Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-03
Churches and Pastors.
Paper read mt the Ministers Meeting on
Monday, NOV. :3rd, 1891, by Rev. T. r.

A Paper read mt the Ministers Meeting on
Monday. Nov. .3rd, 1891, by Rev. T. r.
Butler.
| confess | scarcely know what to write
IN this paper; for | feel that your views
and mine do not move in the same groove,
We start differently. Our means for pro
gress in our journey are not at all the
same. Our ideals resemble each other
only in part. In a wcrd, though our aspi-
ratlons may be the same in general, they
are not the same in particular. How easy,
then, 1t would be for me to touch theme
that would find no sympathy among you.
How very easy for me to write what
might offend you, though my desire would
be the contrary.
But, at all events, | must be frank.
Without that quality there would be no
meaning in our conference.
The purpose of these meetings, II | am
uvt ,ni,lakeu. Is to devise some means ny
which, working in harmony, the clergy OF
this town might fill their churches with
devout followers, and also control all
efforts for good now undertaken by So
cieties that are secular.
If the first of these objects be attained,
the accomplishment of the second would
depend in large measure on the character
of the minister.
TO fill the church, however and to keep
it full, is a matter that regards the very
nature OF the religion professed there II
must not only be definite and appeal con-
vincingly to the mind, but it must hold
the conscience. A system of religion that
Is vague IN any important matter, which
does not claim to be the only true religion,
which has not satisfactory answer 10
every doubt that may arise, which does
not rest each and all its claims on proof,
cannot long hold the masses.
Evidently If it wish the people to assem-
Bile on Sunday for divine worship, one of
its claims will be the right 10 e1act such at
tendance, and especially on that day, for
It's well known that Sunday is not the
Sabbath.
The right to exact supposes the power
of imposing penalty in case OF willful
| neglect to obey.
Once that matter is settled, we have to
consider the relative positions of the pas
tor and his people in the economy of the
church. To my mind these are prefigured
in the ceremony of the feeding of the
multitude mentioned in the gospel. Our
Lord wishes to feed all that are gathered
around Him. He tells His apostles to cause
the Others to be seated. Then He blesses
their store, the few loaves and fishes. and
bids them to distribute the same to the
seated multitude. The Office of the Lord
| is to bless, that of the minister to dis
tribute or give, that of the congregation
to be seated and receive. In other words
the position of the pastor is that of mas
| ter, in the sense of teacher; that of the
flock is the position of pupil. These
positions should not be reversed. If they
ters, who are many, will do as they please,
| will come to the church when it suits their
convenience or whim, and will dictate the
character of the teaching to be given.
Twill be impossible to please all. If lone
cannot serve two masters" how can he
serve one hundred? The pastor in such a
case must be exceptionally able to preserve
harmony for a long period. He can never
get beyond simple harmony.
| These things being considered, let US
| now become practical and view the situa-
tion as it stands right here in Ellsworth.
If the view does not please we have to be
honest and ask: How about my religion?
How about myself?
The situation, in q few words, is this !:
There are over five thousand souls in the
town. The number Of persons who at
tend divine service on Sunday, together
with those who are legitimately excused,
might safely be put at say one thousand l
think that number is sufficiently high.
And this is not in the middle of Africa,
but in the civilized State of Maine, within
an hours journey, almost Of cultured Bar
Harbor. Where are the four thousand?
Who are they? l think you will admit
with me that this is matter worthy of
the consideration of body like this.
As to who they are will first answer
by stating who they are not. They are
certainly not Catholics, and never were
such. The Catholics attend divine service
almost to a man, and so do their children.
We have q full congregation on every Sum-
day, no matter what the state of the
weather may be. The Methodist church.
l am told, is also well attended. So we
may conclude that the large number Of
stay-aways are not Methodists. My peo-
pie number about four hundred, all told
Let US suppose that the Methodist flock is
| about the same in number. In that case
the greater part Of the one thousand
church-goers is already accounted tor. The