Cleveland County herald., 1921-03-03
THE OVERLOADED MAN

In the good O1u uayS or Metn0dlSm, when the circuit-rider had twenty ap- pointments, he did little else than preach In order to fill all his ap- pointments he had to preach on many week nights. Incidentally, as he rode from neighborhood to neighborhood, he visited among his people, but it was practically impossible for him to visit in all the homes. His opportuni- ties for study were limited, but he needed only one or two new sermons a month, and as he was sent to a new circuit almost every year, twenty five to fifty sermons were sufficient for lifetime. By preaching often from the same tesxts he became a strong preacher. One who knew Bishop Marvin well has said that the bishop made his great reputation as preacher on about twenty sermons.
 Now the pastor is literally a beast of burden. He must have each week two new esrmons. If he is suspected of preaching an old esrmon he is dis counted and called lazy Then he must have sermonette for prayer meeting, and be prepared to discuss the Sunday School lesson and the Epworth League topic. He must also have lectures on popular themes and addresses for special occasions. If he fails to visit all of his people once quarter he is pronounced poor pastor. He must be ready to visit all the sick and officiate at nuemerous funerals and weddings.
 He is expected to know all about his Sunday School, Epworth League, Woman's Missionary Society, and be on good terms with the Boy Scouts Y. M. c. A., and other organizations. While his stewards may help, still the pastor is held responsible for the collections and for leadership in building churches. Then every an. nual conference secretary and connec
 tional officer writes him with specia requests three or four times a year
 Last but not least, the editor of hi: conference organ expects the pastol to promote the circulation of the pa per. Of course, he must read doz
 en papers and reviews and all the new
 books, and be prepared to discuss ev cry subject from farming to Bolshe
 vism.
 In order to be half way human h. must cultivate the acquaintance o. quaintance of his own family, assis
 in various domestic affairs, and h, is subject to interruption at all time and by all classes of people, iron
 the tramp to the committee of citi zens, who seek favors or advice.
 He must study, pray, and be goot
 natured and religious under all cir cumstances. The wonder is that h, can do and endure so many thing and still be sane and loving ant kind
 When all of these duties and ac l tivities are considered, the work of : faithful pastor seems overwhelming And yet how can he omit any or many of these things? He must be about his Fathers business and that touches every side of human life. To be sure, his stewards and other laymen help, and, in some instances, relieve him of the financial burden, but even then he must keep his hand on all activities in order that they may be spiritualized and rightly related.
 We should be profoundly glad that there are men, called of God and helped by the Spirit, who can, on meager salaries, endure all these :. things. A faithful pastor must be the hardest-worked man in his com munity, and yet, with divine help and I the cooperation of the best men and women in the world, these pastors are happy and do not complain. Let us pray for them and cooperate more fully to establish the Kingdom of which they are the human represen- tatives.-( -(Arkansas Methodist, F. c. Cannon, Pastor.