The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-02-07
PASTORAL VISITATION.
A PAPER READ BEFORE THE MINISTERIAL
ASSOCIATION or soNEEsET, PA JAN. -,
1894, By REv. T. ?. ERISrow.

ASSOCIATION or soNEEsET, PA Jan. y,
1894, By REv. T. ?. BEIsTOw.
Pulpit work is Of the greatest import
ance in the calling Of the Christian Nm
istry. five fail there, in a measure We
/ fail everywhere. The demand for thor
ough preparation is greater now than
ever. and if We are 10 instruct and edify
our congregations We must diligently pre-
pare our work. All this requires time,
and we must give It our chief attention.
/ ExtempOraneous addresses or sermons
are Of little worth iu the age in which We
live, or indeed in any other. Whether
we preach with manuscript, of without
the "beaten oil" only must be brought
into the sanctuary. Our tutor used to say,
"when you imagine you can get along
without study, your people will think
they can get along without you
But it is essential in order that the
pastor may be in touch with his people,
anil that he may aceeptably minister, that
he should visit them in their homes Dr.
Hall Of New York says: "a house going
pastor will make a.chureh going people"
This visitation should be pastoral and
not merely Of q casual character. A hap
hazard calling upon the people "year in
and year oat" is not pastoral work. Il is
essential that the pastor be genial, and
calls may be made other than pastoral,
but the main business in visiting is to
further our church work and bring souls
10 Christ.
We think it best, unless previously
invited in a social way" not to remain 10
eat Except when specially invited We
should use our own knife and fork. A
minister with his elder visited family
in a remote parish in Scotland. Il was
noon when they arrived and the first
thing in order was dinner. 1t was gen
erous and well appreciated. After dia-
ner tie pastor read 10 the family the ac-
count OF the miraculous feeding Of the
multitude, laying stress upon the fact that
they ,thered twelve baskets full Of the
fragments tha. remained over and above
that which was eaten.
When all was over and the guests de-
parted the cdnny Scotchman said: "FfAg-
ments Oh my fragments that remained
Il they had bad the apPetities ofour min
ister and elder there would have been no
fragments"
The reading Of Gods word and brief
prayer, will in nearly every Case be vel
come, and in some places anxiously an
ticipated. The visible church Of Christ
being composed Of believers in him and
their children, the pastor must visit the
homes Of his people to be in full symPa-
thy with the whole household. 4 pastor
IN a large city passed on his way TO church
a house where baby was being held up
TO the window by ilsnurse. lie pleasant
| ly waved his hand TO the little one and
passed on. The next Sabbath the father
and mother Of the child were there with
the little one to respond to the genial pas
tors salItation. It is needless TO remark
that he soon had that household in his
church.
In pastoral calls preference must always
be given to the sick and sorrOwfdl. The
good done in this way is inealeulable,
and We fad place in the hearts of the
people when We f4ithfllly discharge this
/ part Of our work. TIE members Of the
household at hUne at the time ofa pas
/ toral visit should be asked, without too
much ceremony, to unite in the religious
exercises, and the prayer must inclaie
the children and if their names are men
toned 81 much the better.
A little child saying its sweet prayer at
her mothers knee after the usual prayer
had been made said what shall pray for
the preacher, for he prayed for me- in our
house today
The visit should be short Short pray
ers, short sermons and shors visits are
usually the best. S1ne pe1p,s are u
reasonable in this matter, bat they must
be taught by the frmness ofthe pastor
/ who has no time if he be "a workman
needing not to be ashamsd7 to wIste in
mere chatter.
Those needing instruction or counsel
should be visited in bro.hsrly MINER.
"A word in season how good il IS" saw
ing many a man from moral shipsreck.
wethink there should be reciprocity in
this matter Of visitation and tnat il
would be means Of grace" to some par
ishOners 10 call upon the pastor Speak
a good word, and by deeds as well as
words Of kindness cheer him in his wOTk.
While in our social converse We must
be "All things to all men" care must BE-
tax n no: to degrade the ministry by the
familiarity that breeds eontemP'."
While instruction may be given, it need
not be neavy. We must be faithful 10
the souls committed to our care. but deep
doctrinal subjects OF metaphysical qaes-
tions are not appropriate on a pastoral
visit There is proper time for the dis
cussion Of these things; the tras pastor
will know when.
In our visits We may fad the skepti-
cally inclined nOE and then. The way
TO meet this is by saactiied common
sense" and with patience AMI charity
that ''hotvth ali things" Bat it has been
well said Common sense is not the sense
that is common"
Our mission is to build up the church
and awin souls 70 Christ" In doing this
our pastoral work if wisely directed, viii
be very useful. Men are to be won by
personal c1niact and persuasion.
leading member Of church in New
York asked his pastor to speak 10 his son
about uniting with the church "Why
not speIk TO him yo1rsslf?" was the re-
j1inder. Il choke if try to speak to
John about religion SIR" "Well then you
must choke" said his pastor and friend
for well he knew that this personal
parental solicitude might bring the son
TO righ. decision
In all our work may there be evident
what is 50 truly expressed BY the poet,
in describing the village pastor:
And n a bird each fond endsarment tries
To tempt its new sdsei offspring 10 the
skieS