The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-03-08

though shamsfnlly neglected, and that
she kept learning at least alive, andsOme
good in her monasteries, in contrast |
with the corrupt life OF the world at
that time. But in no age has the church
influenced the whole community as in
this in. which we are living.
Biographical.
Il began my preaching in the noun
tains Of Tennessee and Kentucky. There
l rode over great diocese, with Ii
brary in one saddle bag and my ward
robe In the other. Civilization was just
beginning to get into those wilds then,
and mining, numbering and surveying
we're going on. was there at the be-
ginning Of things, and l may say that,
while it was a good thing that this
money should come to those people, it
was sad day for the community when
the sawmill came in ahead of the Sunday
school. The Sunday school was the best
thing the railroad brought them.
"Then for three years l was the pastor
Of little white country crossroads
church, with never more than 100 people
in the congregation, driving in for miles
over the muddy roads every Sunday.
And 1t was good for those farmers to
have the little church, II 1t taught them
nothing more than to clean themselves
apd put on a fresh shirt for Sunday. It
was the only thing in the community
to take their minds off crops and live
stock.
'Then had beautiful church in a
thriving village, and the social life Of
that village centered In the church. No
other one thing in the community paid
as Investments as that church paid, and
the other churches in the town. For a
church is an investment; it gives back
to the community full measure for every
effort and all the money put into it.
Church Not Unfaithful.
every now and then we hear it said
that II a business man were to run his
business as the church is run he would
be bankrupt. In my experience large
amount Of good business ability is put
into the management Of church affairs.
. "And 50 maintain on the whole that
. the church Of Christ has not been un-
faithful. We often take into the church
men whom we almost know to be un-
worthy, but If we can believe that the
church will be help to them the church
doors are wide open. lean point to you
men who have been rescued by this
course, and, though there are men who
voluntarily go back to their husks and
filth of the sty, | feel that the church is
not to be blamed. This is representa-,
tive, think, of the church throughout
the ages. 1t has never been perfect, yet
1t has not denied the truth. 1t has had
its little strength and has freely given
1t to the world.
/ Shawmut Church.
"This church has had its so years OF
, history, and we ought to thank God that
in all that time there has never been a
scandal nor any unhappy pastOrate, and
thousands have gone In and out and have
, been helped to better life.
'The bonds which help men and wo-
men together are more or less strong,
but tho indlsselnbIe bonds are those
which bind the church, and those who
work together for the church. We are
, partners with the living and the dead
, as we gather year after year at the com.
: muniOn table, and name those who have
, gone before, we come in time to call
! almost the entire church membership
, roll. Members come and go; pastors
| come and go; but the bonds that bind are
not bonds that designations from pastor.
ates or membership can sever. The
church is still the pillar round which We
rally in thought and prayer. There We
are one in receptivity of the truth, in
the hearts Of living men and women.
: At ReadvilIe.
In the afternoon, DR.. Barton visited
Q the congregation at Readville ant
preached to 1t sermon which h,
1; preached in the evening at Shawmu
Q church. This Readville congregation il
9 unique in many respects; there are no
] enough people of any one creed to max,
r church Of one sect possible, and, il
s christian unity, the Readville peOpl
! have come together in one cOngrega
5 tion. regardless Of UNCONVENTIONAL diff
erences. 1t was to this congregation
l Bishop Brooks preached on the last Sun
S day he was alive; DR.. S. F. Smith diet
e in the train, one Saturday, on his wa,
to preach to this same congregation. DR.
g Barton has been preaching there OIL