The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-24
THE OLD STORY ONCE MORE.

leisure. The details are just those of
which we have all heard SO often: The
eloquent stranger who came along just in
the nick of time, and was engaged to sup
ply the pulpit for Sunday; the charm.
ing sermons by which he captivated all
the people; the prompt meeting and the
extending of a call, and the beginning Of
the new passionate with great flourish
ing of trumpets; then the whispers of
strange stories from former fields,
whispers that grew thicker and more de-
finite every day and finally-but why
prolong the tale? The net result is
church diegrsced in the eyes OF the COM
munity, divided in counsels, its members
scattered, even it's existence threatened"
The evil complained of above has in
past years afflicted many of our western
Universalist churches. We could give
some sad examples of the same kind of
thoughtless action on the part of par
ishes followed by similar disastrous re-
suits. But the evil grows less with
every year, as our organization becomes
more general and compact, and the peo-
pie understand more fully their rela-
tions to the general church. AS we are
at present constituted there is little ex-
cuse for parishes 'laying hands sudden
ly" on any candidate, without under
standing something of his former
church relations; and especially his
standing as man and pastor in the
denomination.
Our system of fellowship is now a
safeguard in the generality of cases.
The preacher who cannot exhibit regu-
lar papers, and who is outside of the
fellowship of the church, should not be
encouraged by any of our loyal parish
es, no matter what his abilities may
be, nor what kind of an impression he
makes upon the public on the platform
or in the pulpit. 1t is only in remote
quarters of the country, where our
cause is not organized, that there is any
difficulty in understanding just who or
what the man is who offers himself for
the service of the pulpit. In MAORI
ty of cases it is very easy to determine
his standing and for our churches to
protect themselves from the irresponsi-
BILE, but eloquent" taking" and
"tramp" preacher. No engagement
should be made with any minister, by
any of our churches, unless he is known
to possess the fellowship of the denom-
nation, nor even then, without under
standing something Of his record in
other fields of labor. We have enough
good, faithful pastors to supply church
es without parishes assuming any Of
the risks of such dangerous settle
ments.
This "old story" is very sad one in
many of it's relations. 1t could not be
better expressed than in the words of
the Aduance which we have given
above. 1t is one of the strangest possible
things why so many of our western
churches have been deceived in the past
by these eloquent strangers" 1t
would seem very easy matter for
churches to reach exact conclusions
with regard to those who present them
selves for service; and it has been
a mystery why so many of our
parishes have allowed themselves to
be injured by placing confidence in
those who have come to them without
credentials as to character and useful
ness. The evil, as we have remarked,
is, however, growing less with every
year. More and more are our people
beginning to understand that the set
Element of pastor is serious matter,
and one in which no risks should be
taken, particularly with reference to
the character of the man they would
install over the church as the religious
teacher and guide.
First and always in default of definite
information, there should be an appli-
cation to the State committee of fell
lowship for the exact standing of the
candidate who is proposed, or who pro-
poses himself If there is no organized
convention in the State, information
should be sought elsewhere. This in
quiry is something to which no good
man will object; and every good man
who has the fellowship of the church
can easily have the fact testified if he
finds himself among strangers. 1t may
seem a needless matter on which to
caution our churches, but we strongly
advise all our parishes to examine
the credentials of every applicant who
is unknown and not commit themselves
to his support as minister until they
have evidence, that he is worthy and
we'll qualified. We say this for the
benefit of churches remote from our
centers when eloquent strangers" ap-
pear whose character is unknown, and
in this way parish officials may pre-
serve themselves from trouble and save
the church from scandal and disaster.
BEGINNING OF AMERICAN BAP-
fist MISSIONS.