Iff- I>IIS'r:^13i:^ jPlrii BOUND BY C H. LEAMAN Book Binder HAGERSTOWN, MD. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap. Copyright No. SheltvlXfiL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Church Member AND MIS VARIOUS RELATIONS AND DUTIES TO HIS HOME, HIS CHURCH, AND HIS STATE BY Rev. s. h. dietzel, ph. d., Pastor of Christ Reformed Church, Cavetown, Maryland. HAGERSTOWN, MD. GLOBE JOB ROOM PRINT. igoo. 51037 LJbmry of Con^fresB p^u Copies Receded SEP 24 1900 SECOND COPY. Udtvwdrf to OROtS DIVISION, OCT 1 I90U COPYRIGHT 1900 BY SAMUEL HENRY DIETZEL. t> O.o o. DEDICATION. Without askiug his permission, this little volume is most affectionately dedi- cated to the Eev. William H. Groh, the first Reformed minister of whom I have any recollections, and who gave me many kind words of advice and en- couragement during the period of my life when I most needed them. CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. I. — The Day of Confirmation and What Is Now Expected of You 9 II. — The Christian Sox or Daughter in the Home 27 III. — The Christian Parent, and His Duty in the Home 37 IV. — When Should a" Child Join the Church ? and What the Parents' Duty Is in Helping the Child to Decide , 60 V. — The Sunday School — What Is It ? and Our Duty to It 78 VI. —Christian Development and Christ- ian Work 92 VII.— Your Minister, and How You Can Assist and Encourage Him 103 VIII. — The Pastor's Visiting IT? IX. —The Old Minister and How He Should Be Treated 124 X. — The Nomination and Election of Church Officers 135 XL — Christian Citizenship, or Should a Christian Take an Active Inter- est in Politics ?. . 143 XII.— Missions, and Why I Believe in Them 152 XIII. — The Church Member's Wedding 164 XIV. — The Evening of Life, Be Kind to the Old 173 XV.— The Christian Funeral 183 PREFACE. Ever since I began my bumble minis- try of love, I bave felt tbe need of some little book, wbicb might be. placed in tbe bands of tbe church membership, which might bring home to them the various duties and responsibilities resting upon them, and thus aid in guiding and leading them to that brighter and better home in heaven. Nothing, it is true, can take the place of the Word of God as a guide and rule for our faith and practice, yet, in my humble judgment, such a book as this can, with profit, find a place in a Chris- tian's library. Some of the subjects I have already Vi PREFACE. handled in public discourses, others I have thought over for a long time, and now give them to the reader, with the hope and prayer that they may be "seed sown on good ground." I am conscious of the fact, that much remains to be said on each subject, but I give the result of my meditations to the public with the hope that it may lead many to "think on better things." and thus bring light and hope and joy into darkened hearts and homes. I must confess that my ideal has not been reached, but if this little book will be the means of cheering some faint- hearted Christian traveler, thus enabling him to keep on in the true way; if it will help some parents to reach a higher con- ception of the sacred responsibility which is theirs; if it will enlighten some hearts; if it will make the arduous labors of my brethren in the ministry less burdensome PREFACE. vii and more fruitful, then I will feel myself amply repaid for all the thought and prayers I have given to the several sub jects. With this hope I launch it forth on the sea of life, and may God's bless- ing go with it. S. H. D., March 20, 1900. Cavetown, Md. OHAPTEE I. THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION AND WHAT IS NOW EXPECTED OF YOU. This is a solemn, a sacred clay, and if you will be faithful to the vows you now have taken, the course, which you now have begun, will bring you a happy and peaceful life, growing more Christlike day by day, until, at last, when this weary life is ended, heaven will be your home for evermore. There are, indeed, few if any scenes on earth more beautiful and impressive than a Class of young men and women surround- ing the Altar, taking the confirmation vows, renouncing the world, the flesh and the devil, and promising to follow Jesus Christ all the days of their life. It is a 10 THE CHURCH MEMBER. public confession before the world that they have turned away from the vain things of this life, with its empty bub- bles, and have now resolved, henceforth, to live in and for Christ, God being their helper. Whether or not you could be saved out- side of the Church of Christ, I do not pro- pose to discuss here. Let it be sufficient to know that Jesus thought it necessary to leave His throne in heaven and come down among us men to establish a Church, unto Himself, unto which He gave a mission and a work to do, and that "tlwy added daily such to the Church as should he saved" God has made the Church an instrument, in His hands, for the dis- semination of Christian knowlege, with the purpose in view of developing Chris- tian character. It is a divine-human in- stitution permeated by the Spirit of Jesus, its Founder, and the duty of the THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 11 Church is: to bring moral order out of chaos, to overcome evil with good, dark- ness with light and error by truth. It is a divine-human institution estab- lished and perpetuated for our benefit; but it only gives us the means of grace and the helps and guidance necessary for our salvation which God for Christ's sake grants us, not by merit, but by grace through faith are we saved. You join the Church then, in a manner; as you would join a school — for the pur- pose of receiving help and instruction; and as the school exists for the pupils, so does the Church exist for its members. It is only a help to our salvation. If we wish to learn we must do our part — must study — else the best schools in the land cannot give us an education. So you and I must do our part and use, or appro- priate, the means of grace, else we can not be saved in the Church. 12 THE CHURCH MEMBER. You become a member or pupil of a certain school, not because you know all that is taught there, but because you wish to learn what is taught there. In like manner you join the Church of Christ, you become a member, not because you are good, bat because you have resolved to do good, and want all the helps that the Church can give you. because you wish to be obedient to the divine command. And here it is you find men and women of congenial spirits, encouraging and cheer- ing and helping you to live a better and nobler life. 4, They that are whole need no physician." And remember this fact, my reader; that the Church of Christ does not need you half so much as you need the sancti- fying influence that pervades the sanc- tuary. The Church will stand and flourish whether or not you come within her sacred portals: she is founded on the THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 13 Eock, Jesus Christ, and the "gates of hell shall not prevail against her." But it is a sacred duty, which you owe to yourself, to unite with some Church and give your aid and influence for good. God has made you for something worthy, and, if you are unfaithful to your trust, you are unfaithful to yourself. But, I assume that you are a member of the Church of Christ. What now has the Church and the world a right to expect of you? It goes without argument, that faithfulness is one of the necessary essentials to suc- cess in any undertaking, and so, my dear friend, if you do not hope to make ship- wreck of your faith, I enjoin faithfulness upon you in your Church relations by all means. If you are unfaithful in your school life, if you neglect to prepare your les- sons properly, if you try to pass by unfair means, be assured you will wrong no one 14 THE CHURCH MEMBER. so much as yourself. You will be the loser iu the end. You do yourself more harm than any other person. The same holds good in your relation with the Church. By your unfaithfulness, you may bring discredit upon the Church in the eyes of the world. But there are many, who are true and faithful, who will substantiate the high claims of the Church, and you alone will be the sufferer in the end. Not all who attend school become ed- ucated, and not ail who join the Church will be saved, Connecting with the Church is only the beginning. Many more things must necessarily follow. Not all the grafts that are placed upon a tree will grow; unless they receive the life blood — the sap — of the tree they wither and die. So those who are engrafted into the Church of Christ will grow only when they ap- THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 15 propiate to themselves the grace offered by her means. What, then, is necessary that you may live a true Christian life ? You have now made a profession — a beginning. You will find sore trials and severe tempta- tions before you. However, if, by the help and grace of God, you set your face like a flint toward the heavenly home "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith," from Whom cometh our help, you will come off more than conqueror. "Pray to the Father in secret and He shall reward thee openly." Do not forget to pray; for prayer is one of the essential weapons in Christian war- fare. When our blessed Lord and Savior found it necessary to spend whole nights in prayer; and also taught His disciples that "whatsoever ye ask the Father in My name it shall be given unto you," and when holy men of all ages were 16 THE CHURCH MEMBER, moved to resort to prayer as is indicated by the Psalms; Jacob wrestling in prayer, St. Paul ceasing not to pray both night and day for his spiritual children, much more is it necessary for us, poor Christians, to pray for strength, for guid- ance, and for wisdom, saying: ''keep thou mv wav, O Lord !" We see the saints of God mighty in prayer. Monica prays for years until her petitions were answered. So must we not fail to pray unceasingly, for it is promised, "ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you," and "the prayer of the righteous man availeth much." Then, my dear friend, do not neglect to ask the Father to lead and guide you, for, though the way may be dark now, in due time He will bring you into the clear sun- light of His plans and purposes. God will do His part, but do not forget THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 17 that you also have an important part to perform in ''working out your own salva- tion." "God only helps those who help themselves." You must, then, not only make your own wants and needs known, but you must also do all you can to better your condition and as far as possi- ble avoid temptations. Thus, my dear young reader, you see, there are duties and responsibilities which are obligatory upon you. If you want to live a Christian life— a Christ life — then you must do your part. Your former associates may yet be out in the world loving the vain and empty, as well as questionable pleasures of life more than the joys of the Christian, and, if such be the case, then you must abandon the old haunts and associates. You mast turn away from them, for you can never hope to reform your life unless you quit ungodly associates and questionable 18 THE CHURCH MEMBER. pleasures; you "can not serve two masters;" you must either serve God or Mammon, no middle ground is possible. You must leave off the pleasures of sin. This may require a severe struggle, but it must be done to assure your sincerity and security. You must take a firm stand on the Eock, Jesus Christ. Follow Christ, He is the highest possible Model of true man- hood. Eead God's Word, and it "will make you wise unto salvation." Thus only can you become an intelligent Bible Chris- tian, and by and by you will become so permeated and filled with Christ thought that you will unconsciously follow Jesus, and then it will be easier to do right than wrong. But you must also show your love to God and His cause by attending and taking part in all the services in the sanctuary, if possible. These services are for your benefit. The minister THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 19 selects his themes with the end in view of instructing, inspiring, comforting and helping you. And you should allow nothing, unless it be sickness or death, to detain you at home, and thus cause you to miss the services which are for your soul's welfare. It is so easy to form careless or indifferent habits that we should guard against it. One service missed makes it easier to miss another and thus you become a "stay at home" before you are aware. There are many families with whom the question "who will go to Church today?" is never asked, for it is understood that all will go; with them it has become the rule of life to go up to the house of the Lord regularly. They would no more think of allowing the day to pass by without attending divine services than to do without eating. Let it be the rule of your life to be present in rain or shine, in heat or cold 20 THE CHURCH MEMBER. and you will receive blessings for the day of need. Attend and take part in all the services; be a ivJiole-hearted Christian. Give your aid and influence for good wherever and whenever you can, for, re- member, you learn by doing and you grow and gather strength by exercising your powers. There may be times when matters are not as pleasant as you may wish to see them, but keep on faithfully, hear with the infirmities of others; remember, you too may be in error. Do all you can for the good of your fellowmen and for the glory of God. And whatever else you do, do not be a fault-finder. They are the bane to any cause. The growlers are never workers and the workers have no time to be growlers. They see the failures and short comings in others, and seldom, if THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 21 ever, do anything worthy. The\ only make things unpleasant. They are the friction in the machinery, They trouble the smoothe waters. They see the mote in a brother's eye but not the beam in their own. These "are spots in your feasts of charity * * * Clouds they are without water carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots/' My friends, if you have nothing good to say, seal your lips, for the minister and officers have all the cares they well can bear without hearing of your griev- ances, isever let your conduct be unbe- coming. Nothing is ever gained by being revengeful. It has been the exper- ience of pastors almost universally, that the fault-finders are not the pillars of the Church. They are the weak timbers which make the building insecure. They cool the religious fervor, and cause un- 22 THE CHURCH MEMBER. pleasantries and sadness. Our prayer is: From all such "good Lord, deliver us." Again, should members of the church have grieviances, do not allow these petty little differences to interfere with your church. If you and your neighbor, after coming together and praying God to enlighten you, can not agree, then the minister and his officers can not serve as arbiters, either. But first of all, I en- join upon you St. Paul's advice: "As far as possible live peaceably with all men." Ever since the little band of Christians, on the day of Pentacost, were organized into a church there have been two kinds of members: — those who help and those who hinder, those who bring sunshine and those who bring clouds, those who warm and those who chill, and you, my reader, belong to one of these classes. God wants you to be a helper, He has placed you here, in this land of Gospel THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 23 light, and we have a right to expect you "to walk as children of light." Yon have too much honor or self-re- spect to be a "dead-head heating your way"' to heaven; you desire to travel respect- ably; then be a sincere and conscientious pilgrim traveling to the heavenly Jerusa- lem. Bring honor to your church. Con- tribute according to your abilitv for her support. You should have too much pride to leave others pay the bills while you receive the benefits of the church. It is morally wrong. It is unjust to the other members for you to contribute nothing toward her suppoit while you squander, every year, many times more for the luxuries and unnecessaries of life. If you are rich or poor, your honor and pride should compel you to give accord- ing to your ability. As a rule the greater part of the contributions come from the relatively poor. It is they who keep the 24 THE CHURCH MEMBER. wheels of the Gospel Chariot oiled; others who come arrayed in purpte and fine linen, driving a span in a fancy carriage, contribute less than some poor washer- women. But, thank God, there are but few guilty of such base conduct. And, now, what shall we say, in reply, to those outsiders who claim they "are as good as some in he tchurch?" Their comparisons are always unjust. They compare the worst in the church with the best outside; we frankly admit, to the truth, that there may be some outside of the church as good, in conduct, as some who are in the church — there are some who are good by nature, it comes natural to them and requires no effort, but this does not establish anything against the church as an institution for good. If some members of the church are not what they ought to be, they might still be worse if they were away from the sancti- THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. 