New Britain herald., 1928-11-08
4 LOYAL CLERGYMAN

The lure of a larger field" and
all that goes with it has failed to
move the Rev. W. II. Anderson OF
this city, a clergyman who has not
only endeared himself to the men,
bers of his own congregation but
has made friends with the public as
well. To the average clergyman in =
small city a call from a congregation
in big city is not only thought de-
sirable but is awaited with ambition
and impotence. To shepherd a size
able congregation in big city is the
aim of nine persons out of ten In
the smaller points on the map. and
it is a rare cleric indeed who doesn't
think fate is unkind if such an op-
portunity does not eventuate within
a reasonable period.
In Brooklyn. where they desire the
Rev. Mr.. Anderson SO vehemently
that they have had agents at Trinity
church here almost every Sunday,
have interviewed" him and implor-
ed him. and have seen the bishop
about it," there are important
churches; they offer a good living
and practically an unlimited field.
tnquestionably they have pointed
out that a successful clergyman in
Brooklyn is much more important
person than a successful clergyman
in New Britain. All of which prob
ably impressed Mr.. Anderson up TO
certain point. When that point was
reached he thought OF his duty to his
local congregation. of his friends In
this city embracing all creeds. of
his standing in the community and
how the people here have treated
him uniformly well. And beyond this
point he would not willingly bulge.
1t looks as if the Brooklyn church
Will have to look elsewhere for pulpit
and organization talent.
The clergyman is wise in more
ways than one. The big city is a
larger field but 1t also is a larger
Held IN which to be buried in. as
many clergyman has found out.
Many a skilled pulpit exponent in
small city. a veritahle whale in q
small lake, has found on going to
the big city that he is approxima.
iy minnow in the ocean. Occasion
ally. in the New York Times of q
Monday morning few paragraphs
OF his sermon the day before may
see print; but on the whole he is
lost amid the fierce competition for
attention eXerted by the big names
In the field. The ambitious little fell
lows who want to become big do not
become headlners merely because
they abide in the same bailiwick as
the Fosdicks or the Cadmans. A min.
lister Who is headliner in a small
city is at least a headliner and he
doesn't need to be a Fosdick to at
tam the local eminence; the same
minister in larger field" in the
majority OF cases is not better placed
to become a headliner in it and
rather may become only one of those
present.
What the country needs is minis
ters-and men In other callings-
who are willing to mount the heiehts
where they happen to be. If every
man of talent in the small cities were
to leava for the metropoli the small
cities would lose and the big cities
would not necessarily gain in proper
ton. The larger fields do not offer
the same prizes for the same eff
fort; they offer big prizes for out
standing effort, but are ineXora bIy
harsh to those who appreciate more
than Increased competition can
yield.
Our congratulations go to the
local minister. By his action he has
taught as good lesson as can he
encompaSsed in the average poed