The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-01
AT WESLEY MONUMENTAL.
Rev. A. NJ. williams breaches on the
Human Elements of a Successful
Church


Human Elements of a Successful
Church.
Rev. A. NJ. Williams, of the Wesley
Monumental, who succeeded Rev. C. E.
bowman as pastor, preached his first
sermon yesterday morning to a large
congregation.
He took his text from Ephesians V. q.
THAT he might present it TO himself
glorious church. from which he drew
the subject, and preached on the "Hu-
man Elements of Successful Church"
He said:
THE desire to begin a ministry on some
common ground of thought suggests for
our consideration to-day, the church in
those elements that make it glorious, or
the human qualities of an ideal church.
These elements are two-fold-the pastor
and the people.
much Of the success of a church de-
ponds on the pastor. His qualities are
found in, first, what he is, and second,
what he does. Under the first head it is
important to say that he must be a man.
he must not be expected to be
an angel. This is not the era
of angelic ministrations, and such
a being would be entirely out of place. A
man is more useful to men than angels
Neither should pastor imagine himself
ter than man. He should seek no spec
lal privileges or make any more than a
manly claim on the people. The pastor
must not be less than a man. The en-
trance on the ministry is not to be a
subtraction OF persons rights
and privileges. The Owitty church
mans classification of the human race
into three seXes-men, women and clergy
men-is out of date. The pastor is a man
and entitled to all the rights of a man.
He is a man of like passions with men,
subject to like temptations and capable
OF being touched with a feeling of their
infirmity. He should be a man in his
sympathies, and his heart should go out
to all hearts, and be full of love
for all mankind. He should be
interested in everything that inter
ests man. There is no ques-
tion too high for him to seek to compre-
bend, and no subject too low for him to
get down to understand. But a pastor
should be man of God. Every faculty
should be dedicated to the Masters SER
vice. Like Enoch of old, he should have
a testimony that he pleases God. The
pastor who strives to please man will
nave melancholy time, but if he can but
have sense of Gods approval, he will be
always happy. The PASTORS communion
with God should be daily and continuous.
But PASTORS efficiency also depends
on what he does He should magnify his
commission to preach. There are many
other things he can and should do, hut
they should be accessory to the pre-
eminent work of preaching the gospel. He
should lead the people. That is the pri-
mary meaning of the word pastor-a
leader of the flock. He should be a man
OF plans, and should seek to have church
and Christly plan for every
member in his charge. He should
do the ordinary pastors work.
That means he should know all the peo-
pie. His ideal should be a personal long
acquaintance with not only every member
OF his church, but every person in the
community. He should know men in their
pursuits of life, their spiritual conditions
and their lines of thought. In this re-
speet the laity can greatly help him.
They can first recognize him wherever they
see him, and for the present give their
names, overlooking his confusion in meet
ing so many persons; second make his
entry to the families easy, and third, keep
him posted as to the condition of neigh
bors and friends of the church.
Let US now turn to the other human
element in "a glorious church and for
convenience take the five principles of a
successful church. l. Piety-Without
religion church is like sounding brass
and tinkling cymbal Every member
should have definite experience of grace
and living communion with Christ
2. Punctuality-Every members church
engagements should outrank all others.
He should be always ready to answer an
invitation to go elsewhere when his
church bell rings previous engagement"
Regular attendance advances piety by en-
aiding the pastor to meet needs
of the people. The pastor is
a representative preacher-he speaks
for all, and all should be there
to help. Attend evening Sunday SER
vices. Many soul has been lost from
empty pews. Blandstone empha-
sizes going to the service has a disgust
for the 'one-timers. Attend the social
service. 3. Politeness-See the
strangers and visitors in the congrega-
ton and speak to them. Greet each
other often in the sanctuary. Look out
for new Corners in your section of the
city and bring them to the house of the
Lord.
a. Pointedness-Let every sermon, ey-
cry society, every teacher, every act of
worship be definite, and seek to accom-
plish results. There is too much vague
ness in our church work at present.
"5. Push-The one seal of divine appro-
baton that never fails in church life is
work. The true church of Christ is not
the oldest, nor the wealthiest, nor the
largest, nor the most orthodox, but the
one that works the hardest for the truest
interest of humanity"
AT the conclusion of the service a large
number of the members gathered around
the altar at the pastors request. thereby
making a resolution to do all in their
power for the good of the church during
the coming year.