Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-07

not a few college professors in the con-
gregation, 1 was put on my mettle from
the first The first Sunday l was the
guest of one of the families Of the con-
gregation, and Sunday morning at the
breakfast table my host reminded me
several times, directly and indirectly,
that the church had several professors
among its regular attendants. Finally
seeing that I was not apparently dis
turbed at the prospect of having such
distinguished gentlemen of learning
among my hearers, my host said:
Don't you feel rather nervous to think
those professors will be at church this
morning?" With the self-sufficiency OF
youth replied; 'They wont be afraid
of me, will they?"
But oh, the agonies of those first few
years of my pastorate, when sermons
seemed to be everywhere but in my own
mind or study, and the even worse ag-
onies of delivering them On the Lord s
day. But l pulled along for six years.
Completely tagged out in both body and
mind, felt that my work there was, done
and SO resigned. The church voted so to
8 not to accept my resignation, but in
sisted and terminated my pastorate
there. During that time so persons were
added to the church, the edifce was
renovated and a parsonage procured.
After leaving Amherst l first preached
in Chicago where they were anxious to
call me Then l preached in Millbury
where | was made pastor in October,
1880 When l went there the church had
debt of about $4,000 and was straining
every nerve to meet the interest aSsd
current expenses. Some of the older
members were alienated from the
church, but new band Of young men
and women had joined and they came
grandly forward to fill the gap AT their
suggestion the debt was raised, the
church was renovated and new bell
was placed in the belfry. For the first
three years they raised $4,000 year, and
did it more easily than they had the
pa!try $1,000 in the years preceding.
This simply shows that no church knows
what it can do until an enthusiastic at
tempt has been made. The church grew
rapidly in membership, and before the
eight and half years of pastorate ter
minated 1t was second in point of mem
bership in the association outside of
Worcester. Then l was called by the
Worcester city missionary board to come
to this city and become superintendent
of the city missions By sort of indie
Enable feeling that all ministers ex-
perience, felt that my work in Millbury
was done, and so | took up my labors in
this city.
had charge of the missions at Green
dale, at QuinSigamond and at Adams
square. During the first two years we
built a new chapel on Beacon street and
at Greendale and made an addition to
the chapel here at Adams square,
Every road leading out from Worcester
except in the southern part of the city,
was traversed by me, calling from house
to house. At the same time l was max
ing a careful survey in the center OF
the city. No one can realize the inn
mense pressure under which l worked
during those years.
Then this church was born, and / be-
came its pastor. There has been no re-
yiVal here, nor in any church in the
city, so far as I remember during my
nine years pastorate. There have been
several attempts made here to pump
water out of dry wells by the use of the
evangelist, but no old-fashioned revival
services held in churches, such as stir
the very soul to renewed effort and
work for the church of Christ and the
Qualification of his kingdom.
Would 1 repeat these "a years Of my
ministry? Yes and no. ] would bear
every burden and meet every sacrifice
and overcome every obstacle for the
cause of Christ, but would avoid many
things that as a pastor 1 have done and
done to my own regret. No one knows
who has not had the experience of the
care and anxiety Of a pastor. Especial
ly is this true in the case of a young
pastor in his first pastorate. l well
remember the first funeral attended.
1t was that Of dear little baby, and
] was so anxious to say the right thing,
that l was robbed of sleep the night
preceding, and so dissatisfied after the
funeral at what | had said that 1 re-
GREETED I had said anything. l well
remember too. the first marriage at
which / officiated. There was but one
person present who was more embar-
raised than myself, and that was the
bridegroom. After the ceremony and
the prayer, instead of kissing the bride
as every groom should, he turned on
his heel, cast his eye upon a picture
in the room and remarked, why, what
beautiful pictures you have"
The compensatlons that come to a
true pastor are very great No more
precious friendships are formed this
side of heaven than those between pas
tor and people. When left Amherst
/ thought my heart would break, and,
although have had many dear friends
everywhere / have never felt as though
/ had any quite so dear as those at old
Amherst
l do not think, however. that people
in general fully understand the loneli-
ness of pastors life. He is isolated
from other people, even when he is sur
rounded by the most loving and kindly
people in his church. ! Nor DO think