Year: 1879

PILLARS.


Feed the flock of God which is among you,
! taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint


but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
| really mind; neither as being lords over Gods
heritage, but being Piles of the fock-
PETER, v: %.


Such is the duty and such the qualitioa-
| tions of pillar OF the church as described


by the apostle. 1t is an important Office
| which only the most sincere and earnest
Christian can fill satisfactorily. A pillar of


the church should set an example to all his
| associate members that is worthy of imita-
ion; should live a life above reproach:


should walk circumspectly before his breth-


rem and the world, and above all should not
assume to be the lord over Gods heritage.
In these days there arc various kinds of
pillars-other than the mere architectural
supports of the sacred edifce-in the


church. There is the financial pillar-a
very great Parsonage, both in his own and


others esteem. It is not neces
sary that he should be
protesting Christian. He generally neither
processes nor practices Christianity. But he
regards himself and wishes all others to re-
gard him as the patron of the church. He


says the religious exercises of the Sabbath
day have powerful influence on the morals
OF tho comrnunity-restrain the poor from
the commission of vice and reform the


transgressors, and he gives his check at the
end of every quarter with the air of man
who is conscious that be is performing q


noble act that will cause future generations
TO remember and reverence his name. He
goes to church usually about once on each
Sabbath. He arrives just after the close of
the first hymn and as the minister is about
to begin the reading of the morning lesson.
The clergyman pauses while the pillar moves


majostically~ down the aisle to a
middle front scat, followed by his
stately spouse, arrayed in silks
and velvets and resplendent with Jewels and


precious stones. The whole congregation
gazes admiringly on the pageant until the
pew door closes, and with hem and q haw
and a flourish of his silk handkerchief the


pillar signifies to the pulpit permission to


proceed with the service. Tho financial pill
lar, Notwithstanding his conspicuous vanity
and worldliness, is useful member of the


society, for his liberal douceurs, even though
given ostentatiously, help to pay the minis
ter's salary and the interest on the church
debt.


The pillar of department is another fea-


ture of every religious community. He is


generally of middle age and auster4 demean-


or. He makes it a point to be in his seat,
| accompanied by his wife and numerous


progeny, promptly as the organ peals out


the first notes of the voluntary. He lowers
| reprovingly over his spectacles at those who
arrive after he has become seated


or at those who venture to whisper or to


suile during the service. When the hymn


is announced hs is the first on his feet and


joins in with voice that is not always in


tune. But it is his theory that all the con-


gregation should praise the Lord, and he


wishes to show by his example that he prac-


tices what he breaches. His austerity seems
| to intensity as the service progresses, and
| not until the outer air has been reached does
| the gloom with which he has infected those


around him disappear. This is his idea of


reverence for God and his sanctuary, how.
| ever, and he is consistent in it.


The pillar of zeal is another prominent


one in the churches. He is generally found
at work. he acts as an usher if he can do


so, and seats well-dressed strangers in the
| most comfortable pews in the church. He


passes the contribution boz with alacrity,


helps everybody in his neighborhood to a
| hymn book, and after the service is over he
| stands in the vestibule shaking hands


with all whom he knows, speak
| ing a few words IN commendation


of the sermon, and urges everybody to


come again. Indeed, if it were not for this


pillar half the congregation would go home
| in great doubt as to whether the sermon


they had been listening to was good, bad or


Indifferent. They defer to the opinion of


the pillar, however, and make up their minds


that the minister is very. clever orator after
| all. He is the blower and striker in ordi-


nary to the man who occupies the pulpit, for
without his kindly words pastoral changes
would be far more frequent than they are at


present.


The social pillar is by no means an unim


portant factor in the composition of tho


church. He is generally young, cookbook


ing, fashionable and unmarried. He takes


great interest in the social entertainments


given for the benefit of the organ fund


(every church nowadays has an organ fund


which needs an occasional beneft), and is
always seen helping them along. He makes


himself agreeable to the young ladies', pays


court to the danes, defers to tue wisdom of


the elders, and fatters the fnan-
cial pillar. he is, aside from the latter per-
son, the most popular pillar in the church.
The young ladies regard him as s'just too
lovely for anything" the matrons as good
example for the young men of the chureh;
the pillar of department as a little too
frivlous, but not to be dispensed with, while
the financial pillar looks upon him benig-
nantly, and tells him not to marry for
money, but to remember that money is no
detriment to e young woman, and besides,
it gives q man an opportunity to do
good. "Ah!' he exclaims, "if I didn't
have little money could not have done O
much good to the church!'


There are other pillars of the church that
help to sustain it, which We will not refer to.
But the best of all is the one described in
the text: Feeding tho flock of God,
= taking the oversight thereof, not
BY constraint, but WILLINGLY: not for filthu