The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-01-17

James Il, Nurcross
Never since have been your pastor
have 50 many Of our young people
been from home seeking Ia educational
institutions to Git themselves FOR
future usefulness These absent ones
are missed and along all limos Of our
church activities Ne are thus hamper
ed, set wc face the faturt with il
strong persuasion that God ii with Us
and under Ills guidance we may 10 on
to even greater things.
wish 1t this point to express my
sense Of the loyalty to pastor and SER
vice Of the board Of doacoas md 1lher
officers of the various organizations,
especially the Service Club ana c. Il.
Society fhe average attendance at
the public services has remained about
as last year while hat Of the midweclt
service shows a slight increase. Dur
ing the year the pastor has delivered
1879 sermons and addresses, has at.
tended l66 other services. Nineteen
have been received into membership
by baptism and several by letter, ex-
pcricnce and restoration. Seven hun
bred and fourteen calls have been
made IN connection with parish work;
have also ofliciated at three mar
riages and &c funeral services.
This is not only the close of the
year but II is also the opening of the
sixth year of our united service as
pastor and people. During the period
Of five years just closed it may be Of
interest TO note that | have delivered
7i5 addresses mot including midwcek
talks, or funeral remarks,) attended
387 other services, have register Of
1856 calls; 80 have been added by
baptism and II by letter, etc, to men
bership. have also ofIiciated at %
marriages and 100 funerals. During
this period Of five years we have rails
ed, in round figures, 1892 FOR church
beneyolences; S2263 have been expcnd-
cd for repairs ON property, $5,905 for
current expenses, making q yearly av-
erage for benevolences $278, for re-
pairs Si52, ara for current expenses
$1t8f, a grand total Of $9,561 These
figures are only for the associational
years and 10 them should be added at
least $3.50 or $500 raised since the
close Of the annual reports to the
association.
In passing it may be of interest TO
note that of those who have been
associated with tie pastor in the little
over ten years Of united service 1.-TWO
pastorates) 81 have been removed
from the church below to the church
above, ard Of the 100 whose names,
are today on our roll, 54 have been
added during these terms.
What Of the future? We are look
ing forward to . year Of greater activ-
ity. There is yet much land to be
possessed. Much depends upon the
sold Church at the Corner" We have
adopted the five year program and We
must see TO it that this program is
carried out. The G. +. Society is
planning study class, the Bible
school, rejoicing that so many from its
ranks have during the past year unit
ed with the church, is hoping and
praying for even larger accessions the
coming year. We hope to reorganize
the mems, study class. We are pray
ing that we may meet all our appor-
tionments for, by the response of the
church to the calls Of the hour, we
shall show our real love for Christ and
His church.
The war cloud is deepening. We
have taken, ard shall take, our share
in meeting the various calls that this |
terrible storm brings to US, but we
must not diminish our gifts or our ser
vices to the Kingdom four Lord. 1t
has been well said, IF we diminish
our gifts or our service to Christ's
Kingdom on the plea Of the war, and
its needed ministcries, we show that
in such time other calls are more inn
perative than His call; that patriot
ism is more compelling than christian
loyalty, and democracy more worth
preserving than Christianity. Over
against the splendid sacrifices for
country the church dare not place a
timid or niggardly gift on the altar
of her Lord. This then is our chal-
lenge and our opportunity Chri9t's |
work must go on. Members of the |
Baptized Church Of Jesus Christ. in |
the language Of the boys il Is us To |
us to carry on"
Again to the membership Of the
church, to the friends Who have stood
Loyalty by their presence and their Of
ferings TO our work. though not hold
ing membership with US in the local
yet whose efforts and