The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-10-29

delightful. There was 10 nh61ee-.aaS;z
dredging" This is from the account
of dedication of new church. 1t
is refreshing and restful. There has
been 80 much Financial dredging" at
some of the dedication, that dedica-
ton services have bee Ime, to many
good people, an insufferable nuisance.
The practice of engaging a profess
sional "debt RAISER" and having him
worry out of the people pletges which
may involve the payment OF their last
cent, IS one of which the christian
public are very tired.
Hanson Place Baptist church, in
BfQoklypi has new pastor, Rev. j. G.
Allen. He is a young man, who
comes from successful pastoral work
IN Elizabeth, n. j. He has manly
personal appearance, a musical voice,
and d very magnetic style of delivery.
The church has, for some time, been
vacant, and was running down. In
former years, DR.. Justin D. Fulton,
DR.. Ptntec2st and DR.. Gallaher have
served it as pastors. The building has
recently been altered and embellished.
The prospect for growth and prosper
ity is now exceedingly hopeful.
This is the Sunday set apart by the
boards of management of the Sum-
day School union and Tract society
of the Meth dist church as giving day
on behalf of these two great causes.
They name it "Good Tidings Day."
and they nope that the efforts of the
day will be followed by good tldings
of liberal collections from all the
churches and Sunday schools. At.
tractive programmes for special exer-
cises by the young people have been
prepared. Thus the day will not
merely be one of the passing of COLI
lection boxes, but Of lively pleasure in
extraordinary service.
In Iceland the women have votes as
well as voices in church affairs. The
custom has existed there for ages, and
is kept up by the Icelanders who have
emigrated to this country and settled
in Dakota. There are in Dakota,
Montana and Manitoba nearly dozen
Icelandic congregations. These re-
Gently met in convention at Noun
taina, Dak., and adopted a synodical
constitution. There was considerable
discussion on the woman question,
but finally it was carried by two>
thirds vote that the women continue
to enjoy their ancient privilege. 1t
is estimated that there are about 5000
Icelanders in this country. More are
coming.
The Methodist Protestant church is
departing from its old custom of send
| ing its ministers from one church to
another every year or two. The min
| listers are very tired of it, and so are
the pleople. Pastor Holberg of Wood
haven, L. l., has been serving one
| church for three years and refuses to
| be transferred. In that time he has
built new church and paid 81 600 of
the debt. HavIng thus had reason for
becoming attached to the church, he
naturally wants to stay. So with
many other clergymen. Some of the
people are well pleased at having new
| pastors, FIR in SON. instances they
| have been wearied. In a few of the
churches women serve as ministers.
a Baptist deacon in Oakland, Cal,
shows how the work of thelay presch-
er is practicable and useful. Though
he is photographer and doing a large
business, he has been licensed to
preach. He breaches in Alameda
/ every Sunday, and manages TO do a
little visiting du,i g Inc week. He
draws large congregations, and edifies
them. His work comes in very ac-
cepta'bly. for the Alameda Baptists
are not able to support pastor. An
other deacon, w o is also licensed to
preach, is railroad engineer. He
breaches in Carlf6, and runs Sunday
school at his own expense. Generally,
the lack of~sacceSs en- the part of lay
! preachers arises from the fact that
most of the business men who under
take this work are cry and prosy talk
ers. Nobody wants to listen to dull
preaching, I'm ess it is compulsory;
and there is no law in these days to
] make it soA