The Alaska daily empire., 1915-10-27
Duties of a Minister of tbe Gospel 2 2 2
..I.------------.---l---I-I-I-

I of the Gospel z z t s.iil..l.-l, i.-i-i-ii-s-'-s
 Sermon of Dr. J H Con-
 dit delivering thc charge Go
 Rev. John B. Stevens at Che
 installation of the latter as
 pastor of Northern Light Pres
 byterion Church Juneou)
 -s-
 Tim f.L2-I charge thee there. fore before God and lhe Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge Che quick and the dead Q, hls appearing and his kingdom;
 Preach the Word"
 The ancient gladiator dedicated 20 slaughter turned to his emperor and soid.-'l who am about Co die salute you'
 Paul soon to win tho martyrs crown under Che cruel Nero. about to de. ready to be offered up delivers fln- al charge to his son in the faith, the young Timothy He had laid the hand of ordination upon the young mans head he now desires to place parting injunction upon his heart and conscience Taking him into the presence Of the Judge of all the earth by direct appeal to heaven. he lays upon him Q solemn obugation-bind- Ing. perpetual universal in itg appii- cation Preach the Word
 My brother from Che many iunc' lions of the ministry which ] might appropriately emphasize at thls time, I have selected that which ) deem GO be the most important of all for con- sideration tonight take it that Paul considered it of first importance be- cause of Che manner in which he im- parts th.s message and because it was his last word to Timothy Dying men do not deal in non-essentials. Evidently chat great preacher selected the duty which he thought Go be es- sentiol Co the success Of his son in the faith in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.
 He desired first for Timothy the young minister. that he might be O preacher.
 Tn fulfnment Of the responsibility placed upon me by the Presbytery will you permit me to call to your at- tention the two lessons which this text contains for every man. set apart by ordination, for the proclamation of the truth of God
 !. First we have here suggested the minister's supreme Mission, i. s., preach the word.
 ]. The demands upon che modern minister are to say the least exacting-
 G) It is required in many places that he be more or less Of a business manager
 The modern study has come in many ol our prominent churches, to be a business office.
 From Monday until Saturday the minister is required to be in his of- flee for the transaction of business associated with the complex organi- zation of Che large church.
 Tn SO far as ihe spiritual develop ment Of the work is concerned this is doubtless essential
 Tn SO far as the spiritual develop ment Of the work is concerned this is doubtless essential
 Tn SO far as Che temporal affairs of the church are concerned it is all wrong. No minister should be re- quired to do the work which properly belongs to the board Of trustees.
 But however faithful the officers may be in assuming their proper ob- legations the tendency Of the methods of the modern church is to district and detract In so far as the preach ing function is concerned.
 co The minister discovers. too. that he is counted in as Che social factor in Che community
 The "pinkteas' type Of clergyman, prevalent in some or our novels of the day. is abhorent to every red-blooded preacher. J am sure.
 But. with the purpose of making social intercourse a means to the great end Of moving men God-ward. attention must be given to social oi- fairs.
 (Sl Civic duties impose themselves upon the time and attention of the conscientious minister There are sociological problems political prob lens both municipal and general, there are public questions Of import ance in the community and having always a moral bearing which he can not neglect
 Because a man is a minister be is no less a citizen If political conditions are morally dirty, then, in cleaning up moral filth he will be directly in the line of duty The cry that the preacher has no business in politics is one way the devil has of defending and extending himself He has a place there That place is by preaching the doctrine of purity in politics and by exposing in his preaching all that which is impure.
 (N Another heavy draft upon the ministers time is that required in pastoral offices.
 These can not be neglected. They are the accompaniments Of the pas toral calling To bury the dead, to visit the sick and afflicted. to seek out the wanderers, an this is essen tial and fruitful This is part of