The Detroit times., 1912-02-05

but most men and women have to be-
come good statesmen by practice.
The follow-up TO see that the job
is well done is one Of the things which
pastor finds most needful. II is
sadly neglected today. We roll a
burden from our shoulders by ap-
pointing a committee or organizing a
society, which often finds It's way
without stroke Of work 10 the patent
house storage room of unused inven-
lions.
The financing OF a church enter
prise Is often the preachers Water
loo. Sometimes this is due 10 the
pastors lack OF business ability. some
times TO the mean stinginess of a
nominally Christian but really uncon-
verted. unconsecrated constituency.
The cure for the latter is the old
fashioned preaching of the truth in
love- which warns every man as well
as teaches, that We may present
every man perfect In Christ Jesus.
Even then some OF his congregation
may remain obstinate, to plague him
with their stinginess and blight the
liberallty of others with their bad ex-
ample
The cure for a preacher who has
been sent out TO his work with no
business experience or practical sense
is hard to find. II was blessed with a
father who took each OF his three
boys out OF school between the ages
OF IA and l6, and put them for two
years under an able and honest bust
ness man In general merchandise
store. 1t was aagreat training for me
not merely for the business experience
which has always been OF invaluable
help, but for the knowledge which II
gave me c. human nature. man
never knows human nature till he has
business dealings with II. The butch
er and dressmaker can tell us more
about the characteristics of our WON
en- after weeks dealings, than we
can learn in years OF associating with
them in the club or missionary So
ciety.
Some ministers with weakness
along business lines, have attempted
TO meet it by employing a business
manager-It-is- poor-halp p so-far- al
have been able 10 observe A bet
ter way Is TO win 10 Christ some able
business men and turn over The bHsi-
ness side OF the work 10 them. One
OF the greatest Of follies is 10 put
the business side OF the church life
in the hands OF successful business
men who are not Christians They
villa Invariably wreck the church on
the rocks of policy OF selhshness.
The preacher ought never 10 be
the treasurer OF any funds, and II Is
perilous TO his permanent influence to
be the solicitor of subscriptions One
OF the ablest Baptist preachers I ever
knew. and the wittiest-ef--es1F day,
saws there are three things that Will
invariably wreck preachers hold
on his people, II not necessitate his
removal. One is TO buy or build him
self home In the congregation. This
will make them say. Well. he expects
TO settle down on us for life. does he,
whether we want him or not? Wen
show him a thing or so about that
and straightway the eaglets stir up
the nest.
Another is TO build new church,
especially IL he helps gather the
funds This will not only show him
how stingy some OF his people are
bit make them know that he knows
IT, anu soie Ol ticHl wiz never lot
give him for getting so wise But the
third thing Is to marry in your con.
gregation. You can never pick a wife
to suit them ALL All OF these are
sure disasters, ne tod me, but the
last Is the worst OF all. aud know
what I'm talking about for I've tried
ali three
so there may be worse handlcaps
for the preacher than business havoc
in his church life. and that is TO lose
his wife and be unable 10 follow the
SAGE advice OF Mr.. Weller.