Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-09-16
Open Letter To Churches, Pastors
And Ministers of Twin Cities
McCOnnelsyilIe-M

During my residence in McCon.
nelsville, it has been my privilege
to witness the coming and going, in
coming and departure, of the pas
tors of the various churches, the
most of whom have left our city
with the sincere regrets Of the com
munity generally, because of their
brief pastorates among us.
| The Presbyterian church in the
last twenty odd years has had four
pastors, maintaining an average OF
slightly over five years each. The
rest of the churches have scarcely
averaged three years, which was
reduced by the deaths Of four pas
tors, Revs. Bradley, D. G.. Jackson,
at the close of second year; C. p.
Aller, during first year, all of the
Methodist Protestant church, and
the Rev. Mr.. Mills at the close of his
second year at the Methodist Epis-
copal church of McConnelsville.
At no time have there been more
than three located ministers, and in
some years only two. In this year
1897 there are four, Revs. Fish of
the Methodist Protestant church, s.
| P Moody of the Main Street Church
of Christ, A. N. Grove of the Pres
byterian, and R. c.. Dean of the
Methodist Protestant church.
In the first few years of my resi-
dence, each and all of the churches
had fine constituency, large mem
bership, congregations, Sunday
schools with many classes, each
vying with the other to lead in con-
gregation and school attendance
Each church would hold it's indi-
vidual revivalistic services, which
would quicken the zeal of the mem
bers and augment the number to
church and schools. United evange-
listic meetings were held in the
opera house, Seventh Street Church
of Christ, the armory, that were
productive of much good.
Our great Chautauqua in the
grove and tabernacle for 25 years,
was a fine institution for the build
ing up of the intelligence, culture
and religion of not only our city,
but also Morgan and surrounding
counties. Much of this, of course,
was prior to the advent of the auto
mobile, radio, picture show, Sunday
UcSGDdll, anu luC IStuIu VI luc
liquor traffic. These counter attrac-
tions, and conflicting interests seem
to have very much depleted the at
tendance Of all the churches.
While this is so, let us not over
look fact that during these years of
declension in church and school at
tendance, there has been a growing
closer affiliation of the pastors and
ministers, and still closer Chris
tian fellowship and confederation Of
the churches.
In the past five and more years
we have had group Of pastors that
have been in almost perfect har-
mony and cooperation, SO that union
services of all kinds have been
much in evidence. Furthermore,
during the six years of the financial
sands of churches throughout our
land have defaulted in their carry
ing charges on parsonages and
church buildings, and SO forth, ev-
cry church in this twin city has re-
modelled, renovated or beautified it's
building to the extent Of thousands
Of dollars.
Now, are we to suppose that the
people of this twin city, after going
to such an expense on all our
churches are not going to have our
full enjoyment of it's benefits? We
are not doing it with our material
homes. Let us not do it with our
spiritual homes. Let us be of those
who are regular in their attendance
at the house of God In the re-
moval of pastors it has seldom hap
pened that more than one or two
has left us in any one year. In 1887
we deeply feel the departure, stimuli
taneously of five from our COM
munity We pray that God will
bless and prosper those who have
gone to their new fields of labor;
we also pray that the incoming pas
tors may be blessed and prospered
in the twin city, to the extent of tho
overf1cwing of our churches. We
are trusting that with the influx Of
these new pastors we may have a
gracious revival in all our churches.
This will not be by the harboring of
any sectarian spirit or feeling, but
each recognizing the other as men,
bers of the body of Christ and men,
bers one of another, rejoicing in
each others prosperity and success.
Sometimes l am asked if our city
is not over-churched in proportion
to it's population. / answer, no, so
long as there are yet many of our
population who are yet without |
Christ and without hope in the
world, and so many Of our youth |
and children who are not enrolled |
nor regular in their attendance in |
Sunday school and church service
James Fish, Dean of the Ministerial |
association of the twin city and |
Morgan county
The Famous Ohio manure spread |