The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-11-16
6be Church
AT Robbinddle
(Original.]


mingling. The same is true OF zeal ana
conventionality. At least. the Rev.
Frederick Forsythe found 1t SO when
he accepted the position of assistant
pastor of Christ church of Robbindale.
The town and the church had been
founded by Horatio Robbins, q man
very set in his ways, and he had left
his impress upon both, especially the
church. II there ever was a young
man wrapped in his profession. 1t was
Mr.. Forsythe Moreover, he was re-
markably we'll fitted for it.
But no one in Robbindale looked SO
far ahead. The clergyman was but
twenty-six years old, and. though It
was admitted that he had "the gift OF
gab," 1t was feared that he lacked that
discretion necessary to get Oh with
the members of Christ church. There
was one essential to his retaining his
position. and that was that he should
| take wife from among the young
| girls Of the congregation. He was not
| told this. He was simply Informed
when called to the church that his I'M
welded condition was an objection
and that his permanency would depend
upon his marrying
Mr.. Forsythe found n congregation
the membership of which had descend
ed exclusively from parent to chllu.
No one had ever joined the church
from any other circle-that is. to re-
main. Several had tried it. but, not be-
ing noticed by any Of the members
had quietly dropped out. Mr.. Forsythe
had scarcely entered upon his duties
before he created an undercurrent or
nouietude by drawing number or
outsiders into the fold The worst fea-
ture of the innovation was that none
of the new members was anything
like the Christ churchers. Indeed. one
of the oldest and most respectable Ia
dies pronounced them common
When Mr. Forsythe found that his
converts were being tabooed he preach
ed sermon on Christian fellowship, IN
which he gently chided his flock for
shutting themselves up in their little
church when there was harvest walt
ing to be gathered in the broad fields.
, | He WAS SuTpTlStN ullSi Wpiu W '"N'~~
that his sermon had been received as
matter Of course. No one Thought IT
necessary to dissent from what was
the very essence of Christianity. but no
one proposed to pay any attention 10
his exhortation except in spiritual
way-that is, they would feel the bene-
fit of the spiritual admonition. but
,, Christ church would go right on in it's
beaten path. One person only objected
J openly to the proposed departure. Mrs.
MACPHERSON said: Pm Scotch meseP
and was member of church IN
) Scotland. No one In the church there
e that didn't know nue. ever spoke to me.
and I never spoke to any one didn't
i know"
$ This was said to the pastor as gen
A tie admonition that he had better not
60 wandering about from Christ
y church traditions. but keep within
them. Mrs. MACPHERSON. being older
than he and one of the wealthiest mem
;, bers of the congregation, could afford
: to speak thus plainly and to the point
y but from no other of them did he get
o one word for or against his effort to
make an opening for the entrance OF
sinners in the walls of Christ church.
When Mr. Forsythe had preached the
gospel to the Christ churchers an even
!. six months one Of the deacons called on
him Informally at his study ostenslbly
. to discover IL there was any prospect
@ Of his taking a wife. but really to make
8 it plain to him that II he did not do sc
e within the next six months the congre
: CATION would find 1t essential to call q
a pastor with a woman to perform those
t, church functions pertaining to women
# Mr.. Forsythe said that he would take
!, the matter under consideration in all Its
}. bearings, and the deacon left, feeling
:. we'll satisfied. The result of the inter
e view was soon whispered about through
- the members Of the fold, and the
. young ladies' were on tiptoe of expec
e tation.
It A few months after this the pastor
gave out through the deacon that aftel
/. the Wednesday evening prayer meet
ing he would make an announcement
y Of Importance In regard to his connec
. ton with the church. The member.
were puzzled. The pastor had not beer
observed to be paying attention to an!
Of the girls Of the congregation. though
some mink might have caught him Oh
s. the sly. This must be the explanation
The deacon had made him understand
0. what was required of him if he KEEP
e his position, and "calls" for young mel
IS just out Of seminaries at salary o
i 81 200 a year did not grow on bushes
N Besides, il n call had been made /
d would have been preferred by an ex
:, hibition sermon. Mr.. Forsythe hat
Is been absent only one Sunday. and tina
" was when his mother was i'll.
/, On the evening of the expected an
N nouncement the prayer meeting com
=, prised all the women of the churcl
n and most of the men. When the serv
ID ice was over, Mr.. Forsythe, standin,
re beside the pulpit, said:
e II have long been anxious for
working field of the broadcast charac
l. ter. Two have tempted me-foreigl
= missions and the Salvation Army. Blu
J., my elders Of the clergy have persuad
= ed me that / should remain in the mi