The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21

eu 10 Gnelr Tull capac1ty; tney lack unity
of purpose, coherenoe, largeness of aim
Too many limit their calculations tc
the local parish; it is not always easy
to bring neighboring parishes into ac-
tive sympathy. The clergy, too, work
sometimes at cross purposes. They
carry on a kind of guerilla warfare,
rather than advance by system in a def
mite and well-planned campaign all
along the line. Observe, we do not
make these statements in complaining
spirit; the fault lies not so much with
preachers or parishes, considered singly,
as with our chaotic. habit, our lack
of system, and, what is still more to the
point, the absence hitherto of any ade-
quate means for intoxicating and build
ing up system. The primary prob
lem, therefore, is that Of consolidating,
unifying our present numbers, and of
inspiring them to undertake together
the enterprise of church extension.
Our Opportunities.
In the second place, take note of the
noble opportunities for church enlarge
ment afforded us in Ohio. From how
many quarters comes the Macedonian
cry, "Come over and help usI" OF our
largest cities, Cleveland, Dayton, To-
ledo, are wholly unoccupied; of cities
of the next grade, Springfield and Ham
ilton are making an effort to live, with
hopeful outlook, while Youngstown,
Canton, GAINESVILLE aSteubenville, etc, are
wholly uncared for by our ministration.
And the commonwealth is full of smaller
cities and towns, growing rapidly and
promising importance in the near fu-
ture, which yet we have not visited.
The inevitable tendency Of population
in these times is to aggregate itself in
the cities, and there the great battles
of the next age, between truth and er-
ror, virtue and vice, must be fought
out. At every salient point we should
plant our standard, selecting first those
that bid fair to become promptly self
supporting and contributors at no dis
tant date to the common campaign.
Is not this picture, scantily drawn as
it is, a call to action Does it not in
dicate a vast field OF Possibilities ? But
how to meet the situation, how to in
crease our fighting force, how to get the
battle for conquest n actual motion,
that is the questlan The answer Of
the Executive Committee, nay, Of the
Convention itself, which has fully and
heartily endorsed the Committees pro-
gram, is this: A State Superintendent.
He is not, indeed, proposed as magi-
cal solution Of the problems that beset
us; no miracles are expected of him.
Nor will he be able to lift the whole
load on his own unaided shoulders.
What then is his function ? This, to
be
An Organizer and Leader.
1t is for him to counsel pastorless
parishes in their own affairs, and to Sc
cure their contributions to the general
campaign fund. He may direct them
to suitable pastor, and the unemployed
pastor to them. He may effect their
union in circuits, thus outstanding their
strength, and securing them better and
more continuous services. In word,
he will constitute their medium of in
communication, a factor hitherto
wanting. In him they will have sort
Of mutual understanding in him will
assume relations of friendliness and
mutual support in him will begin to
work together for common ends, in
stead of singly and at variance. In un-
ion is strength; and the State Superin-
tendent is the most available means of
union.
Further, the State Superintendent is
our voice to be lifted up in the wilder
ness, where our doctrines have hereto
fore been unheralded. The pastor finds
full employment for his time in looking
after the multitudinous interests of his
charge. 1t is only in weak and desul-
tory ways that he can hope to open up
new territory. But the Superintendent
can plan his entrance upon those fields,
and devote such time to it as may be
needful. And there he may Temporal
rily localize himself, remaining until
the movement has gained strength to
go alone, and he has established at its
head some competent pastor to carry it
forward to complete success. Then he
may betake himself to other frontiers,
and repeat the process. Meanwhile,
the new parishes thus formed by our
common labor will become new foun-
tains of life to our cause, increasing
our enthusiasm as numbers multiply
and results are won, and enriching the
treasury by their grateful donations to
the line of effort which has brought
them into being.
The work to be done is no day dream;
the only regret is that one Superintend-
ent cannot possibly cover the whole
realm of need. But he can do what he
can; and his efforts will hasten the
day when other co-laborers may divide
the enterprise with him, and enhance
the harvest. To conclude, the State
Superintendenc is the dictate of SIM