The Newtown bee., 1908-03-20

WORK ATTHE CONGREGATION
 AL CHURCH.
 Rev G. II. Johnson, the new pastor of the Congregational church, preached Sunday morning. for the first time and was greeted by an audience which compIately filled the church. He chose for his text John 10: 3. and gave a ser. mon that was favorably commented on for it's good sense. To-day begins a new chapter in the history of the First church of New Milford, because to-day it enters on relations new and sacred. I trust have been called of you of God, although have never heard his voice, lest it have spoken through the voice of this people. No angel ap- peared to you and told you to send for me, no miraculous revelation appeared to direct me to you. We were drawn together by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and we are before each other on this lovely Sabbath morning as pastor and people. It is therfore especially felicitous that we consider this rela- tionship, the minister and the church. What the church has right to expect of it's minister. What the minister has a right to expect of the church. "And the sheep hear his voice." The minis ter is a voice, a preacher of Gods righteousness. l am to be your preach CT. Rom. 10:l4: In order to preach worthily I must have leisure for study. | I ask the members of this church to aid me in guarding my forenoons from interruption. Do not expect me to always preach Aattering things. Things that are smooth. The preach CT must sometimes be prophetic and attack the iniquity of his times and the sins that are wrecking lives. But assure you l will never seek to do this unpleasantly. .
 "He calleth His own Sheep by name." The minister is to know his people. He is to be a pastor as well as a preacher. 1 wish to know you all intimately, and to share in the expe- riences of your life. 1 wish you to feel also that you can take me into your confidence in the times when you feel you must bare your soul to a friend. As a pastor l wish to know every boy and girl of this parish and to know them more than by name. 1 wish to enter into their life and if you older men and women see me enter ing into their world and seemingly jeopardizing the dignity of the cloth. you will remember children live in a different world than you do, and that i am endeavoring to be all things to all men and for no other purpose than for the glory of God. The third part of my text reads: And He leadeth them out" The minister is not only to be a preacher and pastor, but leader. You have sent for me to be the leader of your spiritual life. I wish to put myself on record thus early in my min stry that l am never to be dictator, just leader. Whatever innovations may be inaugurated, if any, will be after the proper officials of this church and parish have been consulted. But a leader'is perhaps the thing you least need. have frankly stated what you have a right to expect from me as your minister. 1 shall now frankly tell you what have right to expect of you as church.
 lst: have right to expect of you to be regular in your church attend ance, so far as possible to be always in your places.
 Ed: have right to expect tabso- lute loyalty to me. l am a public ser want. As such 1 shall be weighted ir the scales of public opinion. There will be enough criticism from without the church without having any criti- cism from within. One of your men said to me: We all have considerable human nature in us." l shall remem- Der it and 1 wish you to remember this "You haven't it all" Your minister is human. too, and because he is he will need much Of your charity, for bearance and affectionate judgment. Now the head of the family can stand the tempests without, but tempests within will crush his life. But if ever you must cfiticise, never criticise in the presence of the children.
 3rd: Again, have right to expect your earnest, faithful prayers.
 4th: I have right to expect of you much Christian service. We are CO laborers. You have not sent for me to do all the work. 1 have not come with any such intention. Find the work you are fitted for and do it in the name of the Master. The future stretches out before us. Your noble past has gone into history, history o1 which you may well be proud. But the golden age of this church is not ir the past, but in the future. As church let us put on the whole armour of God and enter the sphere of Christ. ian service with the spirit and zeal o1 our Master. And as we mingle witt men let us be swayed with the spirit of our first martyred President, "ultf malice toward none, with charity fol all," with firmness in the right as Got gives us to see the right, let us strive On to finish the work we are engaged in AN AMAZING INSIGHT OF THE
 LIFE OF WILD BIRDS.
 If you knew-what others know about Lyman H. Howe's moving pic lures to be seen at Town hall, Nev 1 M;lfo.d ox, Thurrdn.1 auonit,n Morcl