The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-19
LEROY AND OLMsTED.

aDle assistance.
LEROY AND OLMsTED.
Rev. Abbie E. Danforth, pastor at Lee
Roy and Olmsted, has been at Tacoma,
State Of Washington, for the past three
months, visiting Rev. E. J. Felt and fam
lily. We regret to learn the health Of
Mrs. Felt is not good, but late reports
indicate improvement. During her stay
at Tacoma Mrs. Danforth preached sew
eral times for our church in that city,
which enabled Bro. Felt to look after in
terests in other places. During her alb
sence, DIR. II. L. Garfield supplied, or
secured supplies for the churches at
Leroy and Olmsted.
On Friday, December 4, DR.. Garfield
conducted the funeral services of Bro.
S. r. Richards, one of the old and faith
full members of the Leroy church. The
church at Leroy is erecting an addition
to the church, which will furnish
place for socials and other church gath
erings. We are glad to learn that the
health of Rev. Cornelia A. Williams,
who resides at Leroy, is gradually i'm
proving.
We regret to announces that Rev. o.
P. Moorman will close his pastoral rela-
tions with our church at Eaton with this
month. The church is not financially
able to have services all the time, and
Bro. Norman has not been able to find
work for full time within convenient
distance. Bro. Norman reports good
congregations at Eaton, and conditions
of the church to be good, except in the
matter of financial strength. Churches
desiring a pastor can address Bro.
Norman, at Eaton, or the Superinten
dent al Fountain Park
SAD PROSPECT.
There are several churches in Ohio,
for which the prospect for future life
and growth are very discouraging. Be-
ing unable to support pastors alone,
they refuse to enter into and continue
in arrangements whereby they might
unite with other churches situated con-
veniently and il each church cannot
have Just the man that they want, will
not agree to have any one. II we bad
some power whereby such churches
could be united in circuits, or joint pas
torates. and each be required to contri-
butte to the support of the work, accord
ing to ability, and the weak church not
be asked to do as much as the strong
one. all of our church hes in Ohio could
have pastors inside of three months.
Another difficulty in the way of pros.
perity, is the frequent violation of the
principle upon which our church is sup
posed to be established, viz: THAT the
majority shall decide all questions"
The custom is, to allow the minority
and sometimes very small one to de-
C ide whether or not a certain preacher
shall be called or retained. And we
have known frequent instances, when
good, earnest men nave been refused pc
sitione, or been compelled to leave
churches. bee use one or two persons
who paid little more than others. did
not like them.
ANOTHER DIFFICULTY.
Another difficulty is the reluctance of
churches to receive ministers of "age
and experience" just the opposite rule
applies when people need the services of
a physician or lawyer. They want
man then whose experience and success
warrants hopeful expectations. The war
on "old ministers" who have burne the
burden and heat of preparing the way.
and making the paths smoother for the
younger men, is very ungenerous one.
especially when waged by young minis
tiers. who could not obtain places. had it
not been for the self denial and sacri-
fees of older ones; for it is a rare thing
for young minister to use any effort
to go into new fields and build up new
churches. Generally they want we'll
established churches with good sal
aries" to begin on. Recently we heard
a young preacher, who has hardly got
free from the "swaddling bands" of the
Theological School, say in a vehement
manner, in substance: "If 1 had my
way no man over fifty should hold Office
in the Universalist Church,
We predict that when he reaches the
"age limit" he wants to establish, he
will be sorry for that uncalled for and
ill-timed utterance. 1t is true some of
our older ministers do not adapt them
selves to the improved machinery" for
promoting prosperity; the same can be
said Of some young men, for in our ex
perience. in aiding ministers to pastor
ates and churches to pastors. some of
the worst mistakes we have made. have
been when we have recommended some
young man. A change in both people
and ministers must take place before we
can have solid prosperity. The people
must learn to accept and work with the
best man or woman they can obtain.
Small churches must agree to unite in
support of pastors whether youthful or
of middle age. And ministers must
learn to work wherever the door OF OPP