Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-03-23
WHAT HAPPENED
To the Man Who Did Not Attend the
General Association, at Great Bend
May 4, 5, 6, and 8, 1893.
pY REV. pEARsE rINcH. or EMpoRIA.

Inc Gr6aL BEND people are hdhihS
such preparations as we're never Before
made in Kansas, for the meeting OF the
General Association, May As. Brother
Carson has the meeting announced on
his letter heads and printed OF the back
of his list of prayer meeting topics. He
loses no opportunity TO mention 1t In
the papers. 1t is fact TO which the
whole community is looking forward,
that the Congregational forces Of the
State are to meet in Great Bend on
May 4. 5. 6, and 8. The whole region
round about is awake TO the fact. Great
Bend knows what an association is for.
and how to use it.
The sad confession must be made
that some of our people, and even min
listers, do not know the value Of our
great meeting. This article will tell
what once happened to one of that sort.
He wrote to brother minister saying
that he had no intention of going To the
state NEE citing. because it cost too much,
and returns too little. Nevertheless
the meeting came off. OF course it was
not quite so good as the brother could
have made it, had he been there III the
right spirlt-but it came Off without
him. But what happened to him?
The morning when the other breth-
rem were OF their way, the journey
gladdened for them at almost every
station by the coming aboard OF pastors
and delegates going up to the great
gathering. it happened that this man
at his home opened the bible for morn
ing worship and began reading:
II was glad when they said unto NE,
Let us go into the house OF the Lord"
The first verse did not stagger him,
but when he read Our feet shall stand
within thy gates, D Jerusalem" and
all the fervent praises and tender
prayers for that place Of meet
ing whittier the tribes 60 up" he felt
that it was an unlucky selection for
that particular morning. The prayer
in which he tried to lead the home
circle was lame and STUN bling eXer
else, and brought little satisfaction.
Somehow, he could not keep from think
ing of the meeting all day. He knew
that home missionaries. working on
small pay, away of in remote corners
of the state, had denied themselves OF
necessities in order that they might
afford tue journey to meet their breth-
rem, and feel the uplift of the great
common cause; while he on his ample
salary, was staying, selfishly, as he be-
gan to feel i'll lis heart, in his own
study He had miserable day of 1T,
and low uneasiness OF heart made
his head good for nothing, and he could
accomplish nothing at the study table.
The next morning at family worship
he thought he would try some other part
of the bible. He chose that sweet chap
ter in Johns first letter which begins,
ssBehold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon u.s." 1t
went all right until he came to the
words. 1--WE know that we nave passed
from death unto lite, because we love
the brethren" And then, for the first
time in many years, there flashed over
him that feeling of mfsgiving, which
often troubles Christian hearts, that
perhaps be was not after all, real
Christian. 1t was getting pretty ser
ious.
Meanwhile, Deacon Jones, his SEN
ior deacon, was ENJOYING the meeting
as it seemed to him more than any he
had ever attended. Frank Smith, the
president of the Y. p. S. G. E., had also
gone to this, his first meeting of the
general association, and was finding 1t
to be permanent enlargement OF his
Christian life Two Of the prominent
women of this church, foremost IN
every line of Christian work, had also
gone. as they had often done before.
Naturally enough, the four wondered
at the absence of their pastor. On
the way home they wondered at it more
and spoke of it. When they carried
the enthusiasm of the great gathering
into the meetings at home. the whole
church began to wonder how their
pastor could remain away from such
meeting The outcome of it was that
the life Of the church had been moved
by a significant event in the Kingdom,
while the pastors heart remained un
moved except in an unhappy way. The
wedge entered at that point which cut
him off from I. work that had the pos
sibility of years of large usefulness toI
him. The church is now seeking Il
ooetor who has enough of public spirit
and sufficient love for the brethren tc
attend the meetings of tie general
association. n.-Kansas Telephone, Leav-
enworth, Kansas.
The Country Editor.
oPerhaps no other classof men on the
.,rohhipo Garth have SO varied an as