Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-08
THE PRESBYTERIANS RELAX
Meeting of the Social Union Last
Night.
TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS
The Duty of Visitation Should Grow Into a
Pleasure-As to the Social Side of
Church Life.


in the First Presbyterian church. Tho
president, DR.. E. H. Sholl, was in the
chair.
The first business on the programme
was the annual election of officers which
resulted in the election of the old officers,
| as follows:
President, DR.. E. Fl. Sholl.
president Judge A. c. Howe.
Secretary and treasurer, I. C. Bucka-
lew.
Executive committee-J. H. Mohns,
chairman; DIR. S. C. Carsons, T. c. Will
| son.
The following was the programme:
Topic, Visitation by the Officers of the
| Church-Duties and Results''-Opened
by Maj. Joseph Hardie den minutes);
Mr.. w. G. Montgomery, alternate; follow
ed by three-minute talks for thirty-tive
| minutes.
Topic Social Life of the Church
| What Is 1t, and How Best Developed
i Opened by Capt. James w. Lee ten min
| utes); Mr. w. w. Barclay, alternate; fol-
| lowed by three-minute talks for thirty
| five minutes
Visitation by the officers of the Church"
Major Hardie made a very pleasant
| talk outlining the duty of the deacons as
| well as the pastors in visiting the MEM
| bers and encouraging them in church
| work.
| Rev. Mr.. McElroy, pastor of the Wood
| lawn church, in a three minute talk said
| much that was appreciated and instruc-
| tive.
| Mr.. Bryan pastor of the Third Presby-
| terrain church, said that visiting should
be made a church business. The elders
| and deacons could make effectual calls
| by inducing members and members
| children to come to church and take part
| in the Sunday school work. Prayer
| should be the ruling feature of these
| visits.
| Rev. j. Snedecor superintendent of the
| Bible society of Alabama, said that ha
| found it a great struggle to make these
| visits, and often he had stood at the gate
| wrestling against duty he knew he
should do, but when he was so kindly re-
| ceived he felt better for the work and
| was encouraged thereby.
| Mr.. j. H. Mohns superintendent of the
| Avondale Sunday school, said the dea-
| cons and elders should aid the pastor
| more in this line of church work. He of
| ten makes these church visits and has
| learned to love the work. These visits
! have done as much as ony other one
| thing to build up the Avondale church.
/ The visit by the pastor is expected, but
| a visit by the deacons and elders is some-
| thing out of the ordinary and increases
| interest among the members, and If the
| deacons and elders here tonight would
| resolve to aid the pastor more along this
| line there would soon be no vacant pews
in the churches, and the Sunday school
| classes would be full every Sunday.
Mr.. James Webb said that the deaconS
/ and elders as rule reminded him of a.
| soldier he met once, who remarked that
| he was Dead was killed at the battle Of
| Antietam. How was this? he asked; you
| say you are dead; were killed in the bat
| tie, and here you are, alive. He replied
| it was not himself directly who was
/ killed, but his substitute. The elders and
deacons depend too much upon their pas
/ tor is a substitute, thinking his work is
| their work and will suffice.
| Rev. A. B. Curry suggested that those
| present give some of the reasons
/ why they did not visit more. Sew
| eral responded DIR. Charles Merrill of
| Woodlawn answering for all in the short
phrase that the truth of the whole mat
ter was. they didn't know how, and the
| pastors had never taught them
''social Side of the Church"
Captain Lee opened the discussion In
| very appropriate talk. He said one of the
proofs of the social life of the church was
| that extra large meeting tonight. 1t
| means not only coming together, but
| working together. Charles Sumner once
said in one of his great speeches.: II
| we know each other better we VIII love
| each other better" The time was when
| he did not like some people even in the
church, but when he associated with them
| and worked with them he soon learned
| to love them. If you want to get people
| interested in church matters, put them
| to work. start them out gradually, in
creasing the work as they progress by
| this means your interest is awakened
| and glorious results follow.
Some people are hard to approach, but
| this is easily overcome. Learn their
| names and speak to them kindly. When
| a soldier the men he stood closer to were
the members of his company. Next came
| his regiment and last his whole army.
If we want to develop the social life'o
the church we must work together, and
| we will grow in usefulness.
| Mr. w M. Barcliff thought this the
most important subject the church had
to deal with. More than 1000 young men
in this city are not engaged in church
work, simply for the lack of this social
feature They find associates in the
world, and naturally drift that way. The
great difficulty is the church is too much
divided into groups and classes.
Rev. Mr. Maddox, pastor of the Second
| church, said that he had organized lit
| erary society in his church. which mas
| proved a great means of reaching the
| young people. Social pastors are very
| essential to social life In the church. he
tries to develop social life by getting his
| members acquainted with each other
See that strangers may receive the proper
| attention on every occasion.
Prof W. P. Taylor said the church
| should be made the center of social life.
The greatest social pleasure he ever en-
! loved was in the church. There is q
| great deal in the gospel hand shake Hell
| suggested that in weekly prayer meet
| ings a social feature could be introduced
| that would result in much good for the
| church and society.
MT. McElroy, Jr., of Cape Giradeau.
| MO. made very interesting talk. giving
his experience in being coid i r ,s,ere
| by the church and the lasting impress
| sions II left. almost akin to vindictive-
ness. Nothing added, he said, more to
the building up of church than sa,d to MAKE axe
not only the members but Visltors' ieet
pleasant and impress upon them tnat
they are in Gods house and among
| Christians. 49, ~.
An invitation was extended for the
| newt quarterly meeting to be held with
| the Third Presbyterian church, on Ave
me F. The invitation was accepted ana
| the date of the meeting left with the
| executive committee to arrange.
| Refreshments.
Az the close of the meeting the Second
| Presbyterian church served delicious re-
| freshments consisting of ice cream,