The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-01-12


hey may choose and make such dis
position of the property as seems
equitable and christian.
Ill. The Congregational church
in Worthington may defer the per-
sonal views and preferences OF the
to the demands OF the
history, place and opportunity; may
address itself at once to the work OF
rebuilding of the sanctuary; may
seek and call a pastor and revivlng
its activities give itself with all the
more intelligence and zeal to the
work of a witnessing church be-
cause of the trials through which it
has passed.
The first proposition seems dehn-
itely disposed of through the action
of the church and as involving a
practical impossibility.
The only other alternatives be-
fore the church are then, to dlsband
or to go forward.
The considerations that demand
in the serious Judgment of some at
whatever sacrifice of sentiment,
and association the dissolution OF
the church as an organic body are:
i. That the town is already over
ohurched, the present buildings be-
ing more than sufficient to accomo-
date the community; that the sup
port of an unnecessary number OF
churches is severe strain upon the
resources of the people: that the
providential removal of the Congre-
gational building makes it most
possible for that church to relieve
the situation.
2. The present situation of the
church, the lack of agreement among
the members, possibly lessened I'm
ancial strength if it should 60 for
ward, it's isolation in denomina-
tional way, the lack of anything at
once distinctive and vital in it's wit
ness not found in the other churches
and the uncertainty on the part OF
those most enthusiastic for continu-
ance whether the requisite unity and
eonsecration could be depended up
on.
While we recognize the force of
these considerations individually
and in their cumulative power, it
seems to us that in the present case
their weight has been overestimated.
4. That the overchurching can
not be placed at the door of the
first church organized within it.:
That the Union Congregational
church during all it's life has stood
for ideals of unity: That its right
and duty, standing for these things
could not be affected by the de-
struction of it's house of worship;
and that thu ABSORPTION Of this in
the other churckes would add little
to their resources and activities as
compared with the lessened aetivi~
ties and contributions of individ-
uals who now compose the church.
2 That over fourteen hundred dol
lars has been raised in the church
in a year without q house of wor-
ship, and in part, without pastor
and in conditions where divided
counsels would apparently make the
securing funds most difficult. With
the fact that the church is already
in possession of most valuable lots
and of funds largely sufficient for
the work of building, relieve any
insuperable difficulty, from lack of
funds.
3. That during the past year
the Sunday school has had an aver
age attendance of ~; that a respec-
table congregation has gathered
whenever any service has been an
nounccd; that considerable num-
Der of families without depend upon
it's ministries, 40 that there does
not seem to be wanting a constitu-
ENJOY.
Further, and most significant to
ue who regard our mode of church
life as secondary and subservient