The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-09-21

spirit OF our watchword text was cN'
emplihed by them. Though doubtless
there have been times when the work
OF the church has been less aggressive
than at others, as is the case in the
history Of every institution, still the
whole record is one Of steady progress
From the beginning this has been o
forward facing church, honoring the
past but not clinging to II, inspired by
great memories but not resting on
them, ever impelled onward by noble
heritage and seeking to make the ac-
complishment Of new tasks as worthy
as that OF the old.
| Therefore, positively, our watchword
means that without for q moment
failing 10 cherish the things that lie
behind we are to press forward, as our
fathers did, 10 new tasks with ven
turesome and devoted spirit. We are
TO continue to be a forward facing,
forward reaching, forward striving
church Of forward pressing Christian
people.
| Now let me suggest few Of the
things that the realization OF this
ideal Of a forward facing church i'm
plies.
First, that as a church and as indi-
vidual Christians we are to be ready
to do things which have never been
done before. We are not to hold aloof
from any Christian venture by giving
the old excuse, "We never have" That
was what Peter said when the Lord
appeared to him in a vision and bade
him eat the food which he had been
Iunaccustomed to touch Rise, Peter,
kill and eat" "Not so, Lord, ! never
have"
So when we face a unique oppor
tunity to render service in the COM
munity in hitherto untried ways the
fact that I'VE never have" will be a
challenge and an incentive, but never
an excuse. If mistakes are made, if
we stumble in the new paths, no one
connected with this forward facing
church will thereupon withdraw sup
port and encouragement but all to-
gether will carry the venture through
to success.
This will be the way that we shall
make a success of the new service
which Governor Mead has made pos
sible for us. And this will be the
spirit of many lesser venture which
we shall be called to make during the
coming year
This spirit will characterize our in
dividual relationships with the church.
When someone is asked to help as d
teacher in Sunday School or in any
other capacity he may have to decline
for other reasons but 81 never have"
will not be offered fer excuse,
So in reference to speaking to
strangers, to attending the mid-week
service, to bringing that long neglect
ed church letter and many another
thing.
We are forward facing church and
therefore are to be ready to do things
that we have never done before.
Herein the church is like an advancing
army wherein the faces of the soldiers
are all to the front. No army could
accomplish much if its members were
looking backward or at one another
either in admiration or criticism. 1t is |
essential for soldiers to press forward
all together and it is equally essential
for the members of church that the |
forward facing spirit should be shared
by all.
Another thing of which would
speak as an implication of our ideal is
that as a church and as individuals we
shall ignore personal considerations
when they interfere with our Christian
loyalty. Therefore, because we are
loyal to Jesus Christ and the interests
Of His Kingdom we shall think of
every enlarged opportunity not as a
possible means for increasing our own
prestige but as our chance TO serve,
whether or not we receive any particu-
lar credit for what is done. Our larg-
er loyalty will keep the thought Of our
own particular interests in the back
ground where they belong and this
will be a potent influence also within
the limits Of our own fellowship where
we shall forget our personal likes or
our prejudices Of every kind,
N the interests of the life and work Of
The church which claims US all.
The work which we have to do as
Christian church is too important to
allow Of any weakening of our powers
~ personal consideration of any kind.
Insofar as we permit prejudice or i'll
will to creep into any part Of our }
hurch life, be il at a service of wor-
hip or in the meeting Of society, the
onduct Of a Camp Fire or the holding