The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-01-10

y. NrOSS IN the NonSreSdtlOnal cnurcn at
the closing of the old year.
My Dear Brethren ank Friends.-As
it is hardly possible for minister to work
into his sermons all the things he would
like to say to his people and as all nv
efforts cannot secure that amount ofpas-
toral intercourse for which long, have
felt that could not serve you better at
this season than by writing you a pas
toral letter. You will all agree with me
am sure, that the closing hours of the
year furnish an appropriate occasion for
looking backward and looking forward.
I would like then, first. of all, to COM
memorate some of the mercies which
have crowned the fifteen months during
which we have worshiped and labored
together.
Your kindly expressions Of good will in
the form of gifts to myself and family are
among the pleasant things to remember,
and the very generous and considerate
sympathy shown US in the hour of our
deep sorrow will always remain fresh
and green in memory.
Were it not that colder eyes than yours
might look on these lines, should like to
assure you, withal, of the affection have
for you, for fear have failed to mani
fest it as might have done. Plainness
of speech at times both in the pulpit and
out of it, may have conveyed different
impression.
To all those especially who have con-
tributed their willing aid to the various
schemes of usefulness-to the faithful Sun
day School teachers-to the members of
the choir--to theregular attendants upon
the sanctuary and midweek services, and
to all those who have contributed gener-
ously of their time and money, I would
tender pastors warmest gratitude.
I would like to speak of the delight 1
have felt at seeing so much happiness
and comfort in your homes-so much
mutual affection between heads of fam
lilies, between parents and chilcren, and
brothers and sisters. All this indoor
comfort and tranquility is, to my mind,
an evident aspect of Gods blessing.
would also record with gratitude the
measure of our congregational harmony
Behold how good and how pleas
ant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity. There the Lord commands his
blessing, even spiritual and eternal life.
But while the Acknowledgements OF
Gods goodness is delightful occupation
of a closing year, it is equally fitting
with an opening year, to consider what
more we can do for the God of our mercies
in the days and months to come. AS a
church and people we have our duties,
both individual and congregational. 1t
is to some of these, as we stand on the
Threshold of a new year, that your pas
tor would like to call your attention.
Let the new year be one of greater zeal.
Make Paul's words your motto "Be dill.
igent in business, fervent in spirit, serv,
ing the Lord" Be diligent in your call,
ing, in seeking personalimprovement and
in doing good. Ply your daily vocation
whatever it be, in a Christian spirit. Re.
member that you may do Gods will just
as truly in the workshop, the counting
house, the school-room or the nursery, as
in the pulpit or the prayer meeting. Dc
nothing therefore, grudgingly or otneccs.
sity, but heartily as unto the Lord
Adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour
by your patient, sprightly and thorough.
going industry.
Be especially earnest in your efforts to
win souls to Christ, Plan for such work
as you would plan for success in business
or study. Don't give away to the COW.
ardly fear that you have no qualifca.
lions flor work of this kind. Try your
powers! No one knows what he can ac-
complish under God till he makes the
veuturs. BY all means engages in some
direct effort to do good. An earnest and
willing soul will find or make field Of
usefulness for ITSELF
During the year now closing, thirty
eight persons have been received into
church membership, thirty-two on con-
fession Of faith and six by letter. This is
the largest number resolved during any
year in the history of the church. men
ton this fact by way OF encouragement.
These results have been largely due to
personal efforts by Sunday school teach
ers and Others. But much larger results
might have been secured had all Christ
ians given themselves te the work. May
we look for greater diligence in the year
to come. There are children and youth
to be gathered into the Sunday school.
Are there not jealous Christians among
us who will find and bring them in
There is ample room too, for aggressive
work in our Y. P. S. c. E. Its meetings,
generally speaking, have been exceeding
ly interesting and spiritually auickening:
Not few persons, let us hope, have there
found their way into the kingdom. All
regular attendants have been greatly
helped. But the time has now come for
reconsecration of the members. The
idea of personal obligation must be push-
ed to the front at once. New zeal and
devotion among the ranks of the young
means new converts to Christ and new
aceessions to the roll of the church. In
all our work for the Master let us be
thorough, resolutc and in earnest. ia
our attempts at usefulness let us be not
only conscientious, bat enthusiastic.
"What the church of our day needs"
ONE one has said, "is not more machin-
cry but more steam" You see the point?
The work of the church, ever on the in
crease, has branched tout in manifold di.
rections. For every branch society has
been formed. But each organization
calls for an additional supply of energy.
Here then is the danger-in that the re-
quired power of enthusiasm may not be
supplied and the machinery Of our organ