The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-05-31
PuIpits Versus PeWs.

1t is a very usual thing to hear the
whole blame for the discouraging con-
dltions which prevail in so many
churches laid upon the minister Of the
church under discussion. We are
told that he is not good preacher:
that he has not the power to attract
people: that he cannot interest the
young, and so they wander off to
other churches; that le IL too old, or
that he is too young; and a dozen
other things all tending to prove that
the lamcntablc condition of coldness.
indifference or pccuniary difficulties
under which the church suffers is
wholly and solely the fault of the
minister in charge. No doubt it
would be fine thing for all our
churches if their ministers could pos
sess all OF the gifts above enumerated:
but, even we're such a thing possible,
they could not do very much without
the earnest corporation and hearty
sympathy Of the members of their
churches, and in most instances where
depressing conditions prevail it is be-
cause of the lack of such cooperation
and sympathy.
ln the last issue of the Living
Church, of Milwaukee, there is an
editorial upon the Faithful Lay
man. which, though primarily in.
tended for members Of the Episcopal
Church, has much in it that is quite
as applicable to members of all church
es and is we'll deserving of their atten.
ton; since fault-fnding with their
ministers is by no means confined to
any one denomination. It is the opin.
ion OF this writer that it is just as in
cumbent upon the lay members CT a
church that they be "found faithful
as it is that the pastor should fulfil all
the duties imposed upon him by his
position; and that no church can be @
fiourishing one in which these require
ments are not complied with. A few
of the discrepancies between what the
layman expects of his minister and
what he does himself may first be no
ted.
Let US take the matter Of Sunday
observances. Without question he
expects the pastor to be in his place
in the chaucel, the pulpit or on the
platform-whichever it may beat
the time appointed for divine service.
Think of the surprise Of the congre-
cation If he did nos appear until long
after the regular hour, or of its con-
| sternation were he not to come at all;
alleging afterwards as an excuse that
he had had slight cold, or little
headache; or that he had had busy
week and was tired, 50 did not get up
in time to go to church; or that there
we're some business affairs which re-
1uired his attention at the moment,
which kept him until after church
hour; or, in short, any Of the excuses
which laymen think all-suficient for
not being in their places promptly! !!
1t may be said the minister is engaged
to do certain things, and that it is his
bounden duty to do them. All minis
ters know that and therefore, they
fulfil their duties; but the faithful
laymen made certain engagements also
when he became member of the
church, and he isquite as much bound
to keep his compact as is the minister
to keep the one he made with the
congregation. A member of the con-
gregation may imagine it is not incum-
bent upon him to go to church every
Sunday, and to always be there in
time; but if all the members acted
upon the supposition there might be
times when no one would be pres
ent.
Again, with regard to the finances
of the churches, which is too many
cases are in deplorable condition; it
is the duty of laymen holding such
offices that the peouniary affairs of
the organization are in their hands to
see to it that those affairs are as care
fully and as faithfully administered
as are their private one. And yet it
is very usual thing to see the larger
part of the official oommittee-what-
ever its name may be--composed of
shrewd business men who have SO
ably conducted their personal affairs
that they are in fourishing :ondi-
tion, while the finances Of the church
to which they. belong are on the verge
of bankruptcy. It is q frequent sub
jeot Of remark that practical. success
full business men appear to lose their
common sense and Judgment when it
comes to the administration OF church