25 lying influence of the church. The church has a restraining and elevating in- fluence on every one of her members, and there are few persons that are not to some extent, morally and spiritually ben- efited by their union with church. The tendency of the church is not to make her members bad but good, and. if the good who are outside would enter they would be made still better. But, remem- ber this, the church is not for the perfect, but it, primarily, exists for the purpose of developing a larger and truer life. It enables men to prepare for heavenly citi- zenship — and as some schools, however good their curriculum may be, fail in making scholars of some who register, so the Church of God can not help the man who will not help himself. But who made you a judge of your fellowmen? Can you see into the heart and read the hidden motives? Are you 26 THE CHURCH MEMBER. omniscient that you can sit in judgment on the members of the church? The church through her influence has done more good for the world than all other forces combined; in fact, she is the mother and pioneer of all benefits and blessings we enjoy today. Her influence is felt in every department of life and you have free speech because the ''truth has made you free." "Think gently of the erring one! And let us not forget, However darkly stained by sin. He is our brother yet. Heir of the same inheritance, Child of the self-same God; He hath but stumbled in the path We have in weakness trod." CHAPTER II. THE CHRISTIAN SOX OR DAUGHTER IX THE HOME. My kind reader, if you are still in the home of your childhood and youth enjoy- ing the love and care of a fond mother and the protection and counsel of a wise father, you are certainly a fortunate child. You still haye the comforts and privileges of home which you can find nowhere else once the old home is broken up, and now, remember, too, that these comforts and privileges, of home, which you are enjoy- ing bear with them grave responsibilities and sacred duties. Your rights are based on your duties and responsibilities. It is because you and I have obligations which we owe to our God and to our fellowmen 28 THE CHURCH MEMBER. from which no one can release us, that we have rights and privileges from w r hich no man shall rob as. Yoa are a member of your household, and all the blessings and privileges which you now enjoy have come to you through the wise management and weary toil of your parents, and those before them. You have been, to them, a source of care and anxiety. Many were the sleepless nights they spent watching over and caring for you during that critical period of your life — childhood. Their own comforts were disregarded for your sake. Their whole life has been spent for you, and if they are Christian parents, by the help of God, they did their best to bring you up in the fear and love of God, so that you might become a noble man or woman who would be a blessing in the home and a benefit to society, and the Church. Now it is with you. Will you be true and noble, and thus IN THE HOME. 29 bring joy and gladness to their hearts in okl age or will you turn away from their counsel and be wicked, thus bringing premature gray hairs down to an early grave ? In the providence of God, children were intended to be a blessing to parents, but, at times, that which is intended for a bless- ing becomes a curse. We witness the closing scene of Rachel's life. Her life is ebbing away in giving birth to her last child. She knew she must die, and with her last gasping breath says: We will call him Benoni which is ''son of my sorrow," but, after her death, Jacob, who loved his Eachel dearly, thought that, in a manner, the child would make up for the loss — it would be to him a comfort, companion and thus, in a de- gree, at least compensate for the great loss of the mother — and so he named the babe, Benjamin, which is "son of consola- 30 THE CHURCH MEMBER tion." Thus every child is, to his parents, either a Benoni or a Benjamin ; either a "son of sorrow," or a "son of con- solation. " Which, by God's help, my young reader, will you be? In the mysterious law of life, the link that unites God and the child is the parents. It has pleased God to place them over us and all we have and all we are now we owe to them. The great Lincoln only expressed the sentiment of all true and worthy children when he said: "All I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother ; blessings on her memory. I remember her prayers, thev have always followed me, they have clung to me all my life." Most of the joy comes to fond parents in seeing and hearing of a child's noble conduct in life, and so, on the other hand, the greatest sorrow is to see a child go down the broad way that leads to certain ruin. IN THE HOME. 31 Every parent builds great hopes upon his child, and truly: "A wise son maketh a glad father but a foolish son is the heavi- ness of his mother." Bat why multiply quotations from the Word of God which is so rich and full of advice and admoni- tion on the subject ? It is a self-evident fact that a parent is either honored or dis- honored by the child. We have the sad and untimely end of Absalom — a promising young man who had all the privileges aud opportunities of becoming a worthy son of a great father. His father, David, had built great hopes on him, but Absalom did not appreciate the privileges that were his. He became dissatisfied, and wickedly turned against his father and benefactor, which ended in the death" of the rebellious son. The parable of the Prodigal son leaving a good home, and a kind, loving father, 32 THE CHURCH MEMBER. with all the comfort and conveniences, going out into the world and at last re- duced to beggary, causing an aged parent sorrow and anguish untold, illustrates the conduct of many a child who does not realize the blessings of a good home until deprived of it. Oh think of it, my young readers; think of what a debt of gratitude you owe to your father and mother ! Think of their prayers and tears in your behalf and on account of your ungrateful conduct ; and be true and honorable, as God meant you should be. Be kind and considerate for their welfare. Remember our Savior's conduct toward his weeping mother at the foot of the cross. Make your religion a practical thing ! Tour home should be better and happier, your walk and con- versation more heavenly, and your parents more joyful because of your religion. Be true to your home life. Never let IN THE HOME. 33 your conduct be the cause of sorrow to your fond parents. "The old man eloquent," John Quincy Adams, said: "If I had no other induce- ment to live a true life, I would do so be- cause of the joy it brings to my loving parents who spent their best days for me." What a noble son of noble parents ! If every child in the land would entertain such lofty . sentiments, we would, indeed, And few, if any, broken-hearted parents. Yes, you may have had superior advan- tages for education ; you may outclass your parents far in book learning, but remember, there are many, very many things which you can only learn as they learned them — by experience — and you will find when you reach their age that your opinions will also be greatly modi- fied, because they have become matured with age and experience. 34 THE CHURCH MEMBER. All great and good men have been obe- dient and dutiful sons in their home life. There they learned those lessons of in- dustry, obedience, respect for others, in fact, all that goes to make a true and use- ful life. Honor your parents, my young friends. Eemember no one ever gets beyond honor- ing those who were to us a blessing. u The father of our country " — Washing- ton — after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, when the war for Independ- ence was over, returned to his beloved Mt. Vernon home. A large assemblage of his friends and countrymen had gathered at his old homestead awaiting his arrival. They waited long. Morning passed into midday and midday was drawing toward eventide, when amid deafening cheers we see him appear, but, he pays no attention to those about, he presses through the crowd to where his aged mother was IN THE HOME. 35 seated. He must first pay his respects to her. On being congratulated on her great son, the mother simply replied : "Yes, George always was an obedient child. " Oh, be an honor to your parents. God meant you should be a joy to them in their declining days. Regard and respect them for what they have done. Be a Benjamin, a "son of consolation," for "the father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy in him." Remember, you will not always have your home as it is now. The time will come when, one by one, they must go, and if you now do your part faithfully in the home, you will have no cause tor regret in after years when it is broken up. May God be with you. May the spirit lead you so that your home may be better for your religion is our prayer. 36 THE CHURCH MEMBER. "Do they miss me at home? Do they miss me 'T would be an assurance most dear, To know at this moment some loved one Was saying, 'I wish he was here.' To feel that the group at the fireside Were thinking of me as 1 roam! Oh, yes! 'twould be joy beyond measure, To know that they missed me at home." CHAPTER III. THE CHRISTIAN PARENT AND HIS DUTY IN THE HOME. We assume that we are writing to Christian parents who are teaching their children, both by precept and example, to become God-feariijg men and women. To become a parent is to assume the sacred and responsible task of the bring- ing up and training of an immortal being, for time and for eternity, for which God holds you responsible. W e take it for granted that every thoughtful and considerate parent loves to see his children grow up to useful manhood or true womanhood, and hence, they go be- fore them and set an example worthy of emulation. One of the saddest expres- 38 THE CHURCH MEMBER. sions I ever heard — one which would cut the heart of any father to the quick — was uttered by a young man who with tears in his eyes said: "My father never gave me one single example worthy of imita- tion." Oh, fathers, let this never be said of you. Let not your sins rest upon pos- terity's head. When a child comes to your home, it comes with these solemn words from your Heavenly Father: "Take this child and nurse it for me and I will pay thee thy wages." "Take this child and nurse it," that is, educate and bring it up in the way of true manhood or womanhood for me, that is for the Lord, and I, the Lord, will pay thee thy wages. These wages, or re- ward for faithfulness, come to you, par- ents, when you see your child do noble in life, for the parent is honored through and by the child. You are proud of a worthy son or daughter — you have a right to be— DUTY OF PARENT. 39 they bring joy to your soul. This is the wages you receive for doing your duty by them. Ketnember, parents, no matter how brilliant an intellect your child may have, it must be fostered, developed and trained aright, else that which was in- tended as a blessing becomes a curse. No matter how religiously inclined your child may be, he needs a parent's example and encouragement. Bear in mind that the influence of home training is second to none other. All other forces combined cannot atone for neglected childhood in the homes of our land. The causes of crime are legion, but none weighs so heav- ily as neglected childhood. The early impressions can never be eradicated. During the first seven or eight years of a child's life, the training has a greater power to mold the life and character, for weal or for woe, than the training of all subsequent time. Who of 40 THE CHURCH MEMBER. us does not remember the friends, the home, and the incidents of the sunny days of childhood more clearly than any since "? "Scratch the green rind of a young tree and it will leave an ugly scar forever." So is it with the first impressions on the young and tender mind of childhood. The beautiful story of Cornelia is highly expressive. A haughty noblewoman dis- played her own jewels and when done asked Cornelia: "And where are your jewels V 5 Cornelia, taking her into the ad- joining room where lay sleeping her two baby boys, and pointing to them answered: '•These are my jewels." So, my parents, every child, as it comes to your home, is a jewel in the rough, and God meant that you should, by wise care and training, re- move the rough edges and polish the dia- mond. Little do we know what future great man in the form of a helpless infant lies DUTY OF PARENT. 41 in that old cradle of that humble rustic home. Little did Luther's mother dream as she fondled her boy, Martin, in that humble home of Eisleben, that she was bringing up a son whose stand for right and enslaved truth could not be put down by all the power of Pope Leo X. Little did the mother of Zwingii think as she rocked her infant Ulrick beneath the snow-capped peaks in that Alpine village home that her boy would become the man who had the moral courage to oppose the Pope and take a stand in de- fense of liberty and justice and right. Little did the mother of Henry imagine that her son Patrick, whom she fondled in the wilds of that Virginia home, would some day sound the tocsin of war which meant the liberation of the American col- onies from the oppressive yoke of King George III. of England. The early training of Moses could not 42 THE CHURCH MEMBER. be eradicated by all the education that the Egyptian court school could give, and u he refused to be called the son of Pbar- oah's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." The Jesuit spoke wisely when he said : "Let me have the training of your child the first seven years of its life, and I do not care who will have it after that. It will be a Roman Catholic in reality if not in name." John Quincy Adams, as well as Presi- dent Not*, of Columbia College, both great and good men and intellectual giants of the first order, when old and feeble and merging into second childhood, would always repeat, on retiring, the little child prayer which their good mothers had taught their infant lips to prattle at the first dawning of the intellect. Eemember then, parents, to begin early in the devel- DUTY OF PARENT. 43 opment of the moral character of your child, and you will impress those lessons of piety and reverence which will be with them to the going down of life. The finest legacy you can leave your child is not bonds or houses or farms, but a good moral character, grounded in Jesus Christ, which will go with them beyond the grave. Your child has higher wants and needs than those of the body. It is composed of body, soul, and spirit, and each of these appeals to you for help and care. Your child is a social being and it needs companionship. It needs encouragement. It needs confidentials, and, parents, will you be your child's confidentials or will you ignore this craving in the child nature? Then be assured as it grows up it will make a confident of some companion out- side of the family circle, which too often leads to ruin. 44 THE CHURCH MEMBER. What a young man, growing up, needs more than anything else is a father's con- fidence and encouragment, and if parents have the true confidence of their children so that with frankness they will tell them all that is said and done, it will be one of the strongest safeguards about them. The girl who makes a confident of her mother need never fear the advice she re- ceives, for no one can be more unselfishly interested in her welfare than is mother. One of the crying needs of our day is, closer intimacy and more implicit confi- dence between mothers and daughters, between fathers and sons. If the mother would make a close confident of her daughter from childhood, she would be placing about her the strongest safeguard against the viper who cares not what family he ruins nor what disgrace he brings upon pure womanhood. There are many, yea only too many, mothers DUTY OF PARENT. 45 who spend any amount of money for the education of their daughters. They send them away to the best schools in the land. They ha ve them educated in all the higher branches. They can sing and paint. They can quote French and Latin. They can recite whole plays of Shakespeare. They can sew and cook by rule, but these mothers have failed to make confidential of their daughters. They have been "en- cumbered with many things" and thus "neglect that better part." In short, they have failed to impress, upon their minds and hearts and lives, the great and funda- mental principles of true womanhood, , and, consequently, as we too often see, they become easy victims to the snares of the oily-tongued flatterer whose sin- steeped soul is coated over by fine, gen- teel manners and smooth, persuasive lan- guage. Kemember this, parents, your children must have confidential in this 46 THE CHURCH MEMBER. life — and they will have them — and one of the rules of human life is, that those in whom we place confidence will have an in- fluence over us. Therefore, the great and momentous question is: Who are your children's confidentials? In other words, who is going to rule over them and in- fluence their conduct? Your children must have confidence, sympathy, and in- struction and have you, parents, proven yourself worthy of their confidence and respect? Have your actions been so as to make them realize that you are their most intimate friend and their most de- voted sympathizer? You say: "I live for my child." Yes, I doubt it not in the least, but perhaps, because of lack of forethought or by being absorbed wholly in looking after their temporal wants, you may not have any time left to devote to their nobler impulses and your children who need sympathy and encouragement DUTY OF PARENT. 47 become estranged more and more from father and mother as the years roll by and the gulf between parental confidence and child confidence grows wider and wider and in time they are more timid in telling their secrets to you than to any one else. Oh, parents, I raise the voice of warn- ing. It is your duty to gain and hold the confidence of your boy and of your girl in such a way that they will feel free in telling you all their secrets, and, w 7 hen so, you will find that you have placed about them a mighty bulwark of safety. Show them that you are worthy of their confi- dence. Make your home an experience meeting, and you will have ideal sons and daughters, and your home will be- come, to them and you, the dearest place in all the world. The ideal home is where father, mother, and children are all confident ials; where the interest of one 48 THE CHURCH MEMBER. is the interest of all the others; where one member of the family receives inspiration and encouragement and sympathy and love from all the rest; where all have confi- dence in, and love and respect for each other, so that they with freedom tell one another what they say and do in life; and, where Jesus is the Elder Brother whom they ask daily for wisdom and counsel to direct their doings and say- ings. When parents have such a home they can rest assured their children are not likely to go astray and they need never blush on account of the conduct of sons or daughters. Then, parents, do not spend all your time and energy in accumulating worldly goods. In short, do not worship Mam- mon, and neglect childhood, lest you will have cause to regret it. What we want and need, for the hastening of the Millennium, is more DUTY OF PARENT. 49 consecrated homes that will send forth into the world consecrated Christian men and women. The family is the foundation upon which society, the church, and the nation rests. The family government is the center from which all other forms of gov- ernment radiate — noble families make a noble nation. If the home government of any land could be ideal, then as a natural sequence our state and national government would be ideal likewise. From our homes of today will come the men and women of tomorrow, in whose hands will be the care and perpet- uation of our free institutions, and how well they will perform their duties then depends on how well the parents do their part in the homes now. How wise as well as witty was the re- ply of the old scholar and poet, John Tre- bonius, Luther's old teacher, who being 50 THE CHURCH MEMBER. asked why lie always took off his cap and made a bow to his pupils on entering his school room, replied : "I make my bow to the great men of the next generation who sit before me, in jackets, on those rustic benches." Just so, my friends, with the great men of the next genera- tion who are now receiving or failing to receive the proper training in our homes and in our schools — secular as well as Sunday — through which they come up to the world and Church of Christ. It needs no prophet's eye to see that the destiny of the Church of Christ and of our nation depends on the proper training of the American youth. That "the boy is father of the man" is amply illustrated in modern biography, but withal, under the providence of God, every child needs the guidance and direc- tion and prayers of wise Christian parents. It is always an advantage to be de- DUTY OF PARENT. 51 seen (led from pious parents. To have en- joyed the guidance and example of a Christian father and the love and prayers of a Christian mother is the greatest bless- ing which we could wish to any child. To be brought up in a home pervaded by a godly atmosphere is a blessing which only those who know can appreciate. In so many of our families the father himself is not a member of the church, and in many cases he is indifferent, yea worse than indifferent. The mother of that family may be a godly woman and do all she can, but when she does not have the husband and father's influence she finds her burden a heavy one, but by God's help she shall succeed, for "our labor in the Lord is not in vain," and as good is more powerful than evil, as light is more powerful than darkness, and as God is more mighty than the evil one, so the good influence of a Christian 52 THE CHURCH MEMBER. mother will olten triumph over the bad example of a father. The blessings com- ing from a good Christian mother can never be over-estimated. Monica, the pious mother of St, Augustine, prayed earnestly for years that her son might not follow his father's footsteps, and, at last, her prayer was answered and her son won to Christ and Christianity, and he became one of the defenders of the faith and one of the most celebrated church fathers. Some one has said : u As a rule where there is a Monica in the home there will be a St. Augustine in the cradle, and where there is a Eunice teaching the child the Script- ures, there will be a Timothy to teach the Gospel to the rest of mankind." The most illustrious statesmen, the most distinguished w 7 arriors, the most elo- quent ministers, and the greatest benefac- tors of mankind owe their greatness to the fostering influence of good homes. DUTY OF PAKEKTv' 53 The family lays the foundation of church membership. If every child in the land had the training of a godly mother and pious grandmother like Timothy, who at his mother's knee learned those beautiful Bible stories which "made him wise unto salvation," we would have more consecrated men in the Church of Christ. That home train- ing was not a matter lor the future with his mother, it was not left until he would reach the years of discretion, it was not deferred until he could enter the syna- gogue and learn it from others, but so well and so thoroughly was it done by Eunice and Lois and so far-reaching was its influence that Paul considers it worthy of a place in his farewell epistle — his second Epistle to Timothy. No, my dear readers, there is nothing that can atone for neglected home train- ing. It is either an efficient agent of God 54 THE CHUKCH MEMBER. for the salvation of souls or a powerful emissary of Satan for the destruction of character. Lord Shaftsbury said: "Give me a gen- eration of mothers like Sarah, Hannah, Lois, Eunice, Monica, and Cornelia, and a host of others less known, and I will undertake to change the whole world in a few years." What we need, then, are more consecrated homes in which child- hood is dedicated to and educated in the love and faith of the God of Hannoh, Lois, Eunice, and Monica. It is, indeed, sad to think that in so many Christian homes the family altar is broken down, and those beautiful Bible stories which we learned at our mother's knee are too often replaced by transient literature — we are living in an age of light literature and it is producing a light people. The people need St. Paul's ad- vice, today more than ever, about "hav- ing ears itching after new tilings," and in the name of God, and for the permanence and stability of society, we raise the voice of warning to parents, today. Oh. neglect not the old family Bible— the Book of your fathers and mothers which will make your children "wise unto salva- tion." During those long winter even-, ings gather your family about you. and tell them those beautiful Bible stories which they will never forget so long as memory retains and discharges its happy function. Think, what can be more in- teresting to your child, if you wish only to entertain, but withal what can be more profitable for the life to come than the beautiful and touching story of Joseph with his coat of many colors : his treat- ment by his brethren : his ruling during the famine, and his generous forgiveness and reconciliation, at last, with his breth- ren. The story of Cain and Abel ; of the 56 THE CHURCH MEMBER. child Samuel ; of the shepherd boy David ; of Isaac and Rebecca ; of Ishmael and Hagar : of Esther and Mordacai : of Jonah ; of Ruth and Naomi ; of Job and his trials ; of the three Hebrew boys in the furnace ; of Daniel in tfie lion's den — yea, of the many beautiful and edifying stories in the Old Testament, and then the New so full of God's love in the gift of His Son, our Savior ; of Simeon and Anna; of the family at Bethany; yea, of all the facts and incidents associated with Jesus from the lowly manger cradle to the rock-ribbed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and then the thrilling life of Paul, and the other Apostles, on down to the Beatific Vision of John on the rocky and storm-beaten Isle of Patmos. You can rest assured if you impress those beautiful lessons of God's goodness, love and mercy upon the mind of your child, in early life ; the Bible will become, to him, a blessed inheritance. DUTY OF PARENT. 57 Then in the interest of his eternal soul, I plead with you, parents, awaken in the mind of your child a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and "when he is old he will not depart from it." Begard the spiritual training of your child not lightly or the voice of neglected childhood, like Abel's blood, "will cry out against you from the ground." Use the old family Bible more as a Book which is to make you and yours "wise unto salva- tion." Let not the dust of ages gather upon its precious lids ; use it for some- thing more than a mere ornament on your center table. It is the message of the Father from heaven. It is the light which will dispell the darkness and gloom of sin, and it will bring you joy and peace as you near the evening of life. It is suitable for the palace of the rich and for the hovel of the poor. It en- lightens us that we may live aright here 58 THE CHURCH MEMBER. and it gives us hope when these earthly scenes shall change by the promise of a home with loved ones "lost awhile," but then no more tears and separation. It is the guardian of childhood, the champion of woman's rights, the comfoit of the sick, and the consolation of the dying. Oh, use this precious Book and teach your child to honor and respect its precious precepts. In short, let it be, to you and yours, a guide to the home prepared for the saints beyond. Give your child something which will soothe his sorrows, calm his fears, strengthen his faith, and inspire his hope — something which will throw around the grave of loved and cherished dead the light and promise of a reunion in heaven. For the sake of your child emulate the zeal and example of Lois and Eunice; in the early morning of life sow the seeds and God will give the increase, and at DUTY OF PARENT. 59 last — for there will be a last for all of us — when life's labors are done, you shall all meet again around the great white throne to part no more forever. "Lead, Kindly Light amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on: The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on, Keep Thou my feet ; I do not ask to see The distant scene ; one step enough for me." CHAPTER IV. WHEN SHOULD A CHTLD JO IX THE CHURCH AND WHAT THE PARENTS' DUTY IS IN HELPING THE CHILD TO DECIDE. We assume, as a natural sequence, that you, as Christian parents, wish your child to unite with the church of Jesus Christ, for we cannot make ourselves be- lieve that you, who are members of the church, could think of anything else. You have, both by precept and example, im- pressed upon his mind the duty as well as the blessed privilege of being a communi- cant member of the company of believers journeying toward the heavenly Jerusa- lem. Your child is growing up about you, and are you, true to the vows taken at his WHEN "SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 61' baptism, doing > our part to see that at the proper age he is instructed in the way of the Lord and will become a member of the household of faith? The question, naturally, follows : At what age should your child join the church? Here, no doubt, some will differ with me, for I be- lieve in having them unite earlier than many of the parents, in some sections of our church, think they should, and I be- lieve that sacred Scripture as well as ex- perience will bear me out in this asser tion. You say : I do not believe in having a child join before he knows what he is doing. Here, of course, we agree, but we may differ as to the age in which your child reaches conscious moral re- sponsibility — some children reach that period at a comparatively early age — or, may be, you decide to allow your child to grow up and choose for himself, and the result is he grows up and does not choose 62 THE CHURCH MEMBER. at all. If so, my friend, you are respon- sible to God and must answer for a neg- lect of your sacred duty toward your child. Do you not think it better, not to say safer, that your boy should grow up inside than outside of the church ? Do you not think it far better and wiser that he should form correct habits in early life, than to "sow wild oats" for a season, and then break away from his indifferent or sinful habits and companions? You have an influence over your boy until he reaches a certain age, and then he is beyond your control in many matters. There is danger in your delaying in this matter until he reaches a more mature age. There was a time, a generation or two past, when it was safe to wait to confirm the boys until they were grown up, but that day is past, for, in our age, the boys become men much sooner than they used to and are beyond the parents' control in a short time. WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 63 Remember this, fathers and mothers, to begin with Christ early means to begin life well, for what springtime is, in nature, that youth is in the life of man, and a wasted youth like a wasted springtime will leave its baneful and barren effects % in the summer and autumn of life. When the fruit trees are hurt by the frosts in springtime, they never again, during all that season, recover completely. Every period of life has its lessons to be learned and its duties to be performed and, there- fore, if you hope that your child may do his whole duty, as a man, you must see to it now that he make the proper use of childhood and youth — the periods of prep- aration. Early in Christ means a longer time for Christian development, and thus you may I>e for a more mature Christian charac- ter. We learn by doing, and we grow and develop by exercising our powers. As a 64 THE CHURCH MEMBE3, rule, the world owes but little to those who began at the eleventh hour. Again, when we read God's word, we find that it is full of rich promises to youth. "Remember, now. thy Creator, in the days of thy youth." etc. "Eejoice. 0 young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." These and many similar passages show us the special com- mands of the Lord to youth with its pecu- liar advantages and dangers. God forbid that they should live a life of sin in youth with the hope of living a life of holiness in old age. The sins of youth will leave their baneful effects which all subsequent- life cannot eradicate. May it not be said : "His bones are full of the sins of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust/' WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 65 No, my dear reader, it is dangerous to delay until later lite. You can rest as- sured on the testimony of the aged saints near the sunset of life, and you will find that none of those, who in their early days consecrated their life and service to Christ, ever in after years regretted having done so. Their chief joy and consolation, in their declining days, was the sweet satisfaction of having spent their days in the service of the Master Whom they soon shall meet in the heavenly home. Read God's word, relating to the Jewish church, and you will find that according to Jewish tradition the age of twelve was a very important period in a boy's life, At the age of twelve the Jewish lad was expected to join with the elders in relig- ious duties. At the age of twelve Moses left Pharoah's court, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a 66 THE CHl'KCH MEMBER. season." At the age of twelve. Joshua dreamed of his great life work. At the age of twelve. Samuel heard the call of God while serving the aged Eli. At the age of twelve, Solomon judged between the contending women and restored to tlie sorrowing mother her true child. The age of twelve was a turning point, a deciding period, a crisis, in the life of every Jewish lad — then he became a "Son of the Law" and was considered morally responsible for his words and deeds. At the age of twelve we see Jesus, with His parents, going up to Jerusalem to at- tend the Temple service, and He is found among the doctors asking questions which puzzled the most profound. Here we have ideal parents, at the temple service and their Boy is with them, and here they dedicate Hi in to the Lord. How beauti- ful a sight it is to see parents and children come up to the house of the Lord together ! WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 67 The child Jesus was brought, He was not- sent, nor was He left to choose for Him- self or not to choose at all, as so many tip. Joseph and Mary did not wait until He was old enough to know what He was doing or why He joined the caravan on that long pilgrimage. They knew that a father and mother could reach their boy. in his younger days, while, so often, in a few more years he would be beyond theii control. They knew that a boy learns of things sacred by doing sacred things, and. they realized, that it was better and safer for Him to grow up inside of the church than outside. In our day too many fath- ers and mothers allow their boy to grow up outside of the church of Christ, where he will certainly not grow better, but the chances are the direct opposite — they ex- pect him to join later, but their expecta- tions too often are not realized. There is something radically wrong in much of our 68 THE CHURCH MEMBER. so-called home training, else we would not see so many grown up sons and daughters out of the church when father and mother both belong. Oh, parents, I plead with you. do not neglect this important duty ! It is one which, as parents, you cannot delegate to your pastor nor to any other person living. This is a personal duty which rests with you and for which God holds you responsible. My dear reader, if you stop and think how you plan and help your boy to decide in temporal matter, you will see the wis- dom of my strong appeal in helping him to start aright on the way that leads to eternal life. You use good judgment and common sense in directing your boy's in- tellectual education. You do not wait to have him admitted to school until he is old enough to know why he is going. No, if you did, too many precious years would be wasted and he would see it only W HEX SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 69 when too late. The idea of the church is a spiritual home in which we may develop Christian character — Christian life — and we join it not because we are good, but because we are striving to do better, and here we find helps and the means of grace to assist us. Then, do not wait until your child knows everything, else he will never come. Every year of waiting makes it more difficult to decide, for his ways and habits in life become more fixed and the world will have made a greater impress upon his character. The younger he de- cides for Christ the easier and the safer in the end it will be. We learn, from the Holy Eecord, that so soon as Jesus was old enough to join public worship, His parents took Him to the Temple. It was not enough that they set Him a good ex- ample, but they proposed to bring Him up in the right way. They knew, that whatever a child ought to do, that 70 THE CHURCH MEMBER. brought, to the parents, the sacred re- sponsibility of seeing that it is done. If He likes to do it, so much the better, and if He does not like to do it, so much the more need is there that the parents should urge Him to do it. Yes. even the Child Jesus needed the worship in the sanctuary, and the training and devotion which went with it, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom'' * * f " "And Jesus in- creased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." How sad, it is. to think, that so verv manv parents neglect their duty toward their children in bringing them into the fold of Christ. I know of a mother, herself a communicant member of the church, who was broached, by her pastor, on the subject of her daughter, then a young ladv of seventeen, uniting with the church, and, in her daughter's presence, she replied: "It is WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JODff. 71 all right to me, just as she decides.'' My friends, no argument is necessary to see, that here was a lack of home influence. The mother could give her daughter ad- vice on ail other subjects, but the one re- lating to her eternal salvation was left to the whims and fancies of the daughter. Thus many parents neglect their duty to- ward their child for vears and at last thev awaken to the fact and then want the pastor to speak with the son or daughter. But, remember, your pastor can not atone for your negligence; he is willing to do all he can, but if your child has gone astray through you neglecting your duty all these vears. the pastor is not likelv able to reach him. See to it, then, parents, that your child is brought to the house of God, early in life, and his desire will be : "to be with the people of God." Here he will receive the help and grace of God ; here he will 72 THE CHURCH MEMBER. enjoy the benefits and blessings which shall come to all the faithful — "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." See to it then that your child becomes a member of the church of Christ, and, until he is here, your full duty, as a parent, is not discharged, no matter what else you may have done for him. May God help you to be faithful in this important and ofttimes difficult task is our prayer. "Oh. talk to me of heaven ! 1 love To hear about my home above ; For there cloth many a loved one dwell In light and joy ineffable. O ! tell me how they shine and sing. While every harp rings echoing. And every glad and tearless eye Beams like the bright sun gloriously. Tell me of that victorious palm. Each hand in glory beareth : Tell me of that celestial calm, Each face in glory weareth I" CHAPTER V. THE SUXDAY SCHOOL — WHAT IS IT ? AND OUR DUTY TO IT. One of the last commands of our blessed Lord to the restored Apostle Peter, was : "Feed my lambs" — that is : Be a shep- herd over the tender lambs of the flock. Lead them by the "still waters" and in the "green pastures." The lambs of the flock are those who have come, lately, into the fold, and they need special care and oversight — this most important charge I commit into your hands. This same charge comes to the church today, of which you, my reader, I assume, are a member who is interested in the cause and work of the Master, hence it 74 THE CHURCH MEMBER. comes to you with equally as much force as it did to the Apostle almost nineteen hundred years ago. Our blessed Lord saw what has been the experience of the church ever since His time, viz : That the success of the Gospel of Christ among any people depends to a great extent upon the care and training which is given to the lambs of the flock. The hope of the church in heathen lands is in winning the lambs of the flock, who will be the future men and women, to Christ. The world at large for time im memor- able has been heeding this command of the Lord even before the time of Christ, and in the degree that the people have been faithful to this charge to that extent have they prospered. While it is generally conceded that the Sunday school, as an agency for popular religious instruction, had its origin in the THE c SUNDAY SCHOOL— WHAT IS IT ? 75 work of Robert Raikes, of Gloucester, England, in the year of our Lord, 1780, yet it was by no means the beginning of that method of popular instruction which it has come to represent in the plans of the Christian church of today. We are told : "Even in Abraham's time he had 318 instructors who taught his people's children the law of God, and, under the Mosaic law, the children as well as the parents were commanded to be gathered before the Lord for the study of the Law, in order that they might supplement any lack in their home instructions in relig- ious knowledge, and a very important feature of the Synagogue service, after their return from the Babylonian captiv- ity was the study of the Law by free ques- tioning and answering. While, in connection with the Syna- gogue, a system of religious schools was organized in the first century before Christ, T6 THE CHURCH MEMBER. and every Jewish child, from five to seven years of age, was obliged to be in the synagogue Bible school and pass from one grade of study to another until he reached full manhood. These schools ex- isted the time of our Lord's earthly life and He attended one of them and in them He taught as He- went from place to place. We find the same in the Apostlic church and it was only when the eccles- iastical spirit overcame the evangelical that the teaching of the Bible to the young was put aside, and many able his- torians attribute this as the cause of the decline of learning, and the "dark ages" as the natural result. At any rate, when the Rennaissance and the great Reforma- tion swept over the continent and beyond the seas, we find all the Reformers pre- paring catechisms and again we see spe- cial stress laid on the training of the child THE SUNDAY SCHOOL — WHAT IS IT? 77 and youth, and we bear the bold Saxon/ Luther, say : "The children are the seed and source of the church and for the church's sake Christian schools must be established and maintained, for God maintains the church through the schools." But again, in time, the polemic spirit led to the overshadowing of teaching by preaching and the child's religious in- struction was confined to a desultory re- citing of the catechism, and later by some church bodies entirely neglected, and as a natural consequence there was again a sad decline in the religious life during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which gave rise to free thinking and agnosticism, both in the colonies and in the continent beyond the Atlantic ; but following the great religious revival, dur- ing the middle of the eighteenth century, came the modern Sunday school which has, since then, been the main agency for 78 THE CHURCH MEMBER. popular religious instruction. True, its beginning was unsatisfactory. There was a lack of unity and system in Bible study. And it required almost another century of evolution when in 1873 Mr. B. F. Jacobs submitted a uniform system of Bible studies which covers the salient points and dwells upon the underlying principles of the Old and New Testaments in periods of seven years, making three series or the whole cycle covering the principal parts in 21 years. Thus the whole English speaking world has a uniform series of lessons and the publication houses feel justified in preparing helps for the lessons in which they employ the ripest scholars and the most profound thinkers who give us wise interpretations that lead us on to that greater light— Christ Jesus. These lessons may not be what all or some would desire, and there is still a wide margin for improvement, but in THE SUNDAY SCHOOL — WHAT IS IT ? 79 comparison with former times we are liv- ing in an age of great and glorious privi- leges, and as naturally follows, the greater the opportunity the greater the responsi- bility, hence the command, "feed my lambs," comes to us, living in this closing year of the century, with redoubled force. As the church advances she is awaken- ing to a fuller sense of her duty toward the lambs of the flock and the signs of the times warn us to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Every age, of the church, has her battles to fight and her principles to defend and we must needs "put on the whole armor of God" for the warfare must not only be defen- sive but also offensive ; we must "go up and take the land" for the Lord, and it is our prerogative to use all legitimate means at hand. The opposition to the Sunday schools has long since ceased, and all admit to- 80 THE CHURCH MEMBER. day that it lias its place, and an import- ant place, it is, as an instrument in God's hand for the dissemination of Christian knowledge and the regeneration of the world. But it is a supplementary institu- tion designed principally to compensate in a manner or make up for deficient and neglected home training. If all parents would do their whole duty in the relig- ious training of childhood and youth the Sunday school would not be a necessity as it is under existing circumstances. Whenever a child comes to a home God says: "Take this child *' * * and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages," Exodus, 2: 9. But alas, too many of our so-called parents are worse than indifferent to all that is high and holy, and the child receives no nursing— training — and this deficiency must be sup- plied or made up as near as possible in some other way. To such children the THE SUNDAY SCHOOL— WHAT IS IT? 81 Sunday school comes with its benign in- fluence and tries to lead the unfolding in- tellect to a knowledge of divine things that the young heart and mind may have a higher view of a true life. It goes without saying, that there is nothing — no Sunday school nor any other training — which can take the place of home training, but, under existing cir- cumstances, the homes must be supple- mented by something which the Sunday school affords. Too many of our homes are hot beds of vice in which the tender buds of promise are growing up sur- rounded by a poisonous moral atmos- phere and the church through the Sunday school has lengthened her cords and tries to reach the child and develop, in him, a sense of moral responsibility. The churches and the public schools of our land have grave issues to meet, or rather to counteract, which if not 82 THE CHURCH MEMBER. righted are sure to cause moral ruin in the end and the name of our posterity will be "Iehabod" — "departed glory." The laws of our land are for the purpose of defending the weak and innocent and to punish the guilty ; w-hile the church and the schools are aiming to prevent crime, and "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." But, despite the efforts put forth, we find pauperism and vagrancy, vice and crime increasing at an alarmingly rapid rate. Environ- ment, heredity, drink, and neglected home training all contribute their quota to this sad state of affairs. All this host of de- graded humanitv have had their training or rather lack of training, in some homes. There is something radically wrong in much of our so-called home life. Ease, luxury, and present pleasure seem to be the highest ambition of far too many in our day. Some parents seem to think THE SUNDAY SCHOOL— WHAT IS IT ? 83 that if they provide for the temporal wants of their children then their whole duty is done, but, my friends, there is a deeper law written on our very being which must be recognized or ruin is sure to follow. If society hopes to maintain its purity and integrity it must have honest, intelli- gent, God-fearing men and women, and as these virtues are not the natural growth in some homes they must be de- veloped outside and transplanted. The state uses its authority and thus reaches out its long, strong arm of law and lays it upon your child, saying : This will be one of our future men and I will look after him. I will give him an education so that he will become an in- telligent citizen, able to discharge the duties of citizenship intelligently and honorably. Thus the state establishes schools and maintains them for the good 84 THE CHURCH MEMBER. of her future citizens and in some eases has compulsionary laws, making it oblig- atory, on the part of parents, to do their duty with their child, and by taxation — which is nothing else than forced charity — each property owner helps to educate our future men and women. The state wants and needs honest, industrious citi- zens who can intelligently, and who will faithfully discharge their duties, and hence it has its laws protecting its future men and women. But back ot this public spirit for the good of its citizens there is a deeper law — the law of benevolence — be- cause the churches have moulded and shaped public opinion and taught the world the great ''Golden Rule" and the underlying principles of the "Sermon on the Mount." The religion of Jesus Christ has ever had the best interest of humanity at heart. It is altruistic in the fullest sense of the WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 85 term. It has fostered intelligence, hon- esty, and industry. Our forefathers, coming to the wilds of America, built the church and schoolhouse side by side. The church has ever recognized her sacred duty of looking after the lambs of the flock, and in earlier days the good old Bible was the text book, iu our schools, when those beautiful Scripture lessons and Bible stories were impressed indel- ibly upon the young and tender minds and these greatly helped to shape and mould their lives for true greatness. Yes, the Bible has ever been the friend of learn- ing as well as the champion of men's rights. The one object of the Sunday school, today, is to make Bible scholars, of those, who learn it not iu their homes, for the purpose of making true, worthy citizens for the great commonwealth of Israel. The Sunday school is the handmaid of 88 THE CHURCH MEMBER. the home and church, and though it is of human origin, yet Gocl has set his stamp of approval upon it without the shadow of a doubt ; and if the church is to be the Pool of Saloam where the leprous sinner may find healing remedies, she must direct her force to the fountain of immortal youth. If the young life— the fountain — is pure, then the stream is more likely to remain untarnished. The future hope of , the church rests upon the shoulders of the boys and girls who are now coming up through the Sun- day school. Neglect the training of the young and the church will surely follow in the downward wake. The fathers and mothers of today will soon sleep with their forefathers in the village graveyard and the boys and girls must be ready to take their places in the church, or its glory will depart. The streugth of the church lies not so WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN. 87 much in numbers nor in the wealth of her members as in the consecrated men and women, and the church of the future needs Bible Christians full of the love of the crucified and risen Savior, and burning with zeal for His cause. The church needs Christians who can give a "reason for the hope" that is in them. The plans and purpose of the Sunday school is to instruct the children and youth in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in order that its precious precepts may shape and mould their conduct, thus inspiring them to live aright here and at last enter into that "rest which remaineth for the people of God." The early impressions can never be eradicated. They w ill last until time shall be no more ; and scarce a ray of heavenly light ever penetrates the minds of many of the rising generations save as it comes through the Sunday school. Many an one 86 THE CHURCH MEMBER, is thus led into the church of Christ through the influence of the Sunday school. A grave and solemn task is ours and may we awaken to the opportunity and duty that lies before us. God meant that we should give our aid and co-operation by our presence, and in helping to gather neglected childhood not onlv from the "highways and hedges," but also from the high places and byways, It is our duty to do all we can to bring our fellow men of all ranks and condi- tions to a saving knowledge of Christ. Thus we can help to save the souls of those who are in need of help but do not know it. God meant that we. as professed followers of Jesus Christ, should be inter- ested in everything that will advance and perpetuate the welfare of our fellow men and the spread of God's kingdom, and our interest must manifest itselt in a prac- THE SUNDAY SCHOOL— WHAT IS IT ? 89 tical and tangible form. We can only save our own souls by helping to save others, that is Christ's law of Christianity. We are aiming not only to prepare the lambs of the flock for good citizenship here, but also for the heavenly country. We are building to last after we are sleep- ing in our graves. We are laboring for the peace and prosperity of Zion, and unless the world is a better, a happier, and a nobler place for our having been in it we have been unfaithful to our life trust and our life is worse than wasted. Then, my friends, let us do our part faithfully in life's great conflict. Each one of us has some influence for good and may we use it aright, may some hearts be happier and better because they have known us. Here we have a golden op- portunity to use our influence. Let us be up and doing "while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." 90 THE CHURCH MEMBER. And by and by each one must give an ac- count for the opportunities he has had to do good. Let the members of the church of Christ measure up to a full sense of their various duties and the world will be won for Christ. Let each one do his duty in deed- ing the lambs," and especially have we a right to expect to find the officers at their places giving their example, their help and influence to this important branch of church work. Pray to the Father for light and guid- ance as you journey over unfamiliar or difficult paths. Do your whole duty faithfully, for, in caring for the "lambs of the flock, you are caring for the best in- terest of Christ's kingdom, as well as for the best interest of your community and land, for whatever will bring us to a better knowledge of God and His will, will also make us better citizens. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL — WHAT IS IT ? 91 Go forward, then, in your noble work. You can give no valid excuse, nor will you ask one, if you are full of the love of God and for perishing souls, and by doing good to others you will do good to self, for good is reflexive. Be true to your fellowmen and the reward is sure to come for "our labor in the Lord is not in vain." "No word falls fruitless ; none can tell How vast its power may be, Nor what results enfolded dwell Within it silently. Work and despair not ; give thy mite, Nor care how small it be ; God is with all that serve the right, The holy, true, and free !" CHAPTER VI. CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT AXD CHRISTIAN WORK. Christianity is not only a belief or a profession, but it is a life, and as it is the province or nature of all life to develop from a less perfect to a more perfect stage so do we look for, and have a right to expect, a growth in Christian life and character. We are to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'' as we grow in years. Paul writing to the Philippian brethren says : "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended ; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are be- hind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT AND WORK. 93 mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." What Paul here meant, in a few words, w r as : I have not yet, by any means, reached the highest stage of Christian character or develop- ment, I am not satisfied with what I have done nor with my experience in the past, for there is yet much before me and I must press forward to attain it. With Paul it was ever forward and onward to- ward a better and nobler life. His spirit- ual attainments developed spiritual ca- pacities ; for him this life was not a fin- ished period, but merely a period of prep- aration and he must press on from one stage to another, step by step, to higher and larger attainments. So with you and me, our work lies before and not be- hind us. The motto of the disciple of Christ is: Ever forward to duty, to nobleness. 94 THE CHURCH MEMBER. "Ne'er think the victory won. Nor lay thine armor down, The arduous work will not be done. "Till thou obtain thy crown." Thus, the duty of the child of God is to go forward "overcoming evil with good/' advancing and conquering to conquer. Use your spiritual powers ; expand your life, your manhood, and your useful- ness to a larger degree than ever attained before. Do not sit. with folded hands, gazing upon the past and satisfied with what you have done in days that have gone by. Your life's work is not finished else God would take you out of this world. God has spared vou all these vears for some- thing, therefore do not be satisfied with what you have done in the past. If you were true and faithful, in the long ago, you then only did your duty, and, if now you are resting your hope on that. I fear, CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT AND WORK. 95 you will be sadly disappointed, at the close of life. God has given you long days for a pur- pose ; to cheer hearts and homes darkened by sin and sorrow, to lighten the burdens of others, and to encourage and cheer the weak and faltering, in short, to make the world better and happier and larger for your being in it. Today you are better prepared to do a noble work than ever be- fore, because these years have brought to you experience, matured judgment, and Christian growth, and, unless, you are in- capacitated by infirmities you are not ex- cusable for your inactivity. The trouble is, so many church mem- bers gauge their Christian duty by what some other poor, weak, unfaithful mem- ber has done, and, thus, by gauging by a false standard, they come far short of their whole duty. Have you, my friend, done your part in 96 THE CHURCH MEMBER. bearing the burdens of the Lord's work ? or are you, in your mind, too old to be actively engaged in the Master's vine- yard ? Let us reason a little ; can you still attend to your own business affairs or must some one be a guardian over you ? Can you still be up and about dur- ing the week days in time to do a day's labor ? If so then you are not as near, or wholly, incapacitated, for the Lord's work as you imagined. If ever the time comes that your heart is in the Lord's work as in your secular affairs, then you will find it a pleasure to do the Lord's bidding and not seek refuge behind shallow or make-believe excuses. Paul writing to the Christians in Gala- tia says : "Be not deceived ; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap ;" then he con- tinues, "and let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT AND WORK. 97 we faint not." It is not wrong to grow weary in well doing, but it is wrong to grow weary of well doing. The self-sac- rificing patriots, those Revolutionary war forefathers, who wrote our Nation's liberty with their own blood, often grew weary in their struggles for the cause of liberty, but they had such firm faith in its results that they never grew weary of the cause of liberty, and finally their earnest efforts were rewarded and we see them plant the flag of freedom— the stars and the stripes — our Xational emblem, in every hamlet, along every coast, and upon every hill-top in our land. Yea, often were those self-sacrificing patriots discouraged and almost dis- heartened ; often were they weak and footsore leaving their bloody footprints on the frozen ground. In their wilder- ness homes they left loving wives and helpless children, in hunger and want. 98 THE CHURCH MEMBER. and their hearts grew home sick for the little family circle. Yea, they suffered hardship and anguish untold — often weary in well doing but never weary of well doing. The same may be said of every worthy enterprise and cause which has brought us blessings, opportunities, and privileges. Every privilege and blessing we enjoy has cost some one labor, anxiety, and sacrifice. So we, as members of the church of Christ, have a glorious cause to defend and per- petuate, and hand down, untarnished and undiminished, to our posterity. Let us be true to the privileges and opportunities entrusted in our hands. Go forward to victory ! Be true to the cause you es- pousg. Rally about the Standard-bearer, Jesus the Christ, and He will inspire you with a new life and with holy zeal I Be a whole-hearted Christian. "Walk as chil- dren of light.'' Do not be in the church CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT AXD WORK. 99 merely for "the loaves and fishes." Do not use the livery of heaven for filthy lucre. "Consecrate yourselves, this day, to the Lord, that He may bestow upon you a blessing." Do not be afraid you are doing too much for the church of Christ. You can never repay her for what she has done for you — in this life all the blessings of education, civilization, etc., owe their fostering care to the church as a mother. If you are blest with great intellectual ability, thank God that you have it, and can use it for His cause— opportunities bring to us re- sponsibilities. If you have financial abil- ity, thank God that He has counted you worthy to be a steward, and then give what is due Him. If others, who have as much or perhaps more of this world's goods, give a mere pittance to the Lord, I pray you, do not gauge your liberality by theirs. Theirs is a false standard, and LrfC 100 THE CHURCH MEMBES. they, failing to do their duty, will not justify you in failing to do yours. You love to sacrifice for those whom you love. You are willing to sacrifice in order that you may contribute to a cause that lies near to your heart. So. if you have the true love for Christ and His cause, it will be a pleasure to contribute for its support. On the other hand, if you withhold that which belongs to the Lord, your soul will grow smaller and the Christ love is in danger of dying within you. Study the demands of the church. Have an intelli- gent understanding of her needs, and you will want to give. It is a hopeful sign when great demands are made upon us. it reveals the fact that the Kingdom is gi )wing. Oh, be honest in giving the Lord what is due Him from you as stew- ards ! Eemember. a cheap religion makes cheap Christians. Then develop the spirit WHEN SHOULD A CHILD JOIN". 101 of liberality for the Lord's cause and you will, develop a larger Christian life. You always Lave money for the things you love best. Pray God to enable you to love His Kingdom in a more tangible form, that you may labor for the peace and prosperity of Zion, for the widening of her borders. What we need for the evangelization of the world is, not so much more church members as better ones filled with the love of God's cause. Therefore "make full proof of your min- istry of reconciliation." Use the means of grace. "Be diligent in season and out of season." "Quit yourselves like men, be strong." In fact, so live that with Paul you can say : "And herein do I ex- ercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men," and then you will grow more Christ- like day by day until, at last, you shall be able to say : "For I am now ready to be 102 THE CHURCH MEMBER. offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my coarse. I have kept the faith : Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing/' We are weak, but Thou art mighty, Help us then, oh Lord, we pray ! Take us by Thy hand and lead us As we wander day by day. Help us, in our lonely journey, Day by day on Thee rely ; Help us when the storms do gather, Help, oh help us, Lord ! we cry. And, at last, when Death shall claim us, Take us home to Thee, we pray, To the home of many mansions, To the home of endless day. Where a happy welcome waits us From the loved ones gone before, There to dwell, in bliss, with Jesus And our friends forever more. January, 1900. S. H. D, CHAPTER VII. YOUR MINISTER, AND HOW YOU CAN ASSIST AND ENCOURAGE HTM. There is no one more conscious of the solemn responsibility which the sacred office, of the ministry, bears with it than the minister himself. He has spent the best part of his youth and young man- hood in preparing himself for the sacred office. He has studied books and men, and he sees the sad havoc that sin has wrought upon the human race. He sees what God sacrificed for the salvation of the race. He loves souls, else he would not stand at the sacred desk. He comes to you, as the servant of God, to encourage and guide you in doing the Lord's will upon earth as it is done in heaven ; his 104 THE CHURCH MEMBER. education and training have all been with that end in view. By the help and grace of God he tries ; to comfort the bereft, to encourage the weak and faltering, to warn the careless and indifferent, and to awaken in them a sense of duty to God and fellow man. To what extent his ministry, in your midst, will be a success depends as much upon you — your prayers and co-operation — as upon his own zeal and fitness. You must not expect to sit down, with folded hands, and have him to do everything. He comes to you, as the servant of the Most High, with God's authority and promises, but, he needs your assistance also. He is human, and, in the onerous duties of his sacred office and in his "zeal for good works," there are times when the dark shadows will fall upon his pathway, and he passes under the cloud or through deep waters and then he needs human, as well as divine, encouragement. HOW YOU CAN ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. 105 Your best interests and welfare are ever near to his heart and he tries to "preach Christ and Him crucified" for your com- fort and edification. But he cannot preach to empty pews. He needs your presence and prayers at the services in the sanctu- ary. There is nothing harder than to preach to empty pews. He must have living beings whose countenances show ap- preciative and responsive souls breathing out prayers in his behalf. The minister looks over the congregation and sees your pew vacant and at once it cools his ardor. He may have driven five or six or even more miles through heat or cold, through rain or sunshine, across almost impassable roads, but observes your ab- sence, when you have but a few squares to the house of the Lord. Surely, if you are a consistent church member, you have a greater interest in your church and a greater love for your pastor than be so 106 THE CHURCH MEMBER. indifferent to your privileges and duties. You have pledged your "love and co- operation," through your representatives — the church officers — when he is called to become your pastor, and, pray tell me, why so indifferent and unfaithful now? He is fulfilling his part of the contract. Tn his quiet study he has you in mind during the preparation of his sermons, but vou are seldom seen at the regular Lord's Day services, much less at the mid-week prayer meeting, and, consequently, his message will not inspire nor encourage nor comfort you. Eemember, there is nothing that causes more anxiety, to an earnest pastor, than the careless, haphazzard manner in which some people regard the sacred priv- ilege of attending the services in the sanctuary, not to say anything of their duty to attend, for which God holds them accountable. HOW YOU CAN ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. 107 But happy, thrice happy, are we, who are messengers of God, preaching the. Glad Tidings to a (lying world, that we find many true, good, and faithful mem- bers, in our parishes, who, when they are absent, have a real and not an imaginary reason. To the minister there is nothing more beautiful than to see the whole family — father, mother, young men, and young women — in their accustomed places at all times and upon all occasions. Then, again, if your pastor gives you a discourse which cheers your soul and en- courages you to a higher life, let him know that it has done you good. He is not asking for vain, empty applause, but it does his soul good to know that he has been instrumental, in God's hands, of helping and cheering some pilgrim on his way to the heavenly home. He ofttimes needs a word of encouragment. At rimes, he thinks his work is for naught or may be his ['reaching does not reach the people, while, at the same time, his peo- ple love him greatly and are highly bene- fited by his sermons but are too timid to tell him so. It has been the experience of more than one minister, who thought his efforts not appreciated or for naught, answered a CO.U to some other field, and. when about to leave, only realized how much he and his services were appreciated by his pa- rishioners, It was then he said : Had I only been conscious of the fact that my efforts were so much appreciated I would have been content to remain. Thus, my dear readers, I would say : Do not forget to show your appreciation before it is too late. As my good Virginia classmate used to say "It does us a heap of good" to receive a word of encouragment once in a while. HOW YOU CAN ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. 109 Another way to encourage your pastor is: Pay your salary promptly. It is an honest debt and you desire to maintain your honor as a church. Your pastor has obligations to meet. He has many demands of which others know nothing. There is no class of pro- fessional men more poorly paid, for their services rendered, than the ministry, when you take into consideration the time and money and energy spent in the preparation for his calling, and let it be understood : that we are not in the min- istry solely with a mercenary end in view, and. yet. the minister and his family must live, and, I believe, it is the sacred duty of every man to lay something aside for old age. but this, under the present salary system, means the strictest economy — most ministers learn to practice economy by force of necessity — and in many cases it is simply impossible to more than make 110 THE CHURCH MEMBER. ends meet, especially if the minister was obliged to go into debt for his education as many must do. But, if you are the true kind of church member, you are jealous of your minister, that is, you desire that he and his family may be dressed respectably and live as cozily and comfortably as your neighbor's minister, and he must do this on a small salary, and that, ofttimes, in arrearages for more than six months, while your neighbor's pastor receives three times as much, promptly paid up. Try to be consistent, in this as in all your other church relations, and, remem- ber, no money invested will bring greater returns to a community than that which is invested in the Gospel, not, of course, directly in dollars and cents, but in those things which are priceless : happiness, peace, morality, thrift, and noble aims in life, in fact, in the Christian virtues which HO W YOU CAX ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. Ill make prosperity possible. Do, then, see to it that your salary is paid promptly and have the honor and self-respect not to pay an insignificant contribution. We have known of some so-called church members who would leave their Church obligations unpaid for a period of more than three years, and, at last, when ap- proached and urged, repudiate it; and they were not the poorest among the humble band of disciples, either. No, thank God for the poor as the world reckons wealth. Their wants are few. They find their chief joy in the Lord, and, therefore, are usually prompt in meeting their obligations and in responding to the various appeals of the church at home and abroad. But is those who come clad in purple and fine linen, those who live the most elaborately and feast the most sump- tuously that are dishonest in their church obligations. But rest assured there will 112 THE CHCKCH MEMBER. be a day when all will be judged by the true standard. Such, indeed, make the heart of the minister sad. I know of a working maid who in a quiet and humble way contributes more, toward the support of the Gospel, than her mistress. "They that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." These think the minister can wait until the last, and, of course, he will if he must, He is all the time preaching about money ! Yes, he needs it. Like the old colored minister who was taken to task because he asked so often for money — His critic quoting the passage of Scrip- ture referring to his '"reward being in heaven'' — replied. "Yes brudder. but I cannot live on that now, I cannot preach here and board in heaven. I must board here, at least, so long as I am preaching here." HOW YOU CAN ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. 113 I beg you, my friends, do not humiliate your pastor. Pay your salary promptly and cheerfully that he may be relieved of all unnecessary anxiety concerning his temporal obligations. He has earned what you owe him many times over. It will be much easier to pay him promptly than to allow it to accumulate. The cash system is the best for all concerned in the end. Again, you can assist and encourage your pastor by contributing toward the benevolent operations of the church at large as he asks of you. Remember, he will not ask you to contribute toward any cause which is unworthy — classes, synods and the different church bodies always discuss the various demands made for aid, and they arrive at their conclusions after due deliberation and earnest prayer. These bodies apportion the amounts needed and send them down to the vari- 114 THE CHURCH MEMBER. ous charges, and, now they look to the pastor to see that the moneys are raised. If they are not raised, your pastor is, at times, accused of failing to do his whole duty by not properly presenting and urg- ing, the claims of the classis, to his church or charge. In this your pastor needs your co-operation and response in a tangible form. He distributes envelopes and makes an earnest appeal, but, alas ! how often those little envelopes — mute messengers pleading a cause — are con- signed to the flames, and on the day ap- pointed for the offering, possibly, only half of them return bearing a gift unto the Lord. While the coppers and nickels are the most in evidence on the collection plates, "Alexander, the coppersmith," still continues, as of old, to interfere with the spread of the Gospel. I kindly plead with you, church mem- bers, awaken to a full sense of your duty ! HOW YOXJ CAN ASSIST YOUR MINISTER. 115 Have faith in your pastor. \\ ben be pre- sents tbe claims of the church, help bim to maintain the honor of your charge and church. It is your duty as well as a blessed privilege to give to and have part in the spreading of God's Kingdom, and in helping the poor and needy for, "Inas- much as ye have done it unto one of these ye have done it unto me." Oh! make your pastor feel and realize that you have faith in him, and, that you mean to be a helper and not a Jiinderer in the cause of Christ, and his labor in your midst will be with a light heart, and in reality a "labor of love," and he will have reason to thank God tiiat his "lot has fallen into pleasant places." In all things give him your confidence and co-operation. Do not be afraid you are doing too much for the cause of Christ. Put your shoulder to the Gospel chariot and help to lift. In fact, be a church 116 THE CHURCH MEMBER. member in reality, not in name only. Pray that the Holy Spirit may give your pastor and your church officers wis- dom and power and might to guide the attairs of the church militant aright, so that it may be a great power for good in the world. Do all you cau to cheer and lighten your pastor's labors. He needs those who "laugh when he laughs" and those who "weep when he weeps." He needs the touch that will make him strong. He needs your love and encouragement. He needs others to stand by and assist him in bearing the burdens of the parish, and, remember, as you are true to your pastor you are true to God who sent him. "Lord, Thine appointed servants bless. That they may faithful be, To preach the truth in righteousness. And sinners win to Thee. Uphold them by Almighty power. Thy strength divine impart. And. in each dark and trying hour. Cheer Thou their fainting heart." CHAPTEE VIII. THE PASTOR'S VISITING. With some ministers, the visiting feature has become the most prominent. It ap- pears to be their forte and the people have come to expect it. This has its place, in our ministerial labors, but it is not by any means all, nor is it the chief means for developing Christ- ian character. It is true, by coming in contact with his parishioners, in their everyday life, the minister sees his people as he does not anywhere else, and be learns to know their needs and wants and environments as he can in no other way, and, thus, having his congregation in mind, while preparing his sermons, he can prepare for them that spiritual food which 118 THE CHURCH MEMBER. their souls long for and stand most in need of. But the minister must have his hours of quiet and rest — his periods for holy medi- tation and communion with God. His study is his liohj of holies where he gathers strength and grace for his minis- trations. If he is to "preach the Word" he must study it with all diligence. If he is to inspire, his people, to a higher and better life, he himself must be full of holy fire. Re cannot give that which he does not himself possess. He cannot lead un- less he himself knows the way. He must keep fresh and strong, and this strength he gains in his private studies and devo- tions. He is doing an injury to himself, as well as to his people, if he spends the time, necessary for study and pulpit prep- aration, in visiting — and thus feed his people on husks. He will be a "back number" before he has reached the period THE PASTOR'S VISITING. 119 at which he should be most useful. He will reach the "dead line" in early life. No, my dear readers, do not expect your minister to do with his feet what should be done with his head. You come to the Divine services to be fed on spirit- ual food, to be instructed in the way of godliness, to be inspired with holy zeal, and it is his duty to prepare himself to do it, "A house-going pastor makes a church- going people" may be true in some parts of our church, but my experience and ob- servations have failed to convince me of the fact. My experience has been, that the peo- ple who complain most because the pastor does not visit them enough are the ones who are the most irregular and indifferent, and I have also learned that those who do not attend services nor take an active part in church work, unless the pastor 120 THE CHURCH MEMBER. visits them often, do not amount to much even if be does visit them frequently. Some people expect the impossible from their pastor. They are selfish with him. They want him all to self. But a man has a large and widely-scattered field of three or four congregations over a radius of ten or more miles, and he must drive many miles before he reaches his members in the outlying limits. In such a field it is almost the next thing to impossible to visit the whole charge, as frequently as some seem to desire, and at the same time attend faithfully to all the other duties of the pastorate — with man there are impossible things. True, I would not wholly set aside pas- toral visitation. It has its place and I aim as near as possible to fulfil that part of my ministerial labors, and where it is prac- ticable, as in the city or larger towns, where the membership is not so widely THE PASTOR'S VISITING. 121 scattered as in a country charge, there more frequent visits are in place. There the minister has his mornings and even- ings to himself and can spend the after- noons in the homes of his members. Of course, the aged and infirm, and the sick, who in the providence of God cannot come to worship in the sanctuary, those deserve our special care and comfort, but, in my humble judgment, others who are younger and whom we see at their accus- tomed places, in the sanctuary, Sabbath after Sabbath, such do not need nor should they demand our special time which should be employed in other chan- nels. Then, my dear reader, I beg you, be con- siderate, in this as in all other things, knowing that, if your minister does not come to see you as often as you would like to have him, he thinks you do not need his special attention. He looks after 122 THE CHURCH MEMBER. the most needy and wayward and you can feel yourself complimented to think that you need no special attention. "They that are whole have no need of the physi- cian." Eemember, the minister is interested, in the welfare of his flock, as no other man can be. He delights to see you pros- perous and happy, and he wishes you well, in all that is honorable and legitimate, and when sorrow or sickness comes into your home, and you desire his presence and comfort, if you send for him he will only too gladly respond; Remember this; be- cause, ofttimes, there has been sickness or sorrow in one of our homes for weeks be- fore we knew it and they wondered why we did not come to see and comfort them. Some people are very irregular at the Lord's Day services and, when they are absent, it is no unusual thing and, hence, their absence does not solicit inquiries concerning their welfare, and it has been THE PASTOR'S VISITING. 123 my experience, that such are the most easily offended, if the minister fails to visit them when they are ill. But, my friends, if you consider a little you will realize that the minister has a multitude of subjects claiming his thoughts and attention and he may not know of your illness. He cannot know all the time how all his members are, — He is not omniscient. Do, then, be as considerate with your pastor as you are with your family physi- cian. When you want the physician's service you send for him. Do likewise with your pastor and he will respond as quickly as can be done. CHAPTER IX. THE OLD MTSnSTBK AXD HOW HE SHOULD BE TREATED. My dear reader, are you a member of a congregation or charge which has had the services of a good, faithful minister for many long years? Perhaps he came, to you, young and fresh from the "School of the Prophets" with the fire and .zeal which goes with youth and young manhood. His aims and hopes were high and holy. His "air castles" were grand and impos- ing. He came into your midst and launched upon an untried sea. Your fathers and mothers, long since gone to their rich reward, received him with a hearty welcome, — this was in the long THE OLD MINISTER. 125 ago — and the work of the charge, or parish, at once assumed a different aspect. The little church soon proved inadequate to accommodate the large audiences that came out to hear him ; some of the more sinister minded then said : "A new broom sweeps clean," and many came out of sheer curiosity and after a time again fell back to their old ways ; coming but once or twice a year in order to let the minister and people know that they "are still holding to the church." But, your minister keeps on truly and faithfully and the Christian fathers and mothers of Israel — God bless them — re- main faithful by his side. They come out through heat and cold, through rain and sunshine. They receive from his minis- trations, comfort, inspiration, and edifica- tion. He is a man above the average in abil- ity ; sincere and earnest and full of zeal for God's cause. 126 THE CHURCH MEMBER. The members soon realize his worth and, like the people of Ephesus, "would pluck out their eyes" for him. He may receive a call, or an invitation to come and locate in some other "field," more promising than theirs, but, with tears and pleadings, they entreat him not to leave them. "You shall never leave us," they say, "until death doth take thee." He remains, serving a large and widely- scattered charge, on a small salary by which he can barely make ends meet — ex- cept by the strictest economy — he must sacrifice, but for their sakes he is willing to do so because the fathers and mothers love and appreciate him and his work, but he is not able to lay anything aside for old age. The days and years come and go, the fathers and mothers fall asleep and are now lying in the village churchyard, en- THE OLD MINISTER. 127 joying their well-earned rest in the heav- enly home. Tour faithful minister has laid them, tenderly, to rest, and the green grass "grows in heaped turfs" over their sleeping places. He gave you comfort and consolation out of the rich promises in God's Word. He told you of the glori- ous hope and the happy home in store for those who live and die in the Lord. You become attached to him as a spir- itual father. He lays his hands upon your head and asks God's blessing to rest upon vou. He dedicates your children, for you, in baptism to the Triune God. He becomes, in fact, so closely identified with your congregation as a father over all. Age and sad, as well as joyous, experi- ences have matured his judgment, ripened his scholarship, and made his heart tender and easily touched. He has truly grown old "in the harness." The fathers and mothers who stood by his side and 128 THE CHURCH MEMBER, strengthened him, when young, are no more : they are sleeping in Machpelah's burying 1 ground. He. too. is nearing life's sunset. He realizes that the infirmities of age are telling on him, He has given you the best days of his life. His step is not so firm as it once was. His sermons may not be so full of "holy fire" as they were, in days gone by, bat they are fuller of the love of Jesus, fuller of heaven, you may rest assured. Some one intimates that "our pastor is getting too old to serve us acceptably," Another says : "He is getting to be a 'back number* and we should get rid of him and secure the service of a younger man who can reacli the younger dement' 5 — these are chords of dissension, these are pebbles that disturb the calm waters, these are apples of discord and. the young, who never thought anything else than THE OLD MIXISTEK. 129 that be was the best roan living, will be- gin to find fault, and your people can pre- pare for the revolution that is sure to come. What is to be done? He is now old. He has given his whole life, or the best part of it, to your church. He has been with you in joy and sorrow, in the day of prosperity and in the night of adversity. He is old now and, unless he has children to whom he can go and with whom he mav make his home, he will not know what to do and the heart strings almost break. In all other professions you wish the service of a man of experience. When you have dangerous illness in your familv you want a physician who has had long experience and who has proved himself capable. You do not wish to risk your life to a novice. When you have an im- portant case before the courts of justice 130 THE CHURCH MEMBER. you want an experienced attorney to look after your interests. In the schools you wish a teacher, for an important position, who has had experience, but, in the min- istry, in our day. for some cause or other, age, experience, and ripe scholarship do not count much ; the only qualification is : <; He must be a young ruan" — this seems to be a travesty on the judgment of the church people. But we need not argue that feature anv further. It is a foregone conclusion; you have decided that you must have a Young man and that settles the whole matter once for all. The next question that nat- urally presents itself is : What is to be done with the old minister ? He is too old for you. Maybe some small, strug- gling charge could use him'? and perhaps not. Do you mean to turn him out in the cold world near the evening of life ? You know he is old and he has been at THE OLD MINISTER. 