The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-06
After tho RcviVul-What?

| phCelS PohSl, W lOltSCc butU uuIS pcI
sons who 60 into the church during
revival seasons will soon drop back
into the old ways and habits. The
world is pulling at them and begging
them to return to the old manner oflire
and many Of the established church
members give them push. Few
Of them take hold Of the new mcm-
bers with firm grip as though they
intended to make their new relations
the most pleasant and helpful posi-
bic. The pastors Of churches, either
| for want Of time, or because they do
not understand the true work of Il
pastor often fail just after big
meeting. They seem to think they
have done their duty when they
break themselves down and grows
hoarse in few weeks revival, and
finish up by writing letter to their
church paper, giving the results Of
the meeting with mathematical
eXactness. They remind one Of
q sheep owner, who would bring
his flock through the winter all
right and watch over it until the
lamb revival in the spring. He
would then announce to his neigh
bors that nc had fifty lambs added
to his flock and it was u glorious in
crease. Suppose he leaves them
there, expecting in the fall to re
turn and find fifty large, fat, young
sheep. Instead Of that state Of al
fairs he would find that many Of the
lambs had literally gone to the dogs,
and few Of the older ones too.
The pastors work is only begun
when the revival is over. Building
up and strengthening new character
is more difficult than pcrsuading
crowds to begin Il new life. By his
personal effort he can do much, not
by way Of general sermons, but by
visiting the new members, always
beginning with the most humble and
the ones most liable to fall. Thcynccd
Instructions they cannot get from
the pulpit. Here comes in the need
Of Weslcy's old class meetings, or
something similar or better, in which
every church member will be made
to feel that lie is an important factor
in the society and that much dc
pends on his right doing. The
weekly or monthly me .ting, with
perhaps 40-minutc sermon on the
symbolic meaning OF the phylactcrics,
or an earnest attack on intidclity,
there not being single inGdcl in
hearing, or very clear explanation
Of the different kinds Of faith, or
other similar foolishncss, will not
make the service very attractive TO
new members who have just made up
their minds to como out from avery
lively sort OF world. If they find
the church a barren wilderness, with
no Moses to strike the living streams
Of water from rock, or to call down
the mama from heaven, they will
soon prefer the old pleasures and as.
sociates they had when in bondage
to sin. And they arc not much to
blame either. The new convert does
not want "didactic and polcmc the
ology'' from the pulpit. Much Of
that would kill any church and build
q devils kingdom. Then the pastor
cannot scold new members back into
the right way after they once begin
to slip little. Scoldiny in the pul
| pit will arouse Il spirit Of rebellion
quicker than anything else. 1t re-
quires love TO win people to the
church and tcn-fold increase Of it
to keep them there. Then let there
be no scolding, however much the
new members may stragglc from the
flock. Some preachers take occasion,
even in their prayers, to adm.nistcr q
| little ungencrous rcprOol, or all
along through tho sermon one may
sec signs Of personal piquc. Such as
that comes from the devil and helps
to build up his kingdom Unless the
pastor is chccrfully and literally
aided by his established members,
both male and female, his individual
efforts, although constant and well
directed, will not accomplish all that
should be done. The ideal Christian
Church will see the pastor and all
membership working together for their
own growth in grace and knowledge,
and at the same time reaching out
after those who arc very irrcliglous.
Our churches arc altogether too re-
spectacle. They prefer q caste meet.
ing any time to a class meeting.
They would not touch with Il ten
foot pole such sinners as found ac.
cess to the Great Teacher. or course
The church is not intended TO level
ali class distinctions, but if the bet.
ter people fail to recognize and level
up the more humble members, cS.
! pecially new converts, then the church
fails in its mission. RccoHnition
and sympathy and material aid will
do more good in building up new
character and creating sclr.rcspcct,