The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-10
DAY FOR THE PREACHERS
MINISTER'S EXCHANGE SUGGESTIONS
AT BETHANY PARK.
Duties of the Leaders of FIocEs. rs
Well as the FIOcI<s Themselves
A College Rally.


After great excitement the reactionary
calm is always the result. and Bethany
Park was no exception to the rule yester-
day. The last of Sundays big crowd left
on the morning train, and the usual num-
Der of cottagers settled down into their
everyday way Of living. number of
the young people spent the lazy hours with
their hammocks and summer novels on the
island.
President Carpenter wishes it understood
that the debt which hangs over Bethany is
not due in any part to the minister's as of
the fifteen members who compose the board
OF managers but three were preachers, and
these have given up the profession. To-day
the election Of officers of Bethany Assem-
Oily Will be held, aud plans for the next
year encampment will also be considered.
But one lecture was given in the fore
noon, and that was the beginning of the
weeks series of talks to preachers, by w.
T. Moore, who spoke on THE Preacher;
His Call, Character and Equipments" This
was the first day of the State Ministerial
Association convention, and it's work was
taken up in the afternoon at the taber-
nacle. The opening address was made by
Howard Gale, of Indianapolis, whose topic
was The Church Securing a Minister"
Mr.. Gale first spoke of the old methods of
the church, described the minister and his
congregation, referred to the prejudice to-
ward music in the house of worship and
then compared all these with the church of
to-day and the advancement made on all
lines. He said the ministry was becoming
more settled, and, as a result, more good
1frt1 10 =,
church should have a competent committee
TO secure it's minister This committee
should study the needs of the congregation
and select a minister who would be ac-
ceptable, as not every preacher could suit
every church. No minister who was doing
excellent work in another church, where
all relations We're pleasant and satisfac-
Tory, should be lured away from his charge
py the promise of a larger salary. The
pIedhlnS up OF such ties was a serious
~ business mess After the minister was installed
IN the church he should be made to feel
PerIefctly at home. He should be invited to
the families he ministers unto, should be
made one of the home circle
Don ind fault with him." continued
MT; CAFE, put let him work to suit him
9elI, AFTER the sermon tell him you enjoyed
II; II you can't do that don't say anything
Croakers will make the prettiest pond
blooded business way: he is not a farmer
or shop hand-he is Gods anointed. and
py reason OF his preparation for his life's
work, by the peculiar nature of his profess
SION, ne IS entitled to your kindest consid-
GRAFTON. Remember he is not a man of the
Wfo0Fiu, mat ne and his family live in a diff
leIeuI atmosphere, that their ambitions lie
not in worldly gain, and therefore thew
are are more dependent upon you than any
entitled to all this, should be a thorouehIV
rengIous man; he should be interested in
sunday school work, in Christian Endeavor
socleues, In missionary causes should
preach ana eXpound the Bible should visit
tt1 the members of his flock and should at
eenq me funerals and weddings and social
SdtHSTlhSs OF MS church. There should
not pc 100 frequent change of ministers;
let tnem stay long enough to make some
Get In change for the good of the church.
a saiIafy large enough to support his fam
lily should be cheerfully paid the minister
~, FoloWlng the address there was a discus
sion or the subject by A. w. Conner. Mrs
franklln, o. E. Palmer and A. NJ Atkin-
son; MI. Atkinson made the pertinent sug-
g 5@nil that before minister took up the
work IN a new church he should see if his
predecessor had received his salary wholly
p. B. scofieid then addressed the conven-
ton on The Pastor. Beginning and Closing
His Work. His short talk was full of
good points and was received with much
Take it for granted that the church
exercised as much wisdom in selecting your
predecessor as in calling you Begin in
faith and try your best to convert the souls
OF men TO Christ, but take the community
as you lind it; bear In mind that by and
found it. Do not try to change its individ-
uality. Each community has an individual
Ivy or It's own, and 1t cannot be changed in
the short space of three or five years bV
one man. See that the finances are settled
at once, to prevent future annoyances. It is
better to have written contract stating
dehntely what is expected of both the
church and the pastor. Have your salarv
paid at the time set aside for it; that is =
consideration Then get settled in your
nome; do so in a week if 1t is possible. in
the pulpit preach characteristic sermons:
don't let them be too big or high-f1oWn or
you may have to come down to the COM
monplace. Let your efforts in all directions
be good and honest. The first few months
are of great value, for il is true that first
impressions are always lasting. Begin at
once in active pastoral work; call at every
members of your church to be found
attend all church services; be active in the
societies of your people. When YOU are
ready to leave the church do so gracefully:
let there be no spite or sarcasm in your
last sermons Leave with the good will of
the people in your hearts. Get ready for
your successor by putting the business
when you have left the church leave it for
good; don't in any way be a rival to the
ministers who follow you"
Rev. Joseph Franklin, of Bedford, closed
the afternoons work with an address on
the subject of How Our Fathers
Preached" The evening was devoted to
Bethany College rally. The convention will
close to-day with addresses by w. T.
Moore, p j. Rice, r. J. Clark, J. H. Nc
home missionary day. and a number of
prominent sneakers will be in attendance