131 an expense of which few outside of the min- istry know. He may have, by strict econ- omy and a great deal of self-denial, man- aged to save a little for the declining days, but in many cases he has not sufficient to give him a comfortable income for the re- mainder of his life. What shall he do? He is ashamed to beg. He is too honest to steal. He is too old to do manual labor. He cannot well do anything else for he prepared himself for the ministry and did not keep up with the other profes- sions. Must he do day's work as I know of one who. when too old to preach, must do in order to get his bread and butter ? The sad fact too often is : unless he has children with whom he can spend the re- mainder of his days and there think oyer the good days that are past, he might be obliged to knock at the poor house for entrance. It is shameful, in the highest degree, 123 THE CHURCH MEMBER. not to say sinful to turn out, into the cold world, an old, faithful pastor who was dearly beloved by your fathers and mothers in days gone by. Oh ! honor him, respect him, and keep him to the close of his life, for the good he has done. If he is too old and feeble to assume the active duties of your congre- gation, then elect another and a younger man to assume the duties of the charge, but let the old father be "pastor emeritus" with a small salary so that he may still worship with you and thus spend the re- mainder of his days with the people he loved so long and well. You will never miss the extra salary it will take, and you will feel so much better when you your- selves will come to the "Indian summer of life." Yes. Make his last days as peace- ful, as comfortable, as quiet, and as happy as possible. Ian McOlaren had an article on "Should THE OLD MINISTER. . 133 the Old Clergyman Be .Shot'?'' in the Christmas number of the Ladies' Home Journal, 1899. and after discussing' the situation, from the standpoint of a lay member, finally comes to the conclusion that the best way to get rid of the worn- out old minister was to shoot him. This in some respects would be an easier death than many meet, for the man- ner, I have noticed, in which one or two congregations treated an old, faithful ser- vant it meant death from a broken heart, which was slower and more painful than by shooting. I sometimes wonder when some people reach that u happy land" for which they pray, and find the old minister inside, if they would not be ashamed to enter. Oh ! be kind to him for what he has done. Cast him not off in the time of old age and forsake him not when his strength faileth, and when you meet hin* in that 134 THE CHURCH MEMBER. heavenly hbme it will be a day of joy arid gladness. "Gone ! — have ye all then gone— The good,; the beautiful, the kind, the dear ? Passed to your glorious rest so swiftly on, And left ine weeping here?" CHAPTEE X. THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF CHURCH OFFICERS. It goes without saying: That the Church is a Divine-human organization. An organization must have laws and reg- ulations, and as we must have officers, to see that the laws are executed, and who have in their hands the management of her affairs, so are there times when nomi- nations and elections are necessary to select them. The Church must have her officers who constitute a body, in whose hands are the spiritual and temporal management of the Church, and whether you call this body a Consistory, a Church council, a vestry, or by whatever name, it is the privilege and 136 THE CHURCH MEMBER. duty of the members to elect— say by voice or vote who shall have in their hands the affairs of the church, for a given time, at least, There is here as in other things diver- sity of opinions, as to how the candi- dates for office are to be named or nomi- nated. In some places the consistory or church council names one ticket and the congregation names another and then the two named tickets are placed before the congregation and the members vote their preference. Another, and, we think, a better, and wiser method of making nominations, is to let the consistory name twice the num- ber of officers to be elected and then sub- mit tbem to the congregation to be voted upon. Our reason for preferring the latter mode can be expressed in a few words. It is this : The consistory or council can discuss the relative merits of CHURCH OFFICERS. 137 the available members for the sacred of- fice as cannot be done in the presence of the congregation. It is a great honor to bear office in the Lord's house ; so also does it bring grave and sacred duties and responsibilities, to each one, which should not be considered lightly. A man may have business ability and tact but may lack the moral qualifica- tions. While another may have the moral sincerity and enthusiasm for the Lord's cause but lack ability and judg- ment in other respects, while all these combined, as near as possible, is what the Church needs in her officers. Ofttimes a mistake is made, in the se- lection of officers, by nominating some general favorite who is a whole-souled, hail-fellow-well-met, because among a certain set he may be a popular idol, while otherwise he may not possess the first principles necessary for a cup bearer in the Lord's house. 138 THE CHURCH MEMBER. Sometimes, too, we have known a man to be nominated and elected to the sacred and responsible office "for a joke," just as if the church and the Lord's cause were to be conducted for the sport and amusement of the members. This is wrong, in the highest degree, not to say sinful, and the crippled and sad condition of some churches' managment are the fruits of this pernicious policy. Then, again, there is another fallacy in nominating and electing a man to the sacred office, in order to get him inter- ested in the work of the Church. One of my good old teachers often told us: "Gentlemen, never have a man put in as an officer, who does not take an in- terest in the Church, in order to get him interested, for, if he is not interested be- fore, be assured, he will not become inter- ested, when an officer, and you and the Church must suffer for the experiment." CHURCH OFFICERS. 139 I have learned the truth, of his admoni- tion, to my sorrow, in my brief ministry. The fact is, my friends, if a man is not full of the love of God and His cause be- fore he is an officer, in the Church, it is a very dangerous experiment to elect him to that sacred and responsible position with the idea in view of getting him in- terested. A man who is so full of the world that he wears himself out, during the six laboring days, in accumulating this world's goods, so that on the quiet Sabbath morning he mmt rest and thus cannot get ready for services or that he is so busy with his own affairs that he has no time during the week for a> consistory or council meeting, such a man is not the kind that the Church of Jesus Christ wants at the head of her ministrations ; we want men, and we must and can have them, who have the love of the Church, at heart, enough to be able to give her 140 THE' CHURCH MEMBER. some time and consideration. We want men, as officers, who are not afraid they arc doing too much for the Church, men who will stand by the eternal principles of right i men who are sober, honest, dill- gent and upright; men who give their life and influence to nothing that would bring dishonor upon the religion of Jesus Christ; men who are burning with the love of Christ and His cause — for it is a self-evident fact, that, in order to succeed in anything, a man must be in love with his task, and, at the same time, be con- scious of the sense of responsibility which is resting upon him. We want conscien- tious men, men who are conscious of the fact, that every honoiy every privilege, every blessing, and every opportunity they have brings, to them, grave responsi- bilities and sacred duties which they dare not neglect. The Church oflicers are the minister's CHURCH OFFICERS. 141 cabinet — bis advisers and helpers — they are to be, "unto him. hands and eyes/' and remember this, my Mends, the honor and welfare of your Church, to a great extent, rests upon their shoulders. They repre- sent your Church, before the higher judi- catories and before the world, and you wish to be represented by the best, the noblest, and the most Christlike. But let us assume the nominations for officers are made and the day for election is near at hand, and, now, do not forget to pray to the Father, to guide and en- lighten you, so that you may put aside all personal preferences and cast your vote for the one. or ones, answering most nearly to the ideal officer, as God would like to have him be. Do not vote for a man, principally, that you may confer, upon him, the great honor, though he may be your best friend. Remember, the honor and welfare of the Church are at 142 THE CHURCH MEMBER. stake. But vote as you think will be the best for the good of the Church and the glory of God, and, especially, be it far from you to vote for an officer "merely for a joke ;" the Church of Jesus Christ is not a joke and she does not exist for the amusement of her members, but for the salvation of souls and you want of- ficers who love souls and are full of Chris- tian zeal. In a few words, pray right and then vote as you pray and your officers and your Church will be as God meant they should be. "Endow thern with a heavenly mind ; Supply their every need ; Make them in spirit meek, resigned, But bold in word and deed." CHAPTER XL CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP, OR SHOULD A CHRISTIAN TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN POLITICS ? Should the Christian take part in poli- tics? You ofttimes hear it said: "That religion and politics do not go together." Pray tell me why should they not ? If they do not they surely should, and once politics is conducted on the principle of the Golden Rule — as it should be — then religion and politics will go together ; and whose duty but the Christian citizen's is it to make it such ? We should take our religion with us to the polls and then vote as we pray. Are politics, in our day, too corrupt for a Christian man to take part in ? and, if so, 144 THE CHURCH MEMBER. what has made them such ? Does not the whole secret, of corrupt politics, lie in the fact that the spoilsmen are trying to run the machinery of our municipal, county, state and national government for policy's sake, and are content to sac- rifice the eternal principles of right and justice, using all means, whether honor- able or otherwise, to accomplish their end ? We hear the local politician echo, the cry of the "boss" — "Be loyal to the old standard," and too many voters go to the polls "like dumb driven cattle" and cast their ballot and influence at the beck and bidding of a few political leaders who make them believe the salvation of the country is at stake and depends on the success of their party. But "all men cannot be fooled all the time," and, in time they see their mis- takes, become disgusted and finally re- main entirely away from the polls, and CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP. 145 the "boss" and his hangers on have thing's their own way, and matters assume a more forboding aspect than ever. It is simply going from bad to worse. There- fore, we say, the Christian citizen should vote. He should give his influence for the good of the government, under which he and his must live. His religious prin- ciples — the eternal principles of right — should be stronger than his love for party. He should vote for the man or men, irre- spective of party affiliations, who have character and moral stamina, whose "word is as good as his bond." Let character and attainments be the sole qualifications necessary for a candidate— for character is more than party. The more independent voters a district has the better and purer will be its laws and its officers. If the government of a people is oppressive and ruled by a few — a veritable oligarchy— it is because the 146 THE CHURCH MEMBER. people will it to be so, for, you can rest assured, once they rise, to a full sense of their duty, like one man with a single, noble aim in view, no power on earth can stay them. On the other hand, if the Christian citi- zens remain away from the polls and allow the grogshop politician to vote his hangerson, thus bringing about laws that are distasteful and oppressive, they have no right to complain. It is the duty of every law-abiding and liberty-loving citizen to vote at every election, and he should vote in accordance with his own convictions. The ballot thief, and all others, who make a business of politics, and thus want dishonest gov- ernment, which best serves their end, will be certain to vote not only once, but as often as they can. Those who are inter- ested in corrupt elections are certain to give their whole time and labor, in order CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP. 147 that they may accomplish their end, and, surely every honest and well-meaning citizen should x)erform his duty, at the polls, and give his vote and influence in selecting the best candidate, for every office, regardless of party. The better class of citizens, interested as they should be, in the public welfare, are beginning to see the evils of too many of our political caucuses, and are, therefore, beginning to vote independent and we see the signs of better times send- ing their rays of light across the eastern mountain heights. There are festering sores on our body politic because the good citizens have, too long, stood aloof and permitted the "boss and spoilsman" to have his own way, and, once men vote as they pray, these social and political vices which are a menace to our free institutions and government will be delegated into the realms of oblivion. 14S THE CHURCH MEMBER. But as long as Christian inen pray one way and vote another, so long will the evils of our government be here to op- press us. By all means. Christian breth- ren, pray right, but, then, do not forget to vote as you pray, and then, those evils which are now, like a canker worm, sap- ping the life from our nation will be crushed. These evils come by legislation and they must go as they came — by legisla- tion. The damnable drink traffic, which is one of the worst cancerous sores on our national life, undermining health, dwarf- ing ability, bringing hell and damuation to homes which otherwise could be happy and peaceful, is here because of legisla- tion—because the representatives whom we help to elect are too often bought to vote, for it. in our legislative halls. The gambling and lottery laws and the privi- CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP. 149 leges which the great corporations and monopolies enjoy. The laws which fix the prices on everything you buy or sell, and which enrich the stockholders at the expense of the consumer — of whom you are one — and which is making the rich richer and the poor, at least, rela- tively poorer, all these and a host of other harmful and pernicious law 7 s, favoring a few at the expense of the many, are thrust upon us, and they mean, to every man, a larger outlay for the necessaries of life ; they mean, that you and your family, shall henceforth, receive fewer of the nec- essaries and luxuries of life, for the same amount of money, and they mean that you take less for that which you have to sell. The price is fixed on everything you buy or sell, and what will you do about it? These things can be remedied and the remedy lies in the pure and free use 150 THE CHURCH ME >1 BE zl. of the ballot id the hands of the better people. The fact is. the politician who is in it for the spoils is ready and willing to promise anything and everything until after his election when he votes and gives his influence the way that brings in the most money for him. Let the Christian man vote for men of principle — men who do not make politics a business, no matter what his party con- victions may be. It is the chief business of the spoilsman to get himself and his associates maintained at the public ex- pense, and, according to his standard, the chief duty, of a public official, is to draw his salary regularly. No, my friends, we want, and we need, and we will have, if j on say so, an honest government, and this should call loudly upon every good citizen to come forth and say, by ballot, who shall handle the revenues paid by the tax-payers and who CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP. 151 shall make and enforce our laws. It is your privilege, will you use it ? Remember, your Christianity should show itself in all your various relations of life ; you, as a citizen, owe duties to your community and to your nation, and, it is your duty as well as privilege, to say who shall have in charge your munincipal, your county, your state and national gov- ernment. Eemember, you have not only a right and privilege but it is your duty to exer- cise your citizenship. Do this intelli- gently and conscientiously as God shall give you light, and your government will be purified, and in time will be clean, as it should be, and then you can take your religion into your politics and your poli- tics into your religion. ''So live that when the mighty caravan, Which halts one night time in the vale of death, Shall strike its white tents for the morning march. Thou shalt mount upward to the eternal hills, Thy foot unwearied, and thy strength renewed, Like the strong eagle for the upward night." CHAPTER XII. MISSIONS AND WHY I BELIEVE IN THE3L "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," etc., was one of the last commandments, of our blessed Lord, to his disciples, and this, like all the other commands, should be obeyed by his disciples today. All his commands are just and reasonable, and, as we still rely upon his promises which are to us no less than to our children, so are his commandments also binding, and furthermore, on truly benevolent princi- ples we are constrained to bring the "glad tidings of peace and good will" to those who sit in darkness and are waiting for the light. The principle of Christianity is the di- rect opposite of selfishness and exclu- MISSIONS. 