baptized thirty persons
The visits of your pastor have been upwards OF
one thousand. He has preached 169 sermons
and in addition given eighteen monthly lectures
Sixty other lectures, mostly for the beneht
of local churches or general church enterprises
have been given, some in Kansas, Wisconsin,
Illinois. Michigan, Ohio, New York and Georgia;
and others in upwards of thirty different viii
lagos and cities in Indiana. These, together
with other addresses, involved journeys which
aggregate 10000 miles. In addition to such
7abors have been the prayer-meetings official
meetings. Sunday school and various minor
gagements, amounting in all to not less than 300.
No one but the pastor can be aware of the nu-
merous changes that occur in church member
ship. During the two years two names have
been dropped from the record. ten have with
drawn, the most by request of the church, four
teen have died. forty-fve gone from tie city
without church ceitihcates and 101 have re-
moved by certificate There received
probation forty-one, intofull membership thirty
four, and by certificate ninety nine. The total
removals by all causes were 172 the total acces-
sons, not including practitioners, 133 This
makes the aggregate of changes in the two
years, 300.
There are items which enter into the work of
a pastor that cannot be represented by figures
mi Ic fnY no rb11re np-
riodicals; he is expected to take upon himself
the burden and care of all the many benevolent
causes of the church, and toward contributions
for the same to their destinations; and he is to
do many more things not expected
from the pastors in other churches.
There various demands upon his time and
sire myth that are almost too numerous to men
ton, and some of which are curiosi-
"ties in their way. What heaps of cir
culars reach us on all possible mat
tiers, and letters, some of which might go into
pastoral museum. Fathers write from hundreds
of miles distant to beg you hunt out their dissi-
pated sons. Distant wives wish information
:, about their husbands, and husbands about their
wives letter inquiries about the competency
of legal firm; another inquiries whether Indian
apolis is good city for tailors. Several persons
write to know the value of property. and the
rent of houses. Some wish me to give infOr-
matien about boarding houses. The characters
of various persons in the church and in the city
are inquired into, and flood of letters and Cir
culars comes soliciting the interest of the pastor
In certain new or old medicines, in inventions, in
various persons who wish to secure positions
from the most mental to the presidency and
in all grades and classes of political candidates.
Here is a woman who has invented new kind
of summer drink, and she tries to impress You
as minister that it is your solemn duty to
publicly and privately recommend it, that the
cause OF temperance may be promoted. One of
the most trying obtrusions upon the pastor
Is certain type of book
pleasant things. and finally comes to his bust
ness. insists upon showing you all the pictures
in the prospectus, reading choice pages, max
fng it appear your duty to buy the book, and if
you will not, to sign your name for it whether
you take it or not for your influence. And
finally his impudence eliminates in requesting
list of your members that he may call on them
with YOUR approval. And what scores of calls
from persons wholly outside the pastors church
and congregation, and on matters that really do
not belong to pastors work Then the appli-
cations for aid for all possible causes-agents
from north, south, east and west, official
ing charitable, educational ecclesiastical
and reformatory work. They wish to
preach, to lecture, to talk few
minutes before or after service, to take a collee
ton, to stand at the door after service, to call
upon few of your leading members financially.
ARd what multitude of lobbyists desire to see
and solicit the interest of the pastor. Here is a
man with patent theory on temperance an
question, another with special inspiration on
woman's suffrage, or the peace question, or pub
lie education, or the woes of Ireland. And all
mus be heard, for each thinks the world is wait
ing and suffering for his views. The tramp nui-
sance always difficult problem is complicated
to the pastor of this church by proximity to the
Office of the board of charities. Somehow the
tramps seem to get mixed and your pastor has
been obliged to hold parley with about one hun
dred of them.
II have said there are things not to be repre-
sented by figures. The pastor has to stand yea
how often. between the church and the world
and defend the church from fault. finders be-
tween member and member and contend for
righteous Judgment of the other Then the
pastor must maintain the harmony of various in
terests in the church. Some all music some
all Sabbath-scho0l, some all sociable; but the
pastor must be the moderator, in quiet way
seeking the promotion of each church interest.
He is to be universal friend, into whose ear
every person and every cause can make appeals
for sympathy. Then there is that unspeakabe
anxiety which pastor feels for the pre-emi-
nence OF the spiritual life in his church. AS
Paul asked in his day, so may we now
Who Is sufficient for these thingsP In the
midst OF all, and more than have said and
with the cares of family, has your pastor Ia
bored. endeavorng to rightly divide the word.
to promote what he believes to be your highest
interest: to uphold right and truth; to labor not
/ for present applause or momentary results, but
for the real upbuildlng of the church and the
@permanent development and Strengthening of
- her members.
~ am about to leave you for another field, but
leave with deepest interest in your future, with
sincerest Christian love for you ALL with grateful
recollections of your many kindnesses, and with
devout prayers for your success in all that NAV
not hinder you from each hearing in the great
lay, those words most precious to all who land
upon the eternal shore: Well donei good and
4 faithful servant
The sermon had for its topic ''The Pastors
Prayer for His Church." suggested by Hebrews
xiii 20, ri: Now the God of peace, that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that
great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect
in every good work to do His will, working in
you that which is well pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever