The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-23


such has been done by only iow indi.
riduals whose stability was as unreliable
us their tastes wcro variable. I have
never objected to any good you might
get or curiosity even YOU nigh: CRAFTY
bygoing elsewhere TO religious service,
when We had no services OF our own,
but l have held, and do SO still, that
when you had right TO expect me In
the pulpit had right to expect you
in the pow.
1t Is what Paul counts as n mark of
IN especially successful ministry when
pastor and people esteem the Word OF
God Tor what II Is in itself, rs truly and
really the Word OF God, and rs such
give 1t duo weight and authority, cna-
bling it TO work in them the fruits OF
verify, holiness, Goodness and wisdom
unto salvation, understanding that tho
words OF mon arc, like themselves, irail
and perishing. and sometimes false,
foolish and fickle, but Gods word is
holy, wise, just and faithful. and, like
its author, lives and abides forever.
The second indication OF successful
pastorato Is tho
EFFECT doD's WORD HAS
on the persons TO whom it is preached.
And this effect must OF necessity man
ifcst itself in their lives. Tho first
blessed result OF the preached word is
the conviction OF sin. The entrance OF
Gods word givcth light, and this to-
gethor with the Spirits illumination,
makes men SEQ their siniulness their
nnplnOn ri, tln,,
arc in tho sieht.ol God, how unfit for
heaven; Gnd then tho next effect is faith.
so faith comoth by hearing, and hear
ing by tho Word OF God"
Wo have had reason to rojoice in
these visible effects OF the preaching OF
the Word OF God here. And these arc
followed by other effects in thcprogress
OF the soul ssanctitication, among which
may be mentioned the manifestation OF
Christian love, confidence and forbcar-
ance one toward another. know these
have been shown toward mo by YOU.
have tried to make myself worthy OF
your Christian confidence and love,
mot by sycophancy or by consulting
your prejudiccs, but by preaching
straightforward Gospel, whomsocvcr it
might hit" l have tried to be candid,
faithful and true to yoI in declaring to
YOU the revealed Word oil God for cor
rcction and reproof rs well rs for con-
ISOLATION and comfort, realizing that it
would DO false peace and comfort il |
deceived you by Withholding the truth
as it is in Jesus. When felt that you
were in error tried to show you Gods
view OF the matter, and YOU havo given
Inc very many evidences OF apprecia-
ton and satisfaction, both i'll express
Ing OF words OF cheer and encourage
mcnt and in many substantial gifts to
myself and family. Withal | have need
cd and have had your
CHRISTIAN FoRBEARANCE
and sympathy, l have not always been
able to preach with the tongue of clio.
quence and power, but you have been
kind enough to consider tho many de-
mands that are made on minister's
time, the thousands OF interruptions OF
study, the difficulty accompanied with
appearing before the same audience one
hundred and four times year in pull
pit effort, and rs many times year in
lecture and Sunday school talks, and OF
the time it takes to scan and search
into the vast field OF literature. There
is nothing that gives 4 loving preacher
more delight than to always come be-
fore his people well prepared, and
nothing is more humiliating to himself
than when this is not possible; but in
such times l have received and appre-
ciated the wonderful help OF the Lord.
There is no part OF my work that is
more enjoyable to myself than pastoral
visitation, and it is always impossible
for me to crafty myself in filling up the
iull measure OF my desire in this respect,
but it is not often that must feel that
you reprimand mo Tor dcreliction OF
duty in this regard. Sometimes persons
make unkind comparisons, and say:
"Our present pastor does not visit rs
much rs our former pastor did" Some
one once said: "Why, Brother Barnitz
usually came to see all his people once
month" Yes; he could do that when
he began with nineteen members, but
not when he closed his labors here with
1I5. Most OF you have been kind
enough to think that l cannot visit 3l2
members rs frequently as my prede-
ccssor visited LIS. l have never kept
an accurate record OF all clerical
and pastoral calls for any length
Of time, but have not been idle in this
respect either. In my study can show
you the record OF twenty days work,
from October II to October 81, 1889,
footing up III calls, 6sermons preached,
addresses delivered and other meet
ings attended. In the month OF Do
Cember following l made l55 calls,
preached S sermons, delivered u adj
dresses and lectures and attended lG
other meetings. These are samples as
TO how your pastor is engaged. This
was not during 4 time OF special me ct
ings or OF epidemic orsickncss or special
courses OF catechization. There arc, as
YOU know, special series OF services, and
other times when the pastor by taking
nearly all his time from his study, can
only visit his sick, and that not salts
factorily. Oh, a pastors mission is
NOT sINEcUEE.
Nothing is more desirable on the part
OF the pastor and his wife than for her
to accompany him on his rounds of
visits, but this can only occasionally be
done. Most Of you busy housekeepers
with children and no help have been
kind enough to consider how often you
could leave your work and accompany
your husbands day after day, and you
: have reirained from giving undeservcd
censurc. Andyo too, have considered
the distances to be covered in pastoral
work. The city is long and tho dis
tanccs between and around the hills are
great, and then members OF the church