Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-22
HIS CONGREGATION GIVES HIM A
FORMAL RECEPTION.
The Remarks of Rev. A. 7. Needham
and Others-A Fine Musical
Programme-Etc.

turning him to this people was indorsed by
| the gathering last evening. Mr.. Filben is
| one of the youngest members Of the Confer
| ence, and one who takes an active part.
/ even outside of church matters, in ali
| things, political or otherwise, that has a
tendency to improve the morals of the
| community.
| w. +. Cronemiller made short address,
in which he said those assembled had done
so to extend hand of welcome to their
pastor, and to celebrate the new departure
made by Conference, which allowed min
! lister to be returned TO the same church for
| fourth year.
The young people then sang, wake the
| Glad Song of Jubilee" The song was ex-
cellenty rendered by six young ladies and
| two young men.
Rev. Mr.. Sommers of the A NJ E. Church
led in prayer.
Mrs. J. E. Genung played solo on the
| organ, which was of rare merit and ap-
plauded.
Rev. A. T. Needbam next made short
address. He said AS your Chairman re-
marked. you are here tonight to congratu-
late yourselves on the return OF your pastor,
to welcome him back to your hearts, your
homes, and your pulpit, and to indorse the
new departure made by the Conferer ee,
which makes his return for the fourth year
possible. Heretofore the limit was three.
and now it is made possible for pastor to
remain in charge CT the same pulpit four
and even five years. Out of all the pastors
i'll the California Conference, but three have
been returned for the fourth year, and your
church is one of that number The rules
and regulations OF the church change. For
time the ministers we're changed every
session of Conference. Thelim was after
wards changed to two years, afterwards to
three, and 1T the last session of Con-
ference to five years. 1t is SIM
ply possibility Of five years, as
they are only returned for one year each
time. The ministers OF the Methodist
Church don't lose any time. Our system
works grandly, church is never without
pastor, and never pastor without an ap-
pointment. | have never lost five hours
time in the past twenty-four years, This
thing of changing from one church to
another is a good thing. The pastor in
charge can see and correct evils, he can af-
ford to speak plainly, and if members feel
aggrieved they can lay their complaint be-
fore the bishop, but then that minister will
not be without an appointment. Let him
be fearless and do bis duty, and the Church
will take care of him; another appoint
ment will be made and he sent elsewhere
give your pastor reception tonight. This
IS right, this Is proper, this shows a spirit
of appreciation, Christian spirit, but do
not stop at this. You should give him two
receptions every Sabbath of the year. Come
to church twice on the holy Sabbath, and
induce others to visit the house of God.
There is nothing that stands more in the
way of revival work i'll this city than that
OF attending church but once on the Sabbath
and spending the rest of the day in abso-
Lutte laziness and in lounging about The
excuse that you labor through the week and
must have rest will not do. If our fathers
who labored in the pulpit had met with this
cold Indifference they would not have had
such noted reviyals. We must deny our
selves, take up the cross of Christ, and fol-
low him, and our efforts will be crowned
with success. The man or woman who is
satisfied with attending service but once on
the Sabbath is not in trim to go to revival
service. The revival will be nearly orquite
over before the spirit for doing good is re-
vived in their hearts. At the close of
revival season they will exclaim: "How
is it you closed so soon? Why did you not
keep on ?" This comes when the ministers
are exhausted, and the brothers and sisters
| who have been laboring in the cause are
tired cut. Attend the church regularly
Let your pew never be empty. Be as
prompt in your place as the minister is in
| the pulpit, and you will always be ready 10
enter at the outset upon revival work
You have a pastor whom many other
congregations would like to have. He has
| only kindly feelings in his heart toward all
| lie is an unceasing and never tiriDg worker,
| and ali he does and says is in purely
| Christian spirit, intended only for your best
interest and future welfare.
| The mi nictpr af-ar1 ic p1is1ui ou1
| his motives misconstrued. He has said
or done something that does not exactly
accord with the views of some of his con-
gregation. If he has said something that
! has offended, rest assured he was honest,
and give him credit for it. 1t is we'll
| known fact that even q minister of the
gospel, try he ever SO hard, cannot
| please everybody. If he starts out TO
please everyone and offend no one,
he will find himself in the position of the
man, the boy and the donkey, we read of
in fable-he tried to please everybody, and
! lost all. Ministers are but men they ex-
| press their convictions, and sometimes
| give otfense. They often have to say things
from the pulpit that others think had bet
ter be left unsaid. If the things be SAYS
are true, he feels constrained to make use
| of them, let the consequences be what they
may. He is not infallible, neither are his
hearers. The speaker may be misunder-
stood he may be mistaken, or the hearer
may be mistaken therefore let us have
charity.
Our hearers sometimes credit US with
| things we do not say. While the snti-rent
agitation was at its hight in Ireland. a lady
who was regular attendant, after hearing
the minister read his text, arose in high
dudgeon, left her pew, walked out of the
church, and said she didn't think q man
who would advocate such doctrine should
be allowed to preach in civilized commu
nifty. When asked for an explanation, she
said, Sure and didn't he read for his text
Except We pay your rent, you must al
leave the parish" 7" Now, this poor woman
was entirely mistaken. The text was
Except We repent, We shall all likewise
perish"
Woe is me if preach not the gospel o
Christ. Ministers come to you as men o
convictions they are the messengers of tbs
Most High sent to speak of the things O.
GOD, men who are following out the deepes
convictions the heart can possess. Th,
doctrines they preach are the most tender
for they come nearer to US in the most ten
der ties of life. In the baptism of you
children it is he who officiates, who conse
crates their young lives. When the mar
riage ceremony is to be performed, wheI
|
are to 90 forth from the family hearthston,
to that of another. when your hearts ar,
tender, when you feel that this step is fo
veal or woe, for JOY or sorrow, he again il
called in to officiate. When death invade
the home, the loved ones are laid low
| again the man of God is called in to offe
consolation, to speak of hope, to tel
: you of that blissful future state wher
Gods people will be again united
, There is no profession in life more tender
or whose services are more important thar
: that of the minister. The relations W
sustain toward our pastor should be th
/ most cordial, tender and pleasant. He cal
do nothing, he can accomplish nothin
without the support of his congregation
An eminent divine once said: - l am sue
: cessful because there is so much of m
2 power in the pew" Said John Clark
, In the ministry the man rises very muc
t above himself or sinks very much be
meath himself In order to ris
above himself he must be thorough
! | Christian he must be aided by Goo
/; 1t is very important thing, then, tbs
you sustain your minister by PRAYER LIZ
4 the membership of Central Church sustain
s their pastor; rally around him. l hop
this will be the best year in the history {
the Central Church. May your pastor
D health be spared, and at the end of th
y