St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-30
SAINT PAUL.
SUNDAY MUSINGS.

An aged PRESBYTERIAN minister writes:
Christmas has come and gone. The
bells have RUG ont their wild melody
per the winter snow; the Christmas
anthems have been sung; grand organs
have pealed forth loud praises to the
Infant SAVER; majestic affairs nave
been bright with flowers and count
less lights. The Sunday within
the octave of Christmas mas
passed. and all is over. The Christmas
carols have been sung, the Christmas
trees have ElOwed gloriOuSiy with Their
myriads of twiRkllng tapers; the glftS
have been distributed with LAVISH
hand: and now is this To be the END OF
il all? Are we 10 be done with peace ON
earth and good will t. men for another
year? The angels have gone from US
into heaven, but may not we, as did the
shepherds on the Syrian plains, go
even unto Bethlehem. and see this thing
which is come tu pass, which the LORD
hath made known unto us?'' Let the
weary and the Norld-wOrn follow the
Holy One through His lovely
infancy. His SpoileSS childhood,
His wondrous ministry, on 10
the cross aud passion, the pre-
ciOuS death and burial, the glorious res
nrrrrtion aud ascension. Let them
study and strive to initiate HIS un-
clouded purity. His transparent truth
fumeSS. His match!eSS unconscious
dignity. Let them drink deep draughts
of that spirit of gentleneSS and courage
a gentieneSS 50 winning that a lttle
child could look up into that benign
countenance and be sure Of loving
smile and tender CareSS-a courage so
true anu uufQutprlng that he cOuio
stand alone and proclaim eterhai
truths in The face of bitter enmity and
even death itself!
Yesterday was the last Sunday of the
diving year, and from thousands OF pun
pits throughout this broad land were
delivered sermons which reviewed inc
past and Looked forward with prophruc
vision TO the future. One or the hrSI
thoughts i'm the mind and heart OF
earnest pastors and Jealous laity Is the
thought, how to insure the growth OF
the church. Is the church that is, our
own church, our own individual cOngre-
gatiOul keeping pare in numbers, use
fulnvSs. spiritual vitality and temporal
prosperity with the other churches
around Us? Given q growing cOmmu-
nity. an Pyer-iuCreasing population. ana
this question rs 10 the propOrtionate
growth and increase Of the religious
bodY to which We belong Will always De
q question of the prOioundeSt interest.
No minister likes 10 think that his par
fsh or his congregation Is not keeping
up with the other parishes or eongre-
cations around. No faithful laYman
but feels an anxious pang as the tine
approaches foi comparing the results
accomplished during the past year win
those of previous ones, and for forming
plans to send the work forward with
renewed impetus at the outset or new
and ala untried period OF Time
It is no sign of growing church
when the IacPS are constantly changing.
but the numbers remain the same. 1t
IS not proof of healthy increase when
one sees city, village or township
rapidly filling up with people, and the
church does not seem TO gam anything
from the steady inflow. 1t is poor and
marrow policy which would lead any to
say thar 50 long as those who had gone
away had been replaced 10y newcomers
there is nothing to complain or. Bitter
far would it 10 have been to have kept
a firm and equal hold on old and new
members alike. There are, Of course,
exceptional eases, as there are eXcep-
tional years, and it would be decidedly
unjust 10 apply the same rule to all;
but it may generally be accepted as a
fair proposition that the church which
does not keep pace, in point of numbers
and influence, with the population from
which it should draw its strength. IS
not a living church, whatever else it
may claim to be.
While unanimity would seem to be a
most desirable thing in church, it Is
not always healthy sign. 1t sometimes
IS the unfortunate result OF crowding-
out process, in which the stronger OF
two opposing factions has gained tenn
pOrary supremacy, and the beaten mi
nority has retired, leaving the majority
master of the field. A little diversity or
opinion, q little variety in views, should
not be frowned down; rather should
they be encouraged, within moderate
bounds and under proper control. A
church which can make room for none
except these who pronounce the same
shibboieth is never going to be grow
ing. uSeful or influential church. IMAM
unity in good works is what the church
needs: and if only the good deeds are
numerous, and well and gladly done in
the Masters name, no one need fear for
that cnUTch's future, even though all
her members do not believe alike on
many matters of minor Importance.