Year: 1872

The Rector, Rev. Arthur Brooks, Talks Bus-


iness to His Congregation,


A business service Of much interest and I'M
portance was held yesterday morning, in the
chapel of St. James Episcopal Church, corner
of Huron and Cass streets, the Rector, Rev.
Arthur Brooks, presiding.


The meeting was intended rs preparatory to q
business meeting Of the church, having for its
object the raising of means for the rebuilding
of their burned editice, to have been held on
noxt Thursday evening, but now postponed by
reason Of the epidemic, to the same even
ing next week.


Among the announcements, Mr.. Brooks gave
out that the Sabbath-School of the parish which
has not been held since the fire, would be re-
opened next Sabbath afternoon at O'Clock.


AIr. Brooks is a young Rector for the work
before him, it being now proposed to rebuild at
once the church, but his very superior intellect,
religious zeal, and great energy, aided by bis
admiring people, will, doubtless, enable him to
overcome all difficulties.


Alr, Brooks took his text from the 9th Psalm,
1st verse: "Except the laborers build the
house. their labor is lost that built it." He
introduced the subject by saying that it was
always difficult to talk business in church, as it
was generally hard to talk church in business +;
but lie said that it was the duty Of the church to
SO teach men, as that they would properly com-
bine the two, and to see that God was not for
gotten. He then said, "You all remember
we'll the meeting six months ago, the hrst
meeting after the fire, when VIC began again
anew, as it were. We have now come to
time when We must ask what has been done,
and do more than We have been doing. The
most that we have done is to close in this little
chapel on the ruins of our church, and to keep
up our regular aerviccs. That is the best thing
We could have done, for it is from them that VIC
shall receive the Godlike inspiration aud energy
And do not think it wicked that Ne congratu-
late ourselves Oh having done the best thing, for
believe it was the Holy Spirit that told us to do
it. But having acquired this power from these
services, We must not there stop, and cannot
stop, for ne all know that any power which is
down beneath must show itself, and that is how
the Church must manifest its strength
| The reverend gentleman then proceeded to
show what had been done by the building COM
| mlrtees and he said that their work had been
done With great, efficiency; that, as could be
| seen, they had begun the erection Of q new
church, and had now called q meeting to COM
plete it; that very soon the work would be
| stopped for lack Of funds. At the meeting to
| be held. two systems would be proposed; the
one, that of circulating subscription papers; the
| place plan Of the proposed church in the hands
of every member, and sell out the pews at once.
The amount to be raised was SIS, 900, and it would
| have to be given, doubtless, at some sacrifice,
and with charity. He urged the necessity Of
prompt action, and said that without it the work
| would be much delayed. He then presented the
Inducements to the rebuilding of the church.
| In closing, lie said that he had no doubt in
| their ultimate SUCCESS that he did not believe
| God would permit church to live forty years
| and then die out: when it had much work to
| perform. After the service the communion was
partaken Of -