Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-04-16

| WIN UQ0 CQurCH UO0S luuo0O I0du d
busy life. She makes the most tender
and abiding friendships. She loves
the people as none else can. The itin-
eracy widens her influence, gives va
riety to her life with its many cares
and in cases not a few, prolongs her
life. Change is often for the benefit
of her health, strengthens her nerve
forces, renews her powers of indur-
ance and makes her more efficient to
perform the many duties devolving
upon her. While she may be worn
and wearied with her many cares and
burdens and the people may become
solicitious regarding her health, they
forget that others have numerous
cares as we'll and in their sphere are
quite as burdened as she. She finds
rest when she goes to new home
and submits herself to all its changed
conditions.
Every church and community in
the Conference has kind of reputa
ton for good Or ill, among all the
preachers and I may here say, that in
my humble judgment, after an &C
quaintance of seventeen years with
the reputed character of the leading
churches in the Conference, there are
none that stand higher than this.
| While the local church and commu-
nifty has it's reputation among the
preachers may also say, the preach
ers have their reputation among the
churches. They are not strangers to
you. Your Conference Minutes give
in detail the record of every mans
career since he entered the travelling
ministry. You may know the churches
he has served, how long, the date of
his birth, his nationality and all things
necessary to know regarding his &C
ceptability as preacher and citi-
zen.
When church stands behind her
| pastor and commends his good work
and throws a mantle of charity over
his faults and failings, she is on the
highway to Christian perfection. My
successor may have been suffering
from physical weakness, brought on
by overwork in the Masters vineyard.
He may be a saint of God of the
purest and highest type. Do not ex
pect too much of him at first. Give
him time to find out his bearings, to
acquaint himself with his work and
with the community to which he
comes. If you receive my successor
as you received me, with all gladness,
he will have nothing to fear. If you
are as jealous of his reputation as you
have been of mine, (and I am sure you
will be) he will enter upon his duties
under most favorable circumstances.
You will do me the greatest favor and
contribute more to his happiness, if
you are careful about quoting in his
presence some of the many things
used to do which he may think is all
out of the sphere of his calling. Do
not be hasty in your judgment con-
corning him. His social nature may
be of a different cast from any of his
predecessors; diffidence may be a
trait of character with which he has
to contend. His pulpit efforts may be
on somewhat different lines; his gen
eral plan of work broader, grander,
more abiding. Speak the kindly,
commendabie word at every opportu-
nifty. If his sermons please and help
you, tell him so in the spirit :of the
Master. Many a pastor has left field
of usefulness, all because he did not
know what was in the hearts of his
people concerning him. The word of
encouragement and commentator
will not f1atter him; it will make him
a more efficient workman. Do not
expect him to make the first advances
on the line of getting acquainted.
You will know him after having seen
and heard him once; he will have to
see you several times and learn your
faces and names and places of resi-
dence. Do not expect too much of
the PASTORS wife, or too much of his |
children, if he is fortunate enough to |
have them. Hold them all in high es-
TEEN for their Masters sake. See |
that they be with you without fear.
When the pastor calls on your street,
tell him all about the families on your
street upon whom he will be expect
ed to call and their relation to the
church. This will greatly aid him in
getting acquainted with his work and
people. Let no unfavorable judgment
be passed upon him and his, until they
have been fully tried. "Receive him
therefore in the Lord with all gladness
and hold such in reputation"
would be untrue to my conscience