The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16


ened by prayer. The delegation from
parishes had been increased during the
morning. Many visiting brothers and
sisters had come from the scattered
homes of the faith in the outlying vicin-
ity, and when the president called to
order, the church was filed with an in
terested and earnest audience, who lis
tened with thoughtful attention to the
proceedings. Quiet and order prevailed
to noticeable degree, considering the
number wholwere there to listen, but to
take no active part.
The Committee on Nominations being
called, reported the following names:
President, Rev. l.. j. Dinsmore; vice pres
ident, Mary J. De Long; secretary, Rev.
R. G.. Spafford i treasurer, W. H. Rogers;
executive committee, John Hasy, S. A.
Rice.
Committee of Fellowship: Rev. j. M.
Payson, DR.. J. G. Hilton and Dr. FL. B.
Latin.
Delegates to General Convention:
Rev. j. NJ. Payson, W. H. Rogers and
T. G. Ryan.
Visitors to Lombard: Rev. H. J. Ore
1up, Rev. E. E. Bartlett.
Preacher occasional sermon, Rev. r.
G.. Spafford.
Place of adjournment, Lodi.
The report was accepted, and at
subsequent meeting the balloting re-
suited in the election of these persons to
the offices for which they had been
named.
A committee on resolutions was ap-
pointed, consisting Of Rev. l.. J Dins-
more, chairman; Rev. Edgar Leavitt and
Rev. B. F. Rogers.
THE PULPIT.
The hour having arrived, as given on
the program, the Convention was ia
vored with a very inspiring and instruct
i've. address, given by W. FL. Rogers, of
Fl. Atkinson, on, GO What the pews have
right to expect from the pulpit" The
address was given extempore, and we
cannot give an abstract of it, as we
would like. But the points were that
the pews have a right to expect of the
pulpit, first of all, Christian piety and
sound moral character. A minister
breaches as much by his character and
actions as by his words; therefore he
should be of true, answering moral
principle. After this the preacher
should have fair ability and something
of the graces of oratory. If he have not
these graces naturally, he must be faith
| full and persistent in acquiring them. He
has no right to expect to succeed in the
pulpit without thema And last of all, and
fully as important as any the pews have
| right to expect of the preacher good
common sense. This is the barest out
| line of what was in reality a ringing,
earnest, very timely and practical adj
dress, which the Convention enjoyed i'm
| mensely.
THE PEws.
This was followed by one from Rev.
| A. N. Somers, pastor at Ft. Atkinson, on
''What the pulpit has a right to expect
of the pews.
In general way the clergy have GER
| tain distinct claims upon the laity OF
the Christian church.
The claims of the clergymen upon the
people must grow out of the Office he
discharged to and for them rather than
out of any peculiar sanctity of the class
| to which he belongs. He may expect to
lNo cd allat, n on hnP
| ity upon religious subjects. He may ex-
pect, since he has qualified himself for
that work, that the people TO when cir
cumstances determine he shall preach
| be interested in his mission.
The clergyman sustains also the rela-
| ton of pastor as well as teacher. Thus his
duties and responsibilities are increased;
as these increase his claims upon the
people increase also He is expected to
visit the sick and unfortunate, to comfort
and counsel with them, to rebuke evil
and to commend good in every reputa-
BILE enterprise of his people. If much is
! expected of the pastor it should be rec
ognized that he has just and equal
grounds of expectation. The speaker
had seen fully as many preachers work
ed and worried and starved into the
grave, as he had ever seen congregations
weakened, starved and disorganized
through failure of preachers to discharge
| their duties.
Then again, of all important claims
the pastor has upon his flock, none are
| greater than his right to expect every
one of them in their places when he
comes before the assembled congrega-
ton to preach. To say the least,
when members of the congregation,
who were either openly or quietly
responsible for the minister's having
been called into their service, stay away
from the regular service of the church
without good excuse, they are treating
him with disrespect. There is no source
| of power in the minister greater than an
interested enthusiasm among the peo-
pie. An Indifferent congregation, one
not regular in attendance on preaching,
can do very much to weaken a strong
preacher.
The pastor has further right to ex-
pect that the people viii lay aside their
prejudices and hear him candidly, MAX
ing sure they understand him; so doing
| AWAY with earning and unnecessary