Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-10-09
"whither Are We nriftinr2,

i
A correspondent, not himself an
orthodox follower of Wesley, but
realizing the exigencies which face
the average Methodist minister dur
ing the coference appointment season,
and having due regard and respect
for the clergy of this great denomi-
nation who unflinchingly meet their
responsibilities gives them due praise
and full measure of credit in the fol-
lowing resume of their past and pres
ent activities:
The burning individual question
before a Methodist conference is.
Where am l going?" 1t should be
considered, however, that this ques-
tion is merely temporal in its signifi-
cance, for it is taken for granted that
all Methodist as well as other minis
ters are, in the figurative and spirit
ual sense, going where all good cler-
gymen ought to go.
The itinerancy of the average
Methodist minister is one lifelong
breaking of established ties, with the
consequent forming of new ones.
This is the rule with few exceptions.
There may be occasional instances
where both pastor and people find
relief in the custom of inevitable
transfer from pillar to post, but in
general way when the clergyman
leaves the old charge for the new the
sense of loss is acute and the parting
is one of sorrow. This is due pri-
marily to the fact that the minister's
relation to his people is very close
one: he marries lovers, christens the
children, buries the dead. He, in
greater measure than the layman,
mingles vicissitude with pleasure,
and the thread of his life is more
closely woven in the web of the COM
munity. Consequently when associa-
tion has grown into friendship, and
from friendship into a real affection
between pastor and people, change
becomes almost tragedy. But, like
a true soldier, he goes brave and
hopeful to new fields amid what is
often strange environment. Per-
chance he goes to a church saddened
by the loss of pastor whose like
his people do not expect to see again.
In such contingency he must go
fortified to measure himself against
the popularity and worth of most
deserving predecessor But usually
he wins. Sincerity and tact, ability
and faith do win, and the Methodist
minister of the present, like the
workers of old since the time of Wes-
ley, needs and usually possesses a
combinationsof all these attributes.
But it is long procession from
ordination approximation, with
perchance for the time being home
less journey and many bivouacs on
IhO way, ucHuduuluS HODl0 SdCTlIlC6S
at the hands of a faithful and con-
science-serving body of men. In the
final analysis perhaps this itinerancy
is the better way in view of beneficial
results ultimately attained by both
pastor and people. At all events, the
conference appointment with its re-
sultant obligations calls not for pity
but for encouragement and apprecia-
tion.
Wherever these men go the great
majority of them will carry strong,
helpful lives as we'll as a special mes
sage to the service of the community.
They should be met in the same.
spirit with which they go forth in be-
half of the Masters service, for their
personal influence is overwhelmingly
for Righteousness which is beyond
the domain of isms, cults and creeds.
OBSERVER.