Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-10-08
&eligioms department.
Organized Work.

There is hardly any form of work
that is not better for being well or
ganized. 1t is true in commerce,
politics, philanthropy, literature. and
scholarship. It is just as true
in religion. There is no more rea-
son why religious work should be
conducted in random, hap-hazard,
hit-or-miss manner than any other
work which is worth doing There
has been an improvement in late
years in methods of church work.
1t comes largely from the introduce
ton of better methods or organiza-
ton.
Apart from its functions of wor-
ship and education, there is no church
that has not some practical work to
do; and this work, whatever it is,
will be the better done if done me-
thodically, under careful arrange
ment and for definite ends. The
work of the church naturally belongs
to the special field in which it is
placed. 1t is anomalous for a church
to be working for missionary enter
prises on the other side of the globe
and neglecting the opportunities and
the equally crying needs of the field
around it. Many churches need to
have their eyes opened to the things
that it is possible for them to do
in their own neighborhood. The at
tempt to organize for practical Chris
tian work in it's various branches is
generally sure to reveal some form
of work in which a Christian church
may engage. The church that COM
plains that it has no field about it,
and selfshly settles down to inaction
and self indulgence, should learn
that the field is the world. Though
the apostles were commanded to be-
gin the preaching of the gospel at
Jerusalem, they were not enjoined
to stay there. And though a church
may plead that the work nearest at
hand is the work most important for
it to do, yet it is true that wherever
in this round world its service may
be useful in helping humanity and
in diffusing the light of religion and
of love there it is commissioned to
labor. The church that has no mis-
sion at home ought to find one
abroad just as soon as possible.
Let it hitch its battery and its Cos
pei to the telegraph or the long-dis-
lance telephone.
Much of what we here say applies
to our country churches. There is
important work to be done in country
towns. But if country church finds
no poor at it's doors, and no such
strenuous demands as fall upon city
churches, there is no reason why it
should relapse into slothfulness. The
country churches may do something
to help bear the burdens of the great
cities. This has been we'll illustra-
ted in that admirable charity, the
Country Week. The country church.
es have done much to give happy
outing, with all its healthful conse-
quences, to the children who live in
crowded city homes. Undoubtedly,
more could be done by more thor
ough organization of country church
es in relation to the problems of
charity and humanity with which the
city churches are called upon so di-
rectly to deal.
When we speak of organization,
we mean not merely organization on
paper, but combination for direct,
earnest practical work. Enlist every
member. Let there be no drones.
The motto for every pastor should
be, GA place for every one and ev-
cry one in his place. "-Christian
Register.