University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-03-03
4 Local Minister.

AS field of labor, the Rev. w. Jas
Iper Howell. pastor of the First Bap
tist Church of Columbia, says the
ministry is the greatest of all. The
life of a minister is filled with per
lplexing problems, and his chief com.
Ipensation is his sense of benefaction
Mr.. Howell says. though, that it is
not without its joys and recompenses
THE duties of a minister are mani.
fold and complex" says Mr.. Howell
HE is expected to do many things
that others cannot do, and things that
others will not do. He IS physician,
organizer. business man, leader. stu
dent. speaker, and many other things,
all in one. But the time has come
when many church leaders are in
favor of relieving the minister of
many of the details that consume
much of his time. They know full
well that it is impossible for a min
lister to be a powerful preacher and
leader, unless he is free to devote him.
self to these duties.
1.-The minister's first task is to keep
his own life so that it will merit
Christ's approval. Then, he should
bring the life of his church up to that
standard. What he receives-a rea-
sonable living, respect and gratitude
and the opportunity for forming
friendships of great value-is suffi-
cient recompense; but his chief rec
Ompense from a human standpoint is
his sense of benefaction. The con-
sciousness of having been instrument
tai in changing the lives of individ-
uals, starting streams of influence
that will go to places where he him.
self could not go, fills his heart with
Joy. The young man who wants ID
serve humanity and get the most out
OF life may well look to the ministry;
and minister never feels such pro-
found sense of success as when he
influences a young man to enter the
field for a life of service"
Upon recommendations of DR.. Shall
er Mathews, dean of the Divinity
School of the University of Chicago
and editor of the World Today, and
w. ]. Northern, former governor of
Georgia, Mr. Howell was called to the
pastorate he now holds. He began his
work in September, 1909.
Although his ministry in Columbia
has covered a comparatively brief per-
iod of time, he has won the admira-
tion and respect of the members of
his congregation and the people of the
town. He is recognized as forceful
speaker, good organizer and leader,
and helpful minister. He has given |
all his time to equipping himself for |
and serving in the ministry, and is a
close student of the subjects with |
which he must deal. Because of his |
experience and close study of matters
relating to his work, he talks most in /
erestingly and convincingly about the
church and things religious.
Mr.. Howell believes thoroughly in
eligion and the church. Those who
leclare they do not believe in regen-
'ration, he would ask, "How can a
nan speak of that which he does not
,now?" To those who oppose the
hurch, he would show its mission
nd point out its progress. He says
hat men who have not experienced
generation cannot speak with au-
hority on religion. II
THE church is Gods prophet in the I
lodern world" he maintains. Its h
lission is to evangelize and educate.
Whenever it has measured up to it's r
uties, it has remade all things; q
'herever it has failed in these it has lI
cen a hindrance to progress. Out of I
le church that has incarnated evan i
elism and education, has sprung all n
o6iCoo- Tic UTluRlUS
men into living obedience to the L
eals that animated the personality Il
Jesus, rather than having a pas +,
on to bring men to external con-
rmity to statements of creed made
7 fallible men. Education yitalizes n
and utilizes it's results. n
1ucation trains men and women and
nds them out to serve the world; it b
uips the church to serve the world" Or
Just how successful the church s N
an evangelizer and educator, there G;
room for discussion. 1t is the opin- q,
n of Mr.. Howell that it is successful n
the main. He does not agree with lC1
e pessimist and the cynic who say r,
e church is failure. He believes ",
has mission and that it is full F.,
ing this mission to a marked de- oc
ee. Wv,