Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-11-25

men who know but little about Chrlst
and who have only been church men,
bcrs for a few months, the younger
men who have not risen TO the high
plano where they can drop their selasn
ambitions. or the old men who know
that their lives are nearly run ana
whose only object Is to serve their
church during the few years that are
left? I want to tell all ministers and |
nil church members that any minister
or any church which gets out OF the
habit of honoring and following the
advice Of the old folks is heading TO-
ward almost certain shipwreck. The
older members of the church intuitively
know when any proposed course is
right, and they intuitively know when
1t Is wrong. Better rather, heed the
advice OF the old Christians than any
other class Of laymen.
Love of the Old For the Young
But" says some young minister or
Christian Endeavorer, 1.-The difhculty
with the old folks is that they are out
of sympathy with the young folks.
What are we to do when they do not
svmpathize with usY My young
friend, you are mistaken. The oid
church members are not out Of sympa-
thy with the young folks when they
are acting wisely. 1t is only when they
are rash and imprudent. Furthermore,
Of all admirers and helpers whom the
Young minister has In his congregation
no class is more loyal to him than the
white haired elders and their Wives'
As n rule when men and women grow
old they do not want to go to old peo-
ple's homes and associate with OLD pso-
pie. but they want to associate WIN
the Young. Especially do they love TO
have young man for their pastor
When my father a very young man,
was called to Syracuse, n. Y, the most
prominent man in that part Of the
state was a member Of his congrega-
tion. He was at that time over eighty
wears of age. In legislative halls ne
had sat the contemporary and the COM
peer of Clay and Webster, and he him-
self was ore Of the giants OF the bar.
NV father was at that time undeyel-
opcd and immature. Yet every Sunday
This big Drained, silver tongued orator
sot at his feet. as William e. Gladstone
sat If the feet Of his own son IN the
little church of Hawarden. One DAY q
friend came TO him and said, "Well,
senator. how do you like the young
nre0cherY" With that the OLD man an
swered: "I am very old man. L nave
seen and heard much. But l believe
the Young man is truly trying to serve
his Master. Therefore l shall do all
can 10 help him. Besides, my friend
the older a man grows the more he
likes Young men and young men
nreachingw Oh, ye young men In the
gospel pulpit, hear it! The best frlend'
a Young minister has are the old folks
Beware when the voices OF the ageC
are not needed in your church councils
When a young minister gets out o
touch with the older members OF nj
CONGREGATION he is always out OF toucl
with the best interests Of his churcl
and out Of touch with the real teacn
ings of Jesus Christ.
But the next class Of a ministers Des
friends to whom | wish to call your al
tention are the prayer meeting people
? allude to those who, week in and wee
ont. month in and month out, year i
and wear out, every Wednesday nigh
os far rs they are able always wen
l their way to the week night service d
regularly and as consclentiously a
, they 20 to the breakfast table in IN
, morninr and come home after thel
r husincss at night. These prayer NEE
{ ing folks do not always belong 10 III
q wealthy classes. Their wardrobes al
o not always filled with silks and Droa'
h cloths Some Of them during the Ga
q may hive had on the overalls or ca
9 nenter or a mason, or they may nav
4 held in their hands the order DooK
. crocerv clerk. But these pray'
4 meeting people, whether they be TIC
or noor are the most valuable peop
O Of the church-that Is, OF COURSE e
/ centlng some Of the older folks, WI
h ON account Of their physical infirmitie
il are unable to be out. 1t is not by ru
n ming after silver and gold and socl
h nosition that the minister is TO DuI
II m his church. 1t is by finding his cal
not and his church leaders among u
mon and women of spiritual poWe
70 who improve every opportunity 10
n ouoint themselves with the word
!. Cod and gain the unctiOn of the Spil
n. at the altar Of prayer.
o. Living the Christ Life.
n This was the way DR.. Charles
u, Hall. the great Episcopalian rector
ID Trinity church. Brooklyn, built up
ct marshes. When he was young III
4. be went forth, l believe, as misslc
% I arv TO the negroes of the Bermud'
IN Far away from home, among tne
be black men and women who could u
q thor road nor write, he felt he had I
os little use for his books Of classic 10
rv So he left them all behind and 10
n along with him his Bible. He devo'
ke himself to the study of the gospels d
tn the teachings of Jesus. He not OF
oe read and reread those gospels, Dut
N. tried to live that life among his
ey norant congregation The result "
If. that when he came back to Amer
and some of the great pulpits OF
he country called him he knew noun
No but Jesus. He preached Christ,
~. lived Christ. So absorbed was ne
ks the life of Christ that he leaned ent
of ly upon those who knew Christ
he were trying to live this life. And
ID result was Charles II. Halls churcf
ed wherever he went, speedily took
~. new life. The rich and the poor cro'
ed. ed his churches together, not beca
nd he sought the rich or those OF so'
mn | noaition hnt beceuse he tried TO i