Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-27
GENERAL ASSOCIATION NOTES.
What Happened to the Man Who Did Go
to Great Bend.
BY REV DIR. DoHEHrr. KANSAS CITY, kAs.

BY REV DIR. DoHERTY, KANSAS CITY, KAs.
The attractions set forth by the busi-
ness committee and by the brethren o
Great Bend are of no ordinary kind.
The losses and the peril predicted by
prophet Pinch for the minister who does
not get up and go are of the most extra
ordinary kind. Yet many of the breth-
rem in the state can go to Chicago at
any time and hear both DR.. Taylor and
DR.. Beaton at less expense and more
comfort than they can make the trip to
Great Bend. There are excellent op-
portunities to hear good singing and to
have good social time several miles
and dollars this side of Great Bend.
Despite the warning of prophet Pinch,
some men, some ministers, would dare
to stay at home, if there were only the
excellent brethren from Chicago, the
cultured chorus of Great Bend and the
lavish hospitality of her good people as
attractions. These are not to be
despised or contemned. On the con-
trary every brother must feel deeply
grateful to the enterprising pastor who
has added such attractions to the gen.
eral association meeting. But we de
not meet for these things.
The reason for meeting once year in
General Association is that we may re-
view the work of the year past, compare
notes, confer with one another, plan for
better work in the year to come. All
speeches, essays, discussions are subor-
dinate to this one practical aim. Every
man-and man means woman as we'll
minister, or other servant of the church,
ought to go to General Association with
the purpose of contributing something
for the benefit of our common work in
the state the coming year, and also of
bringing home something to aid the
work of his own local church. Every.
one should go. That man is singularly
endowed with conceit, who thinks that
he can learn nothing by stepping out of
his usual environment and having the
experience of anotheI very differently
situated from himself.
Ministers and church members of the
east need to meet those of the west,
those who know only city life and its
peculiar demands need to see the lite OF
the small village and country place and
try to appreciate its demands. The
minister toiling in one of our large cities
needs to know and be known by the
ministers who in a frontier town or IL
the burden of his work as much as the
overworked city pastor, who sympa
thises with him and longs for his sym
pathy.
Every man who loves our churche:
in Kansas and is capable of seeing be
yond his personal interests or those o.
+, his local church ought to be at the
General Association at Great Bend, te
give and receive council, to feel the
larger fellowship, to take home into his
work not only some suggestions of wiser
methods but also some inspirations te
put the better methods to use-an in
spiration coming from the sense that be
is not alone, but a part of a grand
army.
l. Let US all be in the family gathering
Let US anticipate with pleasure the good
talking, the cake and the song; but le
US go to meet our brothers and sister:
and get sympathy and help from one
another, and new strength for the family
work for another year.
If prophet Pinch be not false
prophet, as we devoutly hope that be
will prove to be, if there be among u:
such disgrutled brother as he picture:
so miserably, l propose that some
strong brother of the family come te
General Association through his city
and kindly but firmly seize him, binc
him, load him on the cars, guard hin
until he is safely set down in Grea
Bend where the music has begun, the1
if he breaks away, let him go, he i
incorrigible, he had better stay outside
with the elder brother and do hi:
grumbling alone; he would shadow the
JOY of all if he came in. Perhaps those
who won't had better be left undis
; turbed in their misery, for the comfor
) of those who come of their own accort
and singing, ''When The General roll i.
called I'll be there, III be there lie
this be the prelude to the concert Will
which our family meeting begins.
KANSAS democrats ought to be in
formed pretty soon whether or not ;