The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-27

There Is an immense amount Of unused
force in every church. IL IS the business OF a
Good pastor 70 set II at work.
In tins day converts generally understand
.omewhat OF the meaning of the parallels
about the vineyard. They understand that
tIey are 10 d. service. TO be husbandmen. TO
fl the ground; but they do not find it so
sssy 10 understand Just exactly what the ser
20 il which they are called 10 DO. That
evangelist, or pastor, doing his own evangel-
istic duty, Is the wisest VINO can tell a willing
;~,onirer lust exactly how TO become a Chris
t,n. and that pastor Is wisest who can tell
fs converts exactly how 70 expend their con
secreted energies in the service Of their Mas
II il the desire which converts now feel rs
thew never did in the days before mission
work was developed 20 DO something besides
saving their own souls which makes the
Young Peoples Society of Christian In
deavor and the kindred Epworth and other
leagues so popular. The young people III
these societies want TO do something. Every
one OF them says with Isaiah; Here am |;
sepd me- They are young, they cannot DO
expected 70 know lust what 1t IS best 10 do;
lnt thew are eminontly teachaDle, ready to
vork Work rather than counsel is in their
line Of service. and they want 10 be told what
70 do. Lord. what wilt thou have Inc to
Now the pastor. beginning his seasons
work. ought TO recognize what q fund OF will
ling service he has in these young people.
he should do as much as st John. who said:
u have spoken 10 sou, young men. because
W are strong" Go and speak 20 them, pas
Tor. and tell them what 70 do. II YOU do not
thew will be in danger 4 spending All their
energy in spiritual exercises and talk In their
own meetings. That is good IN Its place,
lint It's place is only second. 1t Is good 10
pray in meeting. to utter a testimony or 8
pvrpOse. but other things are better. 1t may
he loosely said that one child brought into
the Sunday school is worth ten prayers or
speeches in the young peoples meeting; that
one family persuaded TO attend church IS
worth fifty such testimonies. and that one
soul brought 10 give itself to God is worth
more than "a hundred Of the sweetest prayers
or most delightful testimonies ever uttered.
Our point is that what the young convert does
Is more important than what be seys, and thai
be will do the work Of the church If he IS only
set about IL.
But the pastor, the ordinary pastor. says.
What shall / tell them TO do? That is your
business. That is what you are for; to be their
pastor, their leader. their director. You must
somehow find that out for yourself, only don't
faltO do II. That's not the best executive VINO
does the most himself. but he who does the
least himself and makes others do the most.
Lettbe pastor remember that he has nc time
b do much, and that he must make other
people do all he can. 10 has been a very good
rule Of some very successful business men,
never TO 90 hlAkIllk lutll5tlNtb ludb blof
could make anybody else do. 1t IS a good
rule for a pastor 70 put Just as much work as
possible on other people. not by shlrklng 1t
but by seeing that they do It,
The pastor asks what he shall have his
young people do. We reply again that 1t IS
lis business to find out somehow work for
them. A writer in the last Andover Review
tells how he got the young people OF his
Society Of Christian EndeayOr 10 help him
wrte bis sermons. The minister can consult
with the wisest men and women IN his
church aud get their suggestions. lie can
ask the advice and study the methods of the
most successful pastors IN his acquaintance.
Somehow or other, he ought 20 see 20 1t that
tie workers are given work. work which
they report 10 him. work that Will tell Tor
the increase and prosperity and usefulness
Of the church. ii may be the care of the
buildings. It may be the development Of the
Sunday school: it may be a canvass OF
the community: II may be a series Of enter
tsiuments IL may be personal evangelzatlOn;
Rmay be all of these. Only let the pastor DO
an executive officer. q general. and let nm
get al the service he can out OF has young
people. They will make better and more
loyal members A preacher IN q Western
school house was troubled by the antics OF
tie bows until he took the most mischieyOus
o. the crowd and set him 10 attending 70 the
candles. when his sense of responsibility kept
him busy and useful, and made him q pastors
helper instead of d disturoer OF the peace
The Independent.
ASlsterhood Of Conversational Charity.
A gifted writer says. "As nuns drop their
bTthnames and become Sister Mary and SIS
Ter Margaret. so hlgh-5red people drop their
own distinctions 10 become brothers and SIS
tiers of conversational charity"
DO We sufficiently realize what this might
he-thls sinking of self. this showing of love
IN the words OF our mouths
it has occurred 10 me that in these days of
clubs and societies it might tie a wise plan -
found on the basis of Christ an principles
some of these "Conyersat Onal Sisterhoods.'
Nls nothing new 90 write about the control
o. tie tongue OF the value of words. but am
speaking rather f the good which might
come through the thoughtful organization of
tuch 4 society. and the systematic carrying
out OF IT'S rules and regulations. To you,
young women, who have little to give IN mo
hey, OK who lack tims and opportunity b
loin in such charities as require constant at
tendance, or call for manual labor which you
ae not allie % contribute ! appeal. There
stiWays Oh Ortuuity for tue expression of
kindly thought. there Is always time Tor the
uori IN due season. Form your sisterhooI
= hrst, It may be, with Onls q few mem 1ers.
mere Is something susta ming and ms iring
1He sympat Y OF t.ose whose interests are
taen ical W th our WI. ChOole you W tch-
"Ou Make certain rule. Tor our ministfa-
tous for which tie following may give You
some suggestions.
Ll,ten How are yon 20 learn the troubles OF
o.nets now encourage them. II YOU do not
SN u, 70 near what they may have 10 tell yOlY
MauF = AeartaD he has gone unrrlieyei from
-n g"tlheiy interruption. Listen. then not
VIA pAilent aud passive endurance. which
promises nothing but with an apparent and
neaItiet eagerness 10 meet the demands
Sp9h your sympathy, which will help you 10
IUU Tie WHrIa a. he'll - - l. - -. -
speak.
read. You cannot tell where your minis
NAVons may lead you. or what knowledge il
iaJ oe necessary for you 10 have to bring re-
AZ IL may lie only IN the recital of an inter-
,suhg story 70 q sick and irstiui child who
.se.S dyertlng, or it may be in repeating
nNuV OF GODS promise o. 20 the sorrowlul,
IL giving comfort thrOuoh your words.
hCi strive 10 accomplish too
%"leh through your own originality. 70
"ahistef 70 a mind diseased you must, like
uuo physician. have a pharmacopeia TO
LAW upon. and there is much 10 help you
se.iha tho doors Of your bookcase. You may
.s always ind the parallel case. IL is true.
r. 49,, o"lng 70 differences Of disposition. vica-
.os emotional experiences are not always to
Vtsled upon, but. if you read intelligently,
Nv : "lsh 70 make your reading suggestive
wen dc Instructive. It seems 10 lie that it