South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-11
REGRETS at Rev. H. B. Hostel
ter'S Resignation at West
minister Expressed.

20 the Third Presbyterian church
OF Fort Wayne, service TO begin the
first OF the year. He made his an
uouncement 10 the congregation fol-
lowing the morning sermon. the top
is of which was The VIII of God,
the Law OF Each Mans Life"
After the regular morning service
a congregational meeting was held.
and the resignation taken under con-
sideration, though i'm the last ana'y-
Sis the question of the dissolution
and transfer of "a pastor is up to the
presbytery, SO that the only ques-
ton left was for the congregation
10 decide whether or not il would
cooperate with the pastor in his re-
quest. The matter had previously
been considered by the church ses-
sion.
Congregation i Reluctant.
A. f. Martin presided at the con-
gregational meeting, which, after
some debate concluded 10 comply
with the pastors request that COM
missioners be appointed TO appear
before the presbytery and sanction
the resignation i'm behalf of the con
gregation l.. G. WhitcOmb and L.
u. Hardy were named 10 act as such
commissioners, directed 10 cooper
ate. however. with the reservation
to be expressed, that it was "a matter
of great regret acceded to only be
cause OF Rev. HOstetter's inSistence.
There was a strong disposition on
the part of the congregation. in
fact, not 10 name such commission
ers. but to try 20 hold the pastor,
and but for his explanation of his
reasons for leaving, other commits
siOners might have been named 10
appear and oppose it. The position
taken by Rev Hostetter was that
too long association between a pas
tor and one people. tended TO rut-
dwelling. and that change would
be better both for himself and for
the church. and for the furtherance
OF Gods kingdom. He spoke in most
endearlng terms of the congrega-
ton and of the friendships that he
had made, and would never forget,
but that he believed duty. and the
Christian welfare OF all concerned.
called him elsewhere. and that this
alone had led to his decision. Many
similar expressions of friendship
and regard for the services of the
pastor came from the congregation
lat the CONGREGATIONAL meeting, from
which ne retired i'm advance.
Hear Armenian Refugee.
III was also voted that the church
session should take charge Of OBJ
tanning a supply for the pulpit fol-
lowing the first of the year. and
20 begin casting about for a new
pastor 20 become Rev Hostetters
successor. The service at Westmin-
ster last night was addressed 10y
Rev. y. X. Beshsetoor. an Armenian
refugee, who told of his many eX-
periences i'm the levant. including a
thrilling story of his escape from a
Turkish prison Rev. Besngetoor all
SO addressed the Christian Endeav-
or meeting i'm the afternoon.
The text chosen 10y Rev. Hostetter
at the morning service was Christ's
words 20 his disciples, found in John
IV.,-24-"N Ny meat is 10 do the Will
of Him who sent me and finish His
work" He sid i'm part:
Jesus asserted that what food is
To the body. the doing of Gods will
was to his soul This is such sim
pie expression of the essence of the
perfect Christian life that we do well
TO dwell upon it,
Food is necessary TO sustain life.
Even where there is no growth, the
vital processes must be fed. There
is constant waste and wear that
must Doe met by a food supply. else
death viii ensue after a time. This
same law applies i'm the spiritual
realm. Young Christians often make
the mistake OF thinking that at con-
version they obtain supplies of grace
that would last them through life.
Later they Sicken and weaken and
raI away. but our bodies would
fail as. too. If We gave them such
irrational treatment as that The
soul must keep feeding. 1t must
have its supplies of grace day by
day or suffer collapse.
some Philosophy Of Growth.
Another function of food is TO
produce growth. We all begiu life
MS babes. But properly fed we grow
up through the STAGES of childhood
and youth into manhood and wom-
auhood III the food is insufficient.
the babe remains q babe or dies II
is not otherwise in the reltgious
realm. Most churches have their
quota of spiritual babes. Men and
women truly born aEain. 10. 20. 30
Years ago. but no larser or stronger
today than they were when they
united with the church They have
been improperly nour.shed. They
have never learned 20 feed upon the
word and deueht i'm doiug Gods viii
and give themselves TO ferVenJ
helpful services among men.
THE fever-ridden patient has no
appetite for food and the same thin1
iS true OF the sIn-sick soul The
fever germ $ or sin lurking ia the
soul Danish all desire for the things
OF COD. But once cured and con-
EaIescing. then how eager we are 20
SNOW more about God and serve
Him in every possible way.
lin the feedlng of our spiritual