Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-12-09
A SPLENDID CHARGE.
Rev. A. A. Wallacs's Address to the
Presbyterian Church at Mont
gomery City, No.

gomery City, No.
We reproduce from the Montgom'
cry City Standard the following
address delivered at the Presbyterian
church at Montgomery City last weeh
at the installation Of Rev. J. A
Creighton by Rev. A. A. Wallace, o1
Mexico:
"The congregation received theil
charge from Rev. A. A. Wallace, oi
Mexico. This was practical taih
concerning duties which the people
owed their pastor and was as follows:
The man you have called to assume
the oversight Of your church stands
toward you in three fold relation,
as q man, as . pastor and as a
preacher.
/. He has the right to be treated as
Q man. He has mans sense and will
want you to approach him In . manly
way. II he is the kind of man that
you want and that we hope he is, you
may expect to meet him on frank,
open ground, without embarrassment.
Like ali men, he may have some faults
you would wish corrected. II so, tell
him to his face, believing in his manly
common sense. II you must criticise
him, do 30 before him-not behind
him.
As a man he has body, body that
needs the same support your bodies
require. We're he an angel he might
live on good will, but, being q man,
he must have something more SUBJ
stantial. Remember, too, that his
body can stand just 90 much work;
that his body is subject to conditions
surrounding us. A cold room may
give him cold. So take him into the
kitchen, il necessary, rather than seat
him In q chilly parlor.
As man he will be helped by tokens
of appreciation. II q sermon he
breaches helps you, don't be afraid to
let him know 1t. The knowledge Of
such q fact will humble and help
rather than puff him up.
II. He Ia pastor-tne one who is
to be with you as your leader and
sympathizer and helper. He expects
to visit your sick and to pray with You
in your homes and to perform for
you all the spiritual duties incumbent
on the leader of the flock. II you are
sick and want him to visit you, don't
wait for him to find it out through the
papers or by neighborhood talk. Send
him word.
AS pastor, he is the one to baptize
your children, to unite In holy wedlock
your young men and women and to
speak the consoling word when our
dead are laid to rest. On no account
let another usurp the offices which
belong to him. When he visits you
give him the Bible and ask him to
pray with you, and thus make his
visits not mere social calls, but pas!
toral visits.
III. AS q preacher, you are te
remember that he cannot always be
at his very best. No clock strikes Il
every hour, and 30 you are not to
expect him to be able every time he
enters the pulpit to strike the 12 notes
Of perfect pulpit eloquence.
As preacher, he needs your sym.
pathetic attention when he breaches
During the week of study and prayer
he goes to trade for you in spiritual
country, and on the Sabbath he comes
to you with the riches he has found In
that country. Be ready and waiting
for your blessing and rest assured thai
when you thus wait and thus hear, he
will not come to you empty handed.
As a preacher, he will need your
prayers. That which Paul expressed
he will feel, "Brethren, pray for u.s.
The old Scotchman brought down 6
heavenly blessing on his pastors hea5
when he told him that every Saturday
night he and the good wife sent up Z
special plea for grace and help in hil
behalf. Power would clothe all oul
pulpits If universally the people bap
tized them With the tears of earnes
petition.
These things remember and do"