The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-22

churches referred to had home ex-
penses of 1872. Jos. For each member
received on confession there was an
outlay therefore, of 1929. The three
small churches had a home expense or
$78O4. making an outlay of $206 for each
member received on Confession.
THUS it cost more than three times
as much for the large churches to 40
their work of evangelization as 1t did
the small ones
Some might think that the three
large churches selected were not fair
examples, so take If you will the three
having, last year, the largest Access
sions on confession: Pilgrim, 81; Union
%: Old South, q; a total of "a. The
combined membership of these churches
is 2499. Thus in these it took "a mem
bers to secure one addition on confess
sion against Is in the three small
churches. If put on a basis of home
expenditures the three last named,
having each a large debt, make the
poorest showing Of all having expended
| the sum Of $S48 for each admission
Such figures must not be made to
carry too much meaning, yet they
prove that in proportion to the money
expended, and the working force the
small churches are doing their share.
especially along that most important
line of soul winning.
THE third question we raise is this
Has the small city church any advan-
tages over the large one? That it has
some advantages | think we are all
agreed. First, 1t is possible for the
pastor of a small church to know
more intimately the people and the
people to know more intimately the
pastor. He can call three or four times
year on each family ano become 50
well acquainted with his people that
he will know the children by name as
well as by sight
I'm not a few of our large city
churches pastoral work has been prac-
tically given up, except in cases of ILL
ness or special need, and even then 1t
is not infrequently turned over to am
assistant or visitor.
In a small church the social life is
freer The members become more
easily acquainted with each other. a
stranger attracts more notice and
naturally receives more attention.
mot long ago the question of church
social life was up for discussion in our
Wednesday evening praye meetins
One of the members referred to the
fact that in the old chapel days, the
church seemed to be more sociable
and accounted for it ons the ground
that in the chapel there was but one
door for entrance and exit while in
the church there are a half dozen. 1t
is easy to see how, when all the MEM
bers entered and passed out Of a sim
gle door, 1t was conducive to sociabil-
ity Church architecture has not lit
tie to do with the church's social life.
Galleries are the curse of the mod
ern church building, every church with
a gallery has practically two congre
cations and the people in the gallery
and those on the floor almost never
meet If l had my way / would never
have a church gallery or at least
would have it so arranged that the
people would have to come down into
the main auditorium before passing
out. The evils. of the gallery and num-
erous exits are largely wanting in the
small church, and this is another ar
gument to their advantage.
"A third point in favor of the small
church is that people who have been
members of small country churches
usually prefer, on coming to the city,
the small city church"
DR.. Lewis read a clipping from a
daily paper in which a Worcester
church goer who had belonged to a
South End Congregational Church over
a year. complained that the pastor and
only one of the members had ever
called on her. Continuing, Dr. Lewis
said, "A lady friend of mine had re-
ceived similar treatment in one Of the
largest Congregational churches in the
city. There is no denying the fact that
it is harder to become acquainted in a
large church than in a small one. But
the trouble is not entirely with the
church people. Frequently strangers
refuse to do their part.
THE advantages which the small
church has over the large church are
much the same as those of the small
college over the large university.
Our conclusion. therefore. would De
this: There is a place in city life tor
the small church 1t is the small
church that makes possible the large
church.
Just one practical thought. A rev
months ago a committee was appointed
by this club to consider and recon-
mend what the club might do TO be Oh
more value to the churches OF the city
The two speakers Of this evening We're
members of this committee ana the
topics presented were suggested 10 the
club by the committee. On my own
authority. for the committee has not
even considered the matter, l wish 10
raise a question for your considera
tion. why should not this club have
a practical as well as a social end
why should we not so diminish on