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4 XHB LUTHERAN VISITOR WHAT IS THE CAUSE ? A writer in a reteut ieeue of The Vieitor made the statements that within the territory of the North Carolina Synod there exists a large number of vacancies; that there are from six to a dozen ministers not actively engaged in , pastoral work, and proceeds to ask, "Will these,idle ministers not work, or will the people not have their ser vice!” ' Does this condition of affairs really exist! Have we so many * vacancies, and a dozen idle minis ters! I judge the writer knew whereof he,has spoken. He raises the question, "Why is this so!”, bat I cannot see that he answers it. There mast be some cause, else the condition could not txist. N>>r wonld answers to his questions tx- plain why this is so If men are idle, there must be a cause; if congregations will not have the services of a man, there must be a cause. Now, is it possi ble that we have non-Christian congregations within our synod! I think not. Is it possible that a Christian congregation does not want a Christian pastor! I think not. We have Ijjo much confidence in our Christian men and women to lay such charges npon them. "Will these idle ministers not work!” Oh, that word, "idle”! Wbfct need doe? a congregation have for an idle pastor! Of what service to a flock of sheep would an idle shepherd be! Why are these able bouied ministers idle! Can we get at the bottom of matters! Min isters of Jesus Christ are never idle. Service, as in Christ’s own life, is the characteristic of Chris tian manhood. If men conld get a vision of the Son of God hurrying up and down the world—highways that crossed and re crossed Pales tine—announcing the kingdom, there would be a greater zeal in their activity for the Master. God had a message for mankind, he desired to speak to the human race, and Christ came to deliver this message to reveal the Father. God was manifest in the Son; He spoke through Peter and the other apostles; He spoke through Paul; He is still speaking, and as long as there is a heart yearning for the love of Him who is Love; as long as there exists in earth one unsat isfied soul, so long will God desire to speak to it. ' So God still speaks to men, not through his Son,-but thiough men—anti types of Christ, men who make His cause their cause. "God has shown himself to be persistently bent upon saying something to men.” H who has the stamp of Christ npon him can not be idle. If there is no work here, there are millions of sonls unsaved beyond the seas. LThous- ands of us Christiaus should today be harrying away into fields where heathen darkness abounds. The field is dead ripe. There is work to do. Then, in the light of the present condition of the world, conld we say ( that God is not wanting to speak to souls through Christian men! Surely He is. As intense as is the longing of souls today for that bread that perisheth not, for that water which is living, we cannot blame God for refusing to speak through men who have not His cause at heart. It is bird to conceive of men of God, men en dued with the spirit of Christ, be ing idle. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me. * • ‘Then ilia words Broke on the silence of my heart, and made The whole world musical. Incarnate Love Took hold of me and claimed me for its own. 1 followed in the twilight, holding fast His mantle. * * Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white al ready. L. W. S. THOSE FLORIDA MINISTERS. The conference of Florida’s resi dent Lutheran ministers, adver tised some time since, materialized this week. On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21st, eight pas tors—representing the Georgia, the Pittsburg, the Northwest synods and the Ministerium of New York —presented themselves at the beau tiful little St. Luke’s church in Melrose. Those present were Revs. A. H. Waters of Melrose; S. W. Kuhns of Duluth, Iowa; Wm. A. Julian of Melrose; J. L. Buck of Mason, Fla.; J. A. Boord of Melrose; M. S. Waters of New ark, N/J.; J. A Waters of Jnmon ville, Pa.; S. S. Rahn, D. D,, of Jacksonville, Fla. Rev. A. H. Waters was elected president and J. A. Boord secre tary. The convention resolved it self into the Florida Evangelical Lutheran Ministers 1 Association. The object of the association is the furtherance of the interests of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Florida. The sitnation was care fully considered, and the urgent need of missionary effort made more and more manifest. The body being without power to act officially and without funds where with to work, it seemed at first as if nothing could be done. How ever, it was decided to make a be ginning at Brunswick, Ga , where, fis reported by Dr. Rahn, a favor able opening exists. The secretary was asked to as same the role of traveling mission ary and undertake the work in Brunswick and as opportunity opened in the cities and towns of Florida, while the other resident ministers assumed as much general* mission work as their other work and financial condition would al low. The visiting brethren gave much aid by their wise counsel and pro mised to aid in the matter of re porting all Lutherans, so far as they could know, who should from time to time locate in the state, that the missionary might be -able to follow their movements. A pleasant surprise was sprung on the association Wednesday by the appearance of Rev Ashmead Schaeffer, D. D , of Philadelphia, who made the ninth minister pres ent. He gladdened our hearts by his presence and made us wiser by his counsel. Works of mercy were considered as in the scope of the association’s sphere, but because of the peculiar form of the organization and the lack of supplementary substantial support, the association conld not accept a pn ffered gift of forty acres orfand to be used as an or phan asylum and a retreat for in firm ministers and their wives. Consideration was also given to plans suggested for enabling min isters and other worthy members of our church in less favored re gions to enjoy, at a price within the reach of all, some weeks or months of the rigorons weather in the mild atmosphere of onr sunny Florida. A committee, consisting of Rev A. H. Waters, W. A. Julian and J. A. Boord of Melrose and S. S. Rahn, D. D., ef Jacksonville, was appointed to formulate these sug gestions into a definite plan and report later. Mention should be made of the excellent sermons delivered by the brethren on Sunday morning and evening and on each evening to Wednesday. At these services the houseTwas well filled with interested listeners of various denominations. January; For this conference and vices the Lutheran Churo|J ida is more favorably and] widely known. The associatiun adjo| meet in January, 1903; place to be designated tyj cers. We feel that muchT been accomplished. Mayj the beginning of far gr nobler things in the futuri J.] The Smith County Paston Dear Visitor:—A few la this part of the Lord’s i may be interesting to yoa at least we feel that somtj of the work here is due) people of this charge, the fall our people at made glad by the gift of| new organ, which was pr one of its lady members,! forms quite an addition to dering of onr worship. Our "Nickel Bauds” m| torate, composed of twa children and yonng prop through their efforts bs the neat snm of $30 10 f(s| tberan Orphan Home at! At Providence church os giving day divine servicet appropriate to the occasui the pupils of the Burns hi^ tended in a body, and gave evidence of gratitu all bountiful Giver by heartily in the worship. Oa Christmas day dM vices were held at Zion which was the celebrati Lord's Sapper as a b»fit memoration, not only of I ionr’s birth, Out most esp His undying love. Steps have been taken! Zion church, aud already] the work has been don* changes and repairs willj in tbe near future which the building a more bd pearance. While no united has been "inflicted” nponl at various times we have membered by the good have contributed to onr dividing with ns some of < things with which the; blessed them; thus fall injunction of the apostlej said, "Let him that is the word communicate that teacheth in all good The Lord verify His prt all those who are lab sacrificing to build and< borders of His kingdom,! may enjoy His divine here and realize the felid eternal glory in the work H. E. H ; Lingle, Miss., Jannaf