The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-26
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.
Continued from First Page)

l SNRuld ltNl, we Alt lllSItLulG GdNAoAlEA that no dlscourtesy will be imputed to us by the general Arkansas Valley as sociation or by the Congregational churches which participated in the in- stallation of MT Peabody, If, notwith- standing this iITegularity in his dismls- sal, we now proceed to his installation in another charge, we wish expressly to disclaim any intention of disregard ling the wishes or advices of the chul ch- es of Colorado, which have not been called together, as is the custom with us, to advise in regard 10 MT. Peabody's dismissal.
 Voted further, That this explanation or action be sent to the clerk of the Congregational church in Trinidad, Col, and also to the clerk of the Ar 1 kansas Valley association.
 The report was adopted and on an other motion all the papers in the eX- animation were passed and MT. Pea body's installation advised.
 A recess was taken until 7:S0 o'clock, at which time a large audience assem- bled in the audience room of the church and the installation eXercices were con- | tinued.
 The minutes of the afternoon session were read, after which the Rev. J. E. TWitchell invoked the blessing, and scriptures were read by the moderator | Rev, MT. Meserve.
 Hymn 91S was sung, after which the sermon was delivered by the Rev, George B. Stevens. This was followed by the installation. Prayer was offer ed by Rev. Frederick H. Means.
 Hhn oh +C in a short address by Prof. George F. Fisher of Yale university
 When the venerable preacher had fin- ished Rev. pr. Watson L. Phillips, pas tor of the church, spoke to his asso- ciate, extending the righ hand of fel- loWship on behalf of the church.
 DIR. MUNGER'S CHARGE.
 Tn behalf of the churches of our order in the city I offer their congratulations to this church upon the installation of an assistant pastor.
 Tt is an event not common in Con- gregational annals, but it is an event which, it is hoped, may become com mon,
 The name alone of the office is un- desirable; it would better be associate pastor. The word assistant carries with it the implication that the pastor has become feeble and needs to be relieved of part of his duties-an implication that is far from the facts in the pres- ent instance. In such a church as this an assistant pastor does not divide the duties of the pastorate with his chief; he rather creates a new field and new duties-so that the labors and cares responsibilities of the pastor are in- creased instead of diminished
 Thus, at least, it has worked in the United church. The employment of an l assistant during the past four years has added to the labors and especially to the responsibility and cares of the pastor to such an extent that it was positively easier to conduct the church as it was carried on as 1t was before that period than 1t is now; the work ing eorce has been doubled, but the work done exceeds that ratio There are more lines of work; there is an in- creased attention to details, and a per sonal supervision that did not belong to the former period
 This increase of the pastoral force goes along with certain changes that are taking place in the administration of the churches.
 T am not about to put in a plea for the institutional church; I simply, or this occasion, call attention to tine fact that former methods of conducting a n church. and former habits of support and former sentiments toward the church. are rapidly passing away I These changes induce anxiety; and they may we'll do so unless we can see our way through the changes to a new order of things.
 we are now living in the last days of an era when the conduct of a church was a very simple affair, and the power of the church over the feelings and sentiments of the people was al. most unbounded. The minister preach ed twice on Sunday, presided at a mid
 week service, visited his parishioners buried the dead and officiated at wed dings The onus of labor and thu source of power lay in the preaching The sermon upheld and carried along : the church. not because it was in it. | self strong and excellent, but becaus, ; the people believed in the church, helt it in reverence and trusted in it fol ! eternal safety. Two generations agc everybody went to church; they did no ' dare not to go.
 "All this is changed;-the sermon nt !, longer wins as once it did; the churcl
 is not felt to be an ark of safety at
 tendance upon church is not regarded l as an imperative duty. The hold of tn 1 church as it was, and as it is still il a large degree, is growing weaker ev
 cry year. the church no longer holds a Almost any pastor will bear me witnes
 that his most anxious thought is-hoV a to hold the people; and as the sermon i. is the main thing with which to hol,
 them, his chief anxiety is to produc f the sermon that will hold them. Man, a a preacher enters his pulpit every Sun
 day morning carrying in his hand I. sermon which he knows will tend t V increase or lessen his congregation, t I strengthen or weaken his church. I a the sermon is poor, or lacks the popu f lar quality, he knows that the churcl k will decline.
 But the people not only do not car
 for poor or indifferent sermons; they d
 not care for any as they once did V There are other things which talk r their place--books. magazines and thei \. own independent views and principles |, T do not believe that the sermon vii
 ever go out of fashion, but it's place ant n relation will be greatly modified. It i
 already the problem in Our eccIeSisasti