The Hattiesburg news., 1915-11-10


ures Of B. Y. P. U. in the state.
Announcements being made at this
point the convention adjourned for
lunch.
The Tuesday afternoon session Of
the Baptist ministers conference
opened in the First Baptist Church
at 2 o'clock, and with Rev. W. A..
Whittle. of Blue Mountain, leading
entered into song and devotional
service that lasted for thirty minutes
All delegates were put in splendid
tune for the program Of the AFTERNOON
which began with a discussion Of the
topic. sH 3ssis.'
"The Pastor and Wise Use Of His
Time"
The first speaker was Rev. Theo.
Whitfield. The pastor, he said, is to
do two things: Minister the word and
pray. He is to minister by preach
ing, always having something really
worth while to say, and saying it well
and attractively. Much time should
be spent by him in preparation. The
sermon is SO important that it should
be thoroughly thought through before
delivery, and even practiced. Illustra-
tions and incidents OF familiar things
should be sought and carefully used.
He emphasized the need of unselfish
prayer, and the prayer of the pastor
in the behalf of the membership of the
church member by member.
Rev.. N. R. Stone, OF Hattiesburg,
was the next speaker on this subject
making only very few remarks. He
said that we do not pray half enough
and half deep enough. When we do
a revival will then come. ~
Rev. B. L. Mitchell followed with
short statement of some personal ex-
periences along the line of the topic
under discussion. slsi
Rev. r. M. Boone, of Cleveland,
spoke of the great need of system in
the pastors work. A great deal of a
preachers labor is lost. What he
most wants is results.
Training Members for Personal.
Service" ws the topic introduced by
Rev. ]. L. Phelps, of Canton. We can.
not serve God by proxy, nor with our
increase if we are not interested. The
first impulse of Christian is to do
something for the Lord. This ques-
tion of training members for personal
service is problem no pastor has yet
solved. The bulk of the membership
of the churches everywhere is unen-
listed. There are people in every con-
gregation you cannot reach; they feel
no part in the work. They need to be
converted. You must instill into them
the idea, God wants you" You can
not conscript folks into Gods service.
Rev. G. s. Jenkins followed on the
same subject, stating that he had
largely failed in this work, but saying
that he had some convictions with
reference to it Training for personal
work. he said, includes. more than we
sometimes think-more than occasion
al efforts at revivals. The best work
is to be done personally, individually,
on the field. He pointed out how to
do this in speaking of the preparation
of the man for God. Surrender must
be made and something must come
from without and get within the man.
In every phase of his life's work the
pastor must be prepared.
"Getting the Individual to Face His
Responsibility to God"
The one responding to this part of
the program was Harry Leland Martin
of Indianola, generally considered one
of the most brilliant and gifted speak
ers in the state convention. On this
occasion, as always, his language flow
ed beautifully and his thought deeply.
In speaking to the. above subject he
stated that each case must be taken
care OF on its own merits. Much DE-
pendence must be placed on the Spirit
of God. The worker must be Gods
tool to reach any case. There is al
ways a way to attain the end, if not
directly then in some way provided by
God. The preacher must be Gods
man preaching not to audiences but
to individual unitst There are SO
many things in modern days that OBJ
scure the individual. Jesus work was
done, not upon the crowds, but upon
the individuals. The pastor should
not only preach the doctrine of in
dividualism but practice it in his per-
sonal work. Nagging the people will
not get you anywhere. DR.. Martin