The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-22
PASTOR AND FLOCK.
Union Congregational Church Look
ing for New Pastor.

Less than three years ago pews in the
grand, handsome edifice OF the Union
Congregational Society on Broad
street commanded premium. Rich
parishioners competed hotly with one an
other and bid high prices for desirable
locations at the annual auction sale OF
pews. The church seemed to be at the
height of a long and gratifying career Of
prosperity.
Today, ii is said, there are no premiums
on the pews. Indeed the society must
need do missionary work to decently NIL
the church.
That is why q change in the pulpit is
deemed to be not only desirable but abso-
lutcly necessary, although the startling
loss OF prestige which the church has
suffered is not altogether laid at the
pastors door.
When Rev. Francis A. Horton took the
pulpit of the Union Church, five years ago,
the church was in good condition ana for
time ii grew splendidly under DR.. Hor-
toms administration. The new minister
appeared TO be we'll liked H is parishioners
talked glowingly about his serm ms out
eide the church, and the sermons found
space in the crowded newspaper columns.
Many new people were attracted to the
Union.
But the tide began to turn. Just what
made it turn nobody seems to know or to
care to interpret in definite terms.
1t was probably due TO q variety
OF causes. 1t Is conceded
to be no easy task for q minister to make
the sparks fly from his pulpit when
he first starts in, and keep them
flying steadily Sunday after Sunday
for any considerable term. There is likely
to be reaction and DIR. Horton seems to
have suffered somewhat from the reaction
from his fine beginning.
Another element to explain the unfor-
tunate situation is indicated by the
fact that the Congregational
church in Providence is just now
represented by some mighty smart
preachers, as well as several warm
favorites whose powers OF holding their
congregations seem to increase rather
than diminish with the psssing years.
The competition in local Congregational
pulpits is, today, immensely hot, and the
competitors include an unusual number
OF bright young ministers.
Again, the Union Church has suffered
from the death of several of its rich and
prominent members, casualties that often
eOCletlcS Nntn
every other condition is favorable to
prosperity.
A prominent member of the Union
Church, a gentleman who has been one of
its most earnest supporters for years,
devoting to IL tie influence of his wealth h
and strong Christian interest, told one of
The NEWS young men today that
the Union Church was undou btedly
sailing on an ebb tide, though he hoped
the change in its fortunes might be
stayed before it was too late. A large num-
ber ofprominent parishioners attend other
churches oven though they may still no I'd
their pews In the Union. The church
had also lost seriously by deaths recently.
Whether change in he pulpit would
accomplish a change OF fortunes was not
altogether a certainty, but the
Society deemed change advis-
able, at last as first step.
DIR. Horizons pastorate, he wished 1t dis
tinctly understood, had developed moth
ing rejecting in any way on DIR. Horizons
character. The Society bad simply con-
cluded that change was desirable.
One member OF the church said that DR..
Horton took the pulpit at salary of
$500. the ruling salary OF the church in
its most prosperous days. He had lately
received a salary OF 5000, and while he
did not want TO speak unkindly OF DIR.
Horton, he thought the minister had
survived his usefulness to the Congrega-