The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-14
Rev. Inman L. Wilcox Reviews
His Passionate at Park Church
on the Tenth Anniversary of
His Installation
A NET GAIN OF 105
MEMBERS IN A DECADE
The Tendency Of the Residen-
tiaI Section of the City West
ward Opens. Great Possibilities
For Growth in the Future-The
Church Founded in 1886

Rev. Inman L. Wilcox preached
sermon yesterday morning in which
he reviewed his ten years service as
pastor of Park Congregational Church
and pointed out its prospects for the
future. Mr.. Wilcox began his work
with the church Aug. 9, 1891, but was
| installed Oct. g. Of the same year. He
came to Worcester from Shrewsbury
where he began his pastoral work.
! His text yesterday morning was TAX
en- from three verses in the Bible, Mat
| thew XIII, 81 and 33; and 1 Corinthians
SIS 1.-The Kingdom of Heaven is like
| unto a grain of mustard seed" The
Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven'
"A little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump"
Mr.. Wilcox reviewed the growth of
| the church during his ten years SER
vice. When he took charge the church
had 1870 members: he has received l95
members, and the church has lost W
members during the last ten years by
death or removal, making the net gam
for the period 105. The total NUMBER
of members connected with the church
since its foundation is 409,; it's pres
ent membership is 227.
Passing to the financial side Mr.. Will
cox stated that in ten years there has
been paid out $4,000 for current ex-
penses; $12, 900 on the new church build
ing erected seven yearsago; $4,000 in IN
! terest: and $4,000 for benevolences; a
total of $40 O00 The present debt Of
the church is about $4,000 entirely on
\ the building The value of the church
property is about $4,000.
The church has now 227 members, the
| Sunday school, 2S0; the senior endeavor
society 60: the Junior Endeavor socie-
ty, 40.
Mr.. Wilcox dwelt at some length on
the prospects before the church. It's
location, he said, is good and the neigh
borhood is improving. 1t contains now
| more permanent homes than ever be-
fore. The old fair grounds which are
now being built upon will pro-
perly come within the field of Park
Church and ought to add some mem
bers The residential centre of the city
is moving toward the church. The old
churches near or on the Common have
felt this tendency and have removed
or are wanting to do so. Mr.. Wilcox
predicted that in another 10 years there
will again be q movement westward.
Mr.. Wilcox appealed to the congre-
CATION to keep before them a right iGeal
to build strong, powerful and spirit
ual church. growth will solve" he
said, "all the temporary problems as
! to numbers and finance. The church
ought to make net growth of 10 mem
bers a year for the next five years
which would give 300 members, enough
for a strong working church. In that
period the church ought to reduce Its
debt by $4,000, which would put its IL
nances on a much better basis.
But" he continued. 1.-The real sue
cess of a church lies not in its size or
wealth but in its quality and character.
A church needs the quality Of salt, to
promote moral and spiritual health. 1t
| must be like leaVen. Christ did not
emphasize numbers but quality. We
must look upon the value of church
as upon the planting of tree or rose
bush. It is not the size but what it
gives to the world in fruit or fragrance
| that should be valued. Every member
! of the church should take an individ-
ual interest in it's affairs. They should
look on the bright side and find as lit
tie fault as possible.
Park Congregational Church was
! founded in 1886 under the auspices Of
the City Missionary Society 1t grew
out of a Sunday school gathered byMiss
Laura A. Giddings, a visitor Of the So
ciety. The first place of worship was
in a chapel on the site of the present
| church building.
The first pastor, Rev, George S. Pei
ton. was installed Feb. q, 1887.