The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-21

REVEREND JOSEPHUS STEPHAN,
Who preached his last sermon as pastor
OF Mount Auburn NJ. e. Church. South
last evening.
might was from Exodus xiii, Il: "And
Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands" He
said, in part:
Il reiinquish tonight my place as your
pastor. and must submit to have this
: most pleasant relationship and the tie, so
: strong between us, broken. / would like
g to indulge in personal and the retrospec-
: tive. recounting the victories and bless
fngs of the past, but 1 feel constrained to
lace the future and speak a word on be-
Years are e pecord Of vHr secfon tnfSe
fidelity, / covet for you and your new pas
tor an unprecedented era of spiritual
prosperity and blessing.
Moses was not more dependent on the
e support of Aaron and Hur in his victory
over the Amalekites than is every pastor
on the loyal and enthusiastic support of
the members OF local church. And in
the transition of pastorateS nothing can
be more transcendently important. In a
eonnectional church like our own where
the interests Of all are the interests Of
one. We must lay aside our personal feel
ing. and heartily cooperate with each
other for the common good.
Let me exhort you to be ready to ac-
cept your new and untried pastor Just as
he Is. and as a God-sent man. Don't ex-
pect him to be made to order. TO be eX-
actly your ideal. or possessing the identi-
outgoing pastor. Each man has his own
individuality. and his peculiar talents and
capacities. The very man not an ideal at
first has often become the greatest bless
ing and power in a church. The wisdom
of our church is found in this interchange
of preachers. and the growth and sue
cess of Methodism in the world is a
standing witness. In giving to the vari-
Gus charges these elements of different
preachers It has often put new life and
enthusiasm into the work, saved us from
ruts or stagnation and helped to develop
the church into a symmetrical whole.
You must remember. too. that no one
man is necessary to Gods work. He re-
moves his workmen, but carries on his
work. We are tempted to put too much
emphasis on the man, and not enough on
the presence and power of God in the
midst of his people. using each and all
to his glory.
I'VE need to get rid of that idea of
identifying. the personality Of any pastor
with the church. thing which is out OF
place in our correctional economy. This
IS often witnessed in designating church
as Doctor As or Doctor Bs Sc church; i- en-
craft and a mere formal Sunday-go-to-
meeting religion. We do, not Join. nor nor
depend on any individual pastor. put
Christ and the church. and our loyalty
to Christ and church while pastors como
and go must. determine our enthusiasm
our fidelity and the work we do.
his church makes him, as often we lind
the same man a failure In one place ano
a success in another. While 1t is true tnat
a pastor. by his preaching and consecrateo
labors. may mold the life of a church
the right or wrong attitude of a church to
the work of the pastor will have much TO
do with the outcome of his ministry.
1.-THE new pastor needs your tenderest
sympathy. Put yourself in his place. as
stranger providentially in your midst
If YOU will begin to pray for him, you
can't fail to be interested in and in sym
pathy with him. Sympathy will go far in
making effective his ministry. Despicable
is the man who is seeking Tor compliments
true man of God is human. and needs
human appreciation. Nothing is more ten
der and touching than the reference OF
Paul to the kindness and encouragement
shown him by the church at Philippi, and
none of US now are any less human than
was Paul
''You can multiply his ministry by a
hearty and intelligent cooperation. No
general can win great victory without
the hearty co-operation of the rank and
file nor can q naval commander without
that of his stokers in the hot and hidden
boiler-rooms- The pastor makes glow
ing report at conference, presumably or
what he hs= accomplished. with all ewes
on his superior wisdom and devotion, when
the fact is the success of his work was
largely due TO those whose names are IN
the book OF life Like Moses. his hands
would fall waIe 1t not for the faithful
Aarons and Hurs. who stand by his side,
supporting them with their strength.
while there are many ways to CO.
city church. there. is no more crying need
nor potent factor than seeking, with a
spirit-6lled heart. the many lost ones in
the community. givin a hearty welcome TO
the stranger and visiting those who iden-
tify themselves with the church. No pas
tor can do more than small fraction OF
this work. but a church enlisted in this
foul-saving. soul-cheering. scul-encourag-
ing work. WILL in harmony with his ef-'
forts. see wonderful results.
"The new pastors influence can be in |
he
accomplished by your right attitude to- |
ward him before others. While willful sin |
Is to be condoned in no one. We must be |
careinl not 10 criticize his mistakes or his |
administration before children. the unbe- |
Heying or the indifferent.
ST must bid you farewell. Four years |
ago ! preached my first sermon among |
You. and now II is the last. Judging from |
your treatment OF me and the many kind |
nesses and your corporation ard syrnpa-