Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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February 13, 1902 THE LUTHERAN VISITOR 5 long vacancies and unem ployed MINISTERS—THE CAUSE AND REMEDY. Every now and then there are lamentations because of the per sistent continuance of desolating vacancies of chnrchrs which were at other times regarded as petma nently established. Right along side of this fact, it is a painful fact that some good, godly, pious ministers, who have proven them- salves also good and faithful pas- tori, are'.nnemployed. I want to say that most of the reasons given for the above condition are one sided and some time severely ui - just and injurious. In The Visitor of Jauoary 30th, page 4, the matter is bandied again, and the author deals kindly with the problem and endeavors to an swer the question, "Why is this sot" He properly says: "Min isters of Jesus Christ are never idle. Such mm may from variuns causes be without a pastorate, out ti speak f them as idle is a pain fnl throat at the “i i*esi, loving, devoted servant tr tlod. whose heart yearns to sbepSerd the flock of Christ, and whose hands stretch out for work in the Master's vine yard.*' No! not “idle,” bot “on- employed and that very often without any fanlt of theirs. I re alias too that even this term, “on employed," is not the best word. ."Without pastorate" would be a ■ore just term, bot is too clumsy, oil want to bear testimony here Is the fact that I have known some M the most pioos, sealous, pastor j |aad preachers to be sidetracked tor a season when it seemed al most impossible to secure pastoral *ork. A few after exhausting •very honorable means to return *« their heaven appointed work toned to secular labor, for a sea- Mn, because they would not and msld not be idle. 2. On the other band 1 have bown certain congregation* be- mme vacant and it seemed simply ■■possible for them to secure a tormanent pastor although they tod used every lawful means to •tot end. Many congregations itove been lost to the church ba- [mnse of too many aud toe long [tocancies. [ 3. Passing by the fact that there Poccasionally a man who is really ijl* he is likely so because he was fb when he had a church to serve; [tod laying aside the fact that there F* congregations which have pbublesome men and women in them who disturb the peace of the church and cause good and pious pastors to be removed : 4. The fact remains tbst the fanlt does not so much lie with the men who are sidetracked, or the churches that suffer from long va cancies. The tact is that there are good men withont pastorates; and there are churches which were once strong and have even now a devoted, kindly people, but are vacant aud are anxious to he sup plied Any one acquainted with the inwardness of the chnrcb's work knows that the desolating evil complained of is not a seuti- men', but a painful fact. The serious question remains, "What is the best remedy f" I reply alter close study: 5. The remedy is not found in finding fsult with the vacant churches or the nnfortonaie min isters. The blsme does not slwsys li- there. This method hss only made matters worse. It has led op to the theory of sailing only settled pastors to vmtnt cbnrches snd thereby cresting a new vtcaocy, often even harder to fill. 6. The remedy ia not in the syn odical sopervision by the president or a committee to act in the mat ter, for both have failed, aod that for the best reason, because those men were too busy with their own work to give proper attention to vscsot churches. Neither does the employment of s synodical mis sionary help the matter. His work rather increases tbe number of vacancies by creating weak mis sion stations unable to support themselves for some time to come. All the above and other methods have neen ttied sod have failed because they do not reach tbe root of Ibe evil, namely, they do not supply the need After an ex perience of a number of years in this department Of church work I am persuaded that the best remedy is found in tbe following plan: 7. Let each eynod solicit the ser vices of one or more godly, pions, experienced and well informed pastors to devote.their time to sup ply work. Let the synod appoint such a man with the understand- ing that the cbnrches support the man so far as they are able, and the synod supplement his salary where the the churches are too weak to pay a living salary. In many instances tbe pastor himself would relieve synod by supplement ing the salary from bis own means. At kll events the additional salary would be a small matter. Let such a man be recommended by tbe president of synod to a vacant 'bongregation. Let it be under stood that he comes to the vacant chmch as a supply pastor; that he will help the church set matter* io order; assist them in righting any disturbance; counsel them in re lecting a permanent pastor. Bot have it understood that the supply paator will not leave tbe church until they are permanently sup plied and regularly at work again. Such a man might have to remain with some churches three, six, twelve mouths or more. You will see how this plan will keep tbe churches in regular liuea of work, make regular returns to tbe va- rions boards sod will be saved from becoming tbe prey of other denominations whils abepherdlesa. Bat above all such a plan woold cheer aud encourage tbe members of those churches and make them iralisithe beot-flt of synodical care aod Christian sympathy. This plan is the most effective method of bringing the vecaot churches and unemployed ministers into working order. Of coarse I don't dream that sneb a plan should become a dotn inaot law in tbe synods or apply to those pastors sod cbnrches who plan tbtir changes months in ad vance Indeed if pastors atd churches could only be persuaded to agree to remain with each other until by mntaal agreement a soc- cessor be secured, that would soon lessen long vacancies and unem ployed ministers. But that bsppy condition will not come this side tbe millennium The man en tering sneb a work mast of course expect to live ao unsettled life; bot be will soon learu that be is doing more important work than he ooold possibly do in set tled pastoral work. We are living in an age of special departments of work. Tbe demand is upon the church for such men and work and tbe sacrifice is no greater than the calporteor, deaconess or mission ary depgrtment. I have now given over five years to (this department of church work and I am per suaded and have tbe facts at band to show that I have accomplished a larger work in the church than I could have done as a settled pastor. This conviction is growing on me, and year by year I receive letters expressing gratitude for the work that I have done for such persons or churches. There are many minor elements in my plan I can not now weary the reader with, bat any synod will be able to work oot tbe minor details. I wish just to say yet: That .Inring the in terim that such a supply pastor has no vacant church to work at be can help other pastors with profit in special work, or look op needy districts within synod aud do mission work Fraternally, W. C. Seidel. Bluefiold, W Va ANNIVERSARY EXERCISE Oj the evening of the 2u 1 Feb ruary St Barnabas' Mission Sun day school of Charleston, S. C , held ita eighteenth anolvers try ser vice. Tbe rx<*rcu« consirted of tbs rendition of the ngolar order of service used by ibe school with the addition of epecul music snd re citations by five of tbe girls, after which Mr. C. J Morgao of tbe Semmaiy delivered an earnest aud impreeeive address He chose as tbe basis of his remark* N- li. 4:6, "So built we the wall ... (or tbs people bad a Mil.4 to work," com paring the d'ffl -ultlfs the I-rselites bad to enoon ..or io reboildu g the walls of Jerusalem wnh Cm dis couragements and oppositions tbe Ci rt .tiaos of today meet n their work for the M tster. He eoipha- s X ti'be fact Hint where there is eo operation coupled with a mind to work the greatest d fll-ulties may be ovi rcome. Superintendent Urice'e report showed that s gree'er inter. »t was manifested in the ..-bool then that of the previon* veer. While tbe enrollment, which u 121, is not quite as large; the average attend ance, which is 79 is better The offering of the • veniug amonnted to $5 IS Another com mend ible f* more of this mntatou work is that there ia connected with it a sowing school which has for i*s object boi only to supply the poor children with needful ar;ie|»a of clothing bot also to teach in-m lesrore of in dustry. The punctuality, earnestness, and devotion to tho canee .-f mis sions that characterxe tun c acbers of this school are worthy of imita tion. They seem to have i nbibed something of tbe spirit, ' ‘That mao mar last, bat nt-Tr-r lives. Who mnch «-• oeives, bat nothing gives." K Y U. Fur Asthma nse CFIKNEY’S EXPECTORANT.