The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13
THE CARE OF THE CHURCHES.
BY ROBERT JARDINE.

PERMIT comparative stranger in
the Universalist denomination to ex-
press himself, through your valua Die
paper, in regard to one of the im por-
tant subjects discussed at the recent
General Convention. | refer to spirit
ual supervision of the churches; and |
need not remind your readers that
this matter was brought before the
convention by the conference of min
listers, and that the solution of the
problem was thought to be the ap-
pointment of a Field Secretary.
Without undertaking the useful
ness of such an offic al, if he were ap-
pointed and could be paid, | take the
liberty of saying that the sphere of
the church is entirely too large for
the supervision of any single official
to be effective. No one man, how
ever ubiquitous he might be, could
possibly cover the elength and breadth
OF the United States with his spirit
ual influence. If he tried to do so he
would find that the old logical law is
still valid:-the greater the extension
the smaller the intensity of his infiu-
ence And l believe that the great
need Of the Universalist Church, as
far as regards the care of its parishes
is concerned, is the better organiza-
tion of its ministers in local districts.
At present the lowest church court
is the State Convention. That body
meets but once year and fails to ex-
ercise an effective supervision of tie
parishes within its bounds. A parish
may become vacant and remain va
cant for months without any member
Of the convention feeling it to be his
duty to get it placed again upon
working basis. And those parishes
which have pastors are not tsystemati
cally looked after by the convention
in regard to their work. The sphere
of the convention is too large to ad-
NIT of its exercising efficient super
vision.
Where, then, is the remedy?
l believe it will be found in the re-
suscitation of the District Associa-
tions with well-defined spheres of
operation and functions. Let the
state be divided into convenient dis
tricts so small that representatives. of
the parishes could meet at least every
three months. Let the District AS
sociations be composed of each min
lister within the bounds and one or
two representative laymen from each
parish. These District Associations
should have immediate spiritual su-
pervision of the churches compre-
hended within them and should exer-
else clearly defined functions.
What should be these functions7
|. They should act as media for
communication between the State
and General Conventions on the one
hand and the parishes on the other.
In this capacity they would naturally
coll ect all statistics of church, Sun
day school, Woman's Work, and Y. p.
G. U. They would also transmit
such appeals for financial help from
either of the conventions s might be
made, and would take steps to secure
that these appeals were responded to
where possible.
2, They should carry on necessary
missionary work within their bounds.
Some dormant churches might be
found or churches in danger of becom-
ing dormant. The Home Mission Com
mittee would see that the churches
were visited, encouraged and as often
as possible, supplied with services.
1t should be considered duty for
each minister of the district to give
a reasonable portion of his time to
home missionary work; and the dis
trict committee entrusted with this
matter would make arrangements for
his doing so. This work of District
Association might be carried on in
cooperation with the State mission
ary.
3. They should exercise pastoral
care over parishes when they become
vacant. Vacancies in parishes are
often ruinous, and it is most import
ant that they should be officially
looked after in the intervals between
settled ministries. One or more
members of the District Association
should be detailed to visit vacant
parishes, consult with and encourage
them, and assist them, in any desir-
able way, to another settlement.
4. The general supervision of all
the parishes within the bounds would
involve tha annointment. nv the