The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-12
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
BY REV. H. L. F. GILLESPIE.

AMONG the most available and
efficient methods for building sue
cessful churches is a compact and
thorough organization, by which be-
levers in any number, irrespective of
wealth, may obtain the benefits of a
Christian church, and steadily in
crease their numbers.
The foundation for such work is
unity of faith, equality of zeal and
equal voice in material interests.
Our mission is to those whom par
tialism has turned away from the
name of Christ, to those whoA it can
not or does not try to reach, to parti-
alists themselves, and rival against
them for many whom it succeeds in
Saving"
The Universalist Church is by ma
ture a missionary church. AS Uni
versalists value their faith they must
hold this place or none. To do SO a
believer must be an active member of
a live church, being this he is the
salt of the earth and his peace is that
of Heaven.
|. Organization and cooperation
are impossible without meetings:
therefore meet every Sabbath for wor-
ship and once week for study and
work, and every member be present.
If lodge, club, previous appoint
ment," 'indisposition," or any other
cause hinder, erase that cause from
your vocabulary. If faith is worth
anything it is worth attending to,
which can easily be done by a little,
forethought and calculation, not be-,
ing out other evenings, SO that one,
goes to church meeting unfit for at
tention or business.
2. If the constitution which some
departed brother left to the church's
care cannot be found, adopt new one
setting forth the objects, method and
form of organization and work. 4
Place the best members in Office
but let them not forget that they are
to serve and not to rule. Have
standing and temporary committees
to attend to various interests, such as,
missions, finance, charity, visitations,
social, Sunday-school, Y.P.C. u, etc.
These committees should report their.
work at every conference where plans
for future work are considered and
decided upon by all. This solves the
problem of harmonious endeavor.
each one knows the work and inten-
tions of the church in its varied in
terests, which is, under ordinary con.
ditions, guarantee of prosperity. +
In these times the motto should be
to go slow and sure, but go. He that
hesitates is lost. If your church is
temporarily unfortunate, do not defer
your attendance and energetic help
at any meeting nor generous finan-
cial aid and hopeful encouragement
until the church is prosperous, which
all too common practice, being quite
contrary to the teaching of Christ
that these that be whole have no need
of physician, never advanced his
kingdom one iota.
Nothing bruises your brethren
more grievously, Injuries your pastor
and turns away more people from
church doors, than your absence
from Sabbath and conference meet
ings and half hearted support or dis
couraging looks and words if the
church does not happen to have
smooth sailing and large hearing of
outsiders. If we always had such
thorough organization and systematic
work as we are capable of having. our
churches would easily be far more
successful in every way than now
and the burden would no longer fall
unjustly upon a few faithful ones.
With the single hearted service to
local organization, constant and GER
tain hope and cheerfulness in subdu,
ing obstacles that are given to test
our faith and bring out the manhood
of the race, We would find success.
MANCHESTER, Iowa.