The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-01-16
not like uncertain riches. liable to take
wings and fly away.
THREE GENERATIONS.


In twenty-one years a pastor has the
privilege of associating with three gen.
erations among Is people. There are the
pioneers, when ne came in middle lie,
who bore the ark OF the covenant in the
tabernacle days: the heroes and founders
of our Zion, whose wisdom and prayers
follow the minister as an inspiration.
whom one by one he is permitted to fol-
low far down into the dark valley. to
learn how quiet and serene is the aged
Christians death. A few left are merci-
fully spared TO the church to enjoy the
fruits of their labors, their heads whit
ening, their steps becoming infirm. their
active church life nearly over; yet in
patient sympathy. and zeal, setting an
example and exerting an IN
fiuence, which makes their last
days blessing and benedtction
Then there are young people of twenty
years ago whom the pastor was permitted
10 lead into the Christian life and to well
come into the church at whose marriage
he offic:ated-whose joy he shared in the
birth of the first born, whom he sought
to comfort IN their first great
sorrow: whom he helped to enlist in
Christian service; whose growth in char
acter and business ability has gone on
before his eyes until they now stand in
the very fore front of the battle of life,
the officers and pillars of the church,
holding the moral, political and intellec-
tual interests of the community in Their
keeping, steady and sober, and strong, the
men and women today, grown up from
the boys and girls of yesterday.
Then come the children, God bless them
all. How fast they are coming on. 1t
seems but a few days since they were
brought as little infants to be baptized.
and here they are fast crowding to the
front in home and school. They stand
upon the threshold, looking out upon the
larger life beyond. They all love the
church, and II parents and pastor are
wise they would first enter the great
world through the church doors; there to
learn the lessons and receive the training
of mind and heart which Will make them
years hence our joy and stay. Christ
and HIS church already needs them all.
ALONG PASTORATE.
Surely there are some advantages in
a long pastorate. 1t preserves the his
tore associat tons and traditions of The
church especially IN new place where So
many changes are going on.
1t gives the minister sure position as
a man and citizen in the larger life of the
community; he becomes better Acquainted
with the people and they with him. He
knows the needs of town and state. This
advantage ought to make him a wiser
a
There IS an Inspiration too for growth
and work If he Che m:nister) would keep
abreast of the tines. He can see and
teach the unfolding of Gcd's kind proyi-
dences, making good and evil, bitter and
sweet as he years go on, all working to-
gether for the upbuilding of character and
the ultimate advance of Cnr.st's kingdom.
There IS another side to the picture
which $ less assuring. There IS the luck
nj ha face aud no
the new way of putting things, which
seems to make the trick more attractive
and always leads people to expect great
things of the new min ster.
Then there are the ia lings and mistakes
which time clearly reveals and the preju-
dices formed-nOt easy TO forget-from
which It would often seem easier to es-
cape by running away than by trying to
1--we them down.
Besides II IS absolutely impossible that
any minister should long continue TO
be the frs choice of all The question
arises would it not be better that ne should
pass on after a little stay and give all in
turn the opportunity to hear the gospel n
their own favori.e tongue? Ii IS hard
sometimes TO know what is the best for
the church and Christ's cause
L can readily see how much of the viz
tues of charity and forbearance some
must be called to exercise in the n;inu-
ance of long pastCrate. Yet even this
may not prove an unmixed evil There IS
great virtue in learning TO agree to dis
agree. The strongest attachments are
those that are slowly formed out of
a mutual respect, and the forgetting of
petty disagreements
A LOVING BLESSING.
Now, friends, Il is in my heart to say m
words as few and simple and as true as
L can possibly utter how much love you
all; and how pleasantly you have made
the years go by: and how thankful am
TO God for what he has enabled pastor and
people to do. The future we cannot
know except tina; SO far as our duty and
purposes are concerned it should be more
gwen IN serving Him, who has proved
such kind father. such an ever present
helper-such a merciful ami all sufficient
Savior.