Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-11-25
But how pro-.

10 follow after i..5.;e t..i are rich or
socially struag IA Il community and yet
not motel Tor t.cir Christian cOnsecra-
ton. How common II Is for the rich
merchant 10 be the president OF the
board of trustees. even though he be
not church member. How easy II Is
for the young minister 10 yield TO the
worldly elements of his congregation
who want line music In the choir loft,
even though that music has to be rem
lcrcd by men and women who never
have profcsscd Christ as their Saviour
and who are notorious for their indif-
ference To all things sacred and divinei
How liable the minister Is TO lean upon
those who never lean upon Jesus and
then 10 expect his people To be spiritual
people. God forbid that in any church
the pastor should seek for his chief adj
viscrs and leaders those who think
more of the cut of their cutter garments
than they do of their inner consecra-
ton. for those who would sooner go to
II ball or n card party or Il theater than
10 the house Of prayer. When the lead
ers OF church are unsanctifled they
become the lcaven which leavens the
church loaf.
But there Is still another class to
whom | wish 10 call your attention.
The new minister's best friends are al
ways to be found among those who
were the best friends of the minister
who preceded him In that pulpit. They
are TO lie found among those who are
always ready To praise their last min
listers virtues and never allude TO his
:ailings. They will tell you their last
pastor had the lovelicst wife and the
finest children and the happiest Of
homes. They will say: Yes. our old
pastor was II good man. | never sat ut
his feet without receiving a blessing
from his sermons" And these friends
of the old minister did receive bless
Ing from every one of his sermons.
And they will receive blessing from
every one of the new minister's SER
mons. As they were friends TO the old
minister. 50 they will be friends Of the
new.
The New Love Versus the Old.
But there are always some people
who think they cannot prove their love
for the new minister unless they tell
him all the faults of the old. No sooner
is the new minister Installed than these
false friends gather around him. "Ah."
they will say. II am so glad you are to
he our pastor We have needed you for
the last five years. This Is the age OF
young men. our old pastor was too
old. lie was worn out He has been
dead for the last twenty years and
was not conscious of the fact. The
young people did not like him. And
then his wife was an invalid. Oh.
am glad you have not sick wife.
Then our old pastors children wanted
all the offices. Ills daughter was the
head of our Christian Endcavor soci-
ETY.. and his son was usher In the chief
aisle. and his sister was the head Of
our primary department But every
thing now is going 10 he different. We
have you. and all will he we'll" Yes;
things will be- different. but only In
name. Young men. you who are about
To enter the Christian ministry. always
fight shy of the church members who
would try to praise you ut the expense
of the noble men of God who gave the
best OF their lives 10 your pulpit before
you came 10 il. If they are untrue to
your predecessors. they will be I'M
true to you. always have my sus-
picions OF the man who. to show his
love and devotion 10 his second wife,
has to spend most Of his honeymoon in
planting Canada thistlcs and poison
ivy upon the grave OF his first.
Would that some people who find so
much fault with their old pastors might
receive the rcbukc which Il minister
gave to his daughter who was criti-
cising an absent friend. The daughter
was saying her friend was odd and
peculiar" Yes" answered the old
father. "shc certainly IL odd and pc
culiar. She II so odd and peculiar that
she was never heard to speak Ill of an
absent friend" like that. We can
not he untrue to our absent friends and
at the same time true TO those who are
by our side. We cannot be- untrue to
our pastors who are gone and true to
those who are now preaching in our
pulpits.
But there Is yet another criterion by
which you can Judge minister's best
friends. They are 10 he numbered
among those who do not love their
church so much that they are blinded
TO the gospel duties which are calling
them outside of the four walls OF that
church They are the Christians who
realize that as there Is one family Nv
Ing within The four walls OF the home
so there Is church family living with
in the four wallis OF the church. They
strive 10 fulfil their obligations not on
~ 10 their own family and the church
family. but to those outside who do not
yet know Christ. The church family
IL very important family. but II does
not represent the whole human race.
Now. us every father and mother must
help care for the wants of their indi-
gent ncighbors. SO every church family