158 siveness. One of the great fundamental doctrines which Jesus taught, by word and precept, was the "Brotherhood of the race." With Him there was " neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free" but Christ was all and in all. In the parable of "The Good Samari- tan" He taught us to help the needy no matter to what race, color or nationality they belonged. We are to extend the hand of help to raise the fallen, to cheer the faint, to give them a higher and nobler view of life, and a hope for the life to come. In the Sermon upon the Mount, His in- troductory sermon, He emphasizes the same principle : " As ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them likewise." Put the "Golden Eule" into practice and place yourself in the posi- tion of the heathen. Imagine yourself, in their sad condition, sitting in darkness 154 THE CHURCH MEMBER. and waiting for the light of the Gospel of Christ which would bring the manifold blessings which go with the religion of Jesus Christ. Study the sad condition of those whom God has made for true nobleness, and see, if you would not desire others to help you, if you were as they are. There are so many who do not seem to appreciate that the blessings, which the Gospel of Christ have brought them, have also brought duties and responsibilities which they owe to their fellowmen in other lands. We are liviug in a laud of light and liberty, today, because: We have the open Bible, and the hallowed influence of frhe quiet Sabbath day; and, the fires of incense and prayers are rising from ten thousand family altars at the beginning and close of every day. We are a Christian land and nation be- MISSIONS. 155 cause : Our forefathers, from across the sea, sent missionaries among us, at a time when we were near to becoming a nation of infidels. There are none of the original churches in America but which received their first ministers, and the means to support them, from the fatherlands beyond the broad Atlantic. Michael Schlatter, the pioneer of our beloved Zion, after viewing the situation of the spiritual condition of the people scattered through the wilds of Southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia and seeing their need for the Gospel of Christ, returned to his native land and made known their wants, and, history tells us, how liberally they re- sponded. On his return he brought, with him, £12,000 and six noble young men consecrated to the Gospel ministry, and those Christian fathers and mothers, who were waiting on this side for shep- 156 THE CHURCH MEMBER. herds to feed them the "bread of life," "thanked God and took courage." Do you say, then, we owe nothing to missions? Did others ignore our cry for help? Did they turn a deaf ear to the "Macedonian call" coming from the wilds of America? History answers: No! And, now,, shall we who live in the light of that Gospel, shall we, who are reaping and enjoying the fruits of that sowing, be content to enjoy those blessings while others call* to us, for help ? Oh, Christian people, remember, this privilege places upon us a sacred respon- sibility and a most solemn duty which we cannot ignore. Then, again, think of it, my friends; had St. Paul directed his missionary opera- tions toward the East, instead of bearing the banner of the Cross into the wilds of Europe, then China and Japan might have become Christianized, and instead of MISSIONS. 157 we sending missionaries to them, they would needs bring the Gospel to us. Under the providence of God we know that where there is life there must be ac- tivity. When a fountain ceases to flow it becomes a stagnant pool which breeds deadly diseases. To live it must pour forth, and so with the Church of Christ, she exists for something, and that church which does not send forth the light of the Gospel to other benighted lands. That church or that member who is not inter- ested in missions — in the welfare of his fellowmen in need — has not yet learned the first principles of Christianity. The congregation that withholds the Gospel from others will soon lose it her- self. u He who is poor in charity is poor indeed." The question which comes home to each one of us is not : Will the heathen be saved without my help? but, will I be saved if I am unfaithful to my 158 THE CHURCH MEMBER. trust, and ignore the commands of my Lord and Master, whom I profess to fol- low? That oft-mooted and threadbare argu- ment (I question seriously if it can claim the title of argument) which we ofttimes hear expressed, when an appeal is made for missions : "I do not believe in mis- . sions. I do not believe in sending money away to the heathens. We have heathens at home to convert. Let us convert them first, and then begin with those in other lands," is born either of ignorance, or is a cowardly excuse for stinginess, or selfish- ness, or all combined, and, in my mind, at least, is the expression of one who by his very words is a self-confessed heathen. For, pray tell me, what else than a heathen may we call a man who does not believe in the promises and commandments of God's word ? He does not believe in missions? Then let him tell us what part MISSIONS. 159 of the Bible does he believe ? Has he a mutilated Bible from which all passages, relating to missions, are expurgated ? If so, then he has a Bible without God, a Bible without Jesus, a Bible without the Apostles, a Bible without the sermon on the Mount, a Bible without the Ten Com- mandments, a Bible without the Lord's Prayer, in fact, a Bible which is no Bible at all — the play Hamlet without a Ham- let — for the central thought, the underly- ing principle, from Genesis to Bevela- tion teaches us love to God through love to man. My friends ! if you do not believe in missions it is necessary for you to read God 5 s word more diligently, it is neces- sary for you to pray more earnestly that God may enlighten your minds and that He may sanctify your affections. You must needs be emptied of self and tilled with love to God and fellowman and, 160 THE CHURCH MEMBER. then, your heart will go out in a practical and substantial manner to those poor, be- nighted of our fellowmen sitting in dark- ness and waiting for the Gospel light. Then you will thank God that you are living in a missionary age and can have a part and privilege in the evangelization of the world. Bemember, "the heathens at home," of whom you speak, all have had the oppor- tunity of the Gospel, lo these many yenrs, but they have wilfully hardened their hearts and turned away from the light. We have done our duty with them, and if they perish, in their sins, their blood rests upon their own heads. But the Macedonian call comes, to us, from lands beyond the seas, and it is ours to respond. For those, who deny Christi- anity to others, cannot retain it long themselves. "Charity begins at home" but if it ends there it is a poor charity in- MISSIONS. 161 deed. The chief concern of the Christian is not his own salvation but the salvation of others. He saves his own soul by helping to save others. The religion of Jesus Christ is not egotistic but altruistic, and the Church that lives only for self will soon not live at all. We are not to be concerned principally about the sav- ing of our own souls but in that of others and thus, by saving others only can we save ourselves. Jesus asks for self denial ; He asks for that love which prompts us to sacrifice for the good of others. Some people's idea of charity is ; giving away what they do not want themselves, but the most ac- ceptable gifts are those which cost us something. The love, of Jesus, for fallen and sinful mankind caused him to sacrifice "the glory which He had with the Father" and coming as man among us men, the Sin- 162 THE CHL'RCH MEMBER. less One bearing the sins of the whole world. While we, too often, when the Church makes an appeal, say : "Nl see if I can spare it/' which means: "I'll see if I have any money left after I have gratified ail my own desires, after I have every- thing just as I want it. after I have all the necessaries and luxuries, then if I have anything to spare Fll give it to the Lord's cause." Too many are like the Pharisee who thank God that they are not like the heathen, but forget that their privileges and opportunities bear with them grave re- sponsibilities. How much are you to give ? This ques- tion you can best answer for yourself. Ask, what would Jesus give, if he were situated in life as you are ? Give as the Lord has prospered you. Give that which requires sacrifice and you MISSIONS. 163 will give according to the Bible standard. The widow gave her mite which was all that she had. Here you are stewards. Give to the Lord what belongs to Him. Be faithful to your Lord's commands and you will be faithful to yourself. Oh 5 I pray you, do not ignore Christ's commandments else you are worse than a heathen ; you have the Gospel light, "walk as children of light." "Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return again." "Can we. whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high, Can we to men benighted The lamp of life deny ?" CHAPTER XIII. THE CHURCH MEMBER'S WEDDING DAY, This is a sacred, a solemn step which no one should take lightly. The solemn words, which are to bind two hearts and two bands together forever, and which will change the currents of your lives, can be spoken in a moment, but a life- time is required to fulfil them, and the neglect of this duty will cast its shadow upon eternity. The wedding day marks the beginnings of a new career which, in God's provi- dence, is intended to make you wiser,, better, and more useful in the world, and, if the yows are faithfully kept by both parties, you will grow to understand and appreciate one another more highly as THE WEDDING. 165 the years come and go, so that when death, at last, breaks the link that binds you, it will find the two hands more fondly clasped and the two hearts more closely joined than on the day that you plighted your troths "before God and man." The permanent union of one man with one woman establishes a relation of af- fections and interests which can, in no other way, be made to exist between two human beings, and it calls forth tendencies and capacities and powers for good which were not even known before. My aim, in this article, is not to give Scriptural proofs of God's sanction and commands to enter the holy state of mat- rimony, nor do T wish to philosophize on the congeniality of spirits necessary to a happy union of two souls — all which are of the greatest importance. But I pro- pose to deal with the simple fact of mar- 166 THE CHURCH MEMBER. riage. It is one of those things which comes about somehow and some way that baffles explanation. But, let us assume, the days of wooing are drawing to a close. The engagement is announced and the wedding is to follow, as a matter of course. The next question comes : "Where shall we plight our troth V This depends on individual choice. Some prefer the church, within her walls consecrated and made hallowed by sacred memories, be- fore her holy of holies, where they were baptized and confirmed — they think this preferable to any other place for taking the solemn vow. Others prefer the home, about which cluster so many fond and sacred memo- ries of by-gone days — the home which the bride is now about to leave — this she thinks the best place for her. Others, again, prefer a quiet wedding, THE WEDDING. 167 and, for reasons best known to themselves, they visit the parsonage and there have the solemn words pronounced. Xext, who is the best fitted to pronounce the marriage ceremony, which is one of the sacred institutions of our holy religion? Surely, in my mind, not a justice of the peace, nor any other secular officer, can pronounce these solemn words, in a be- coming manner, with the brogue of the criminal court on his lips. This makes it a civil contract, and does away with that sacredness, which belongs to it, since the time of man's innocency, and, in some States, none but a regular ordained priest or minister of the Gospel is permitted to perform the marriage ceremony — this is as it should be everywhere. You are a member of the church of Jesus Christ, and you believe marriage to be a sacred institution of the church, do not, therefore, demean it by having some 168 THE CHURCH MEMBER. secular officer to go through the ceremony in a haphazzard and perfunctory manner. You desire no "mock marriage." You want ''God and His holy angels to witness it," and, therefore, you must have regards to the place as well as to the person who is to perform it, and none but a regular ordained minister, who has been conse- crated, is fitted to do so, and none so well as your own pastor. Here let me speak to you confidentially, remember, it always looks more respectful to have your min- ister with you at that time. When you have sorrow or a death, in your family, you desire him to be with you in the house of mourning, and now remember him also in the hour of joy. Do not take your wedding trip before you are married and have some strange clergyman "say the words." It always looks more re- spectable, in the eyes of the world, to take your trip after the wedding. But if THE WEDDING. 169 circumstances and conditions are such that you must go away, kindly ask your minister to accompany you, for remem- ber, you are never justified in doing a wrong to your pastor, who is ever inter- ested in your welfare, and is willing to do anything honorable for you. He needs your encouragement, in this as in all other respects, and it will cause him anxiety. He will wonder what might be wrong that you prefer another to him on such an occasion. In short, always be honorable to your pastor and you will never have cause to regret it. What of the fee ? ah here is the rub ; this may have a smacking of the mercen- ary, but, we hope, the motive in speaking of this feature may not be misunderstood. We simply say : Let the fee be in keep- ing with other things. Do not insult the girl, whom you are taking from a good home and whom you 170 THE CHURCH MEMBER. value and admire above all others, by giv- ing a mean little pittance to the parson. Do not undervalue the ceremony when all else is done with an idea for "show." There are some ladies who. I have no doubt, would blush if they knew the in- significant fees paid at their marriage. There are some people who save neither effort nor money where they can ''make a display," but, where the public does not see, they are mean stingy. I have witnessed several "swell wed- dings' 3 where the elite of the city were in high places, where broad cloth dress suits and silks were in evidence, where a sumptuous feast was served, where colored waiters catered to the taste of the guests : where presents aggregating an outlay of hundreds of dollars were to be seen in a brilliantly-lighted room ; and where a wedding tour was contemplated, and taken, to all the principal cities, THE WEDDING. 171 meaning no less than a hundred or more. But alas! the parson's fee! It was a mere pittance, in fact so small that it barely paid for the marriage certificate with the internal revenue stamp affixed as the law requires. I know my ministerial brethren will pardon me for divulging one of our secrets, but the fact is: most of us find it necessary to grade our certificates accord- ing to the fees. There are some people who think that a ministers supplies are furnished him gratis. How they have arrived at such a mistaken conclusion we know not, but our supplies cost us actual money, and we find it necessary to exercise the best of judgment otherwise some weddings are to us a financial loss. Yes, there are many, very many, who when they can make a display curtail no expense, but they must draw the line 172 THE CHURCH MEMBER. somewhere and the parson usually is out- side of that line. Are we wrong in judging the worth of a man by what he does in secret ? A man is known by the little things. We are waiting to see. Does he consider the ceremony of so small consequence or does he so little appreciate the services of his wife's minister that anything will do? This manifests a poor principle and and is an insult to the girl whom he mar- ried. ''There are smiles and tears in that gathering band Where the heart is pledged with the trembling hand. What trying thoughts in the bosom swell. As the bride bids parents and home farewell ! Kneel down by the side of the tearful fair, And strengthen the perilous hour with prayer.' CHAPTER XIV. THE EVENING OF LIEE ; BE KIND TO THE OLD. There comes to me a mingled sense of sadness and reverence when I see an aged father or mother basking in the evening twilight of life. The long shadows falling toward the east indicate that their day has almost closed, and according to the laws of nature, they can be with us only a few more brief years at most. Their "Indian summer'' is nearly over and with its close they must bid the world "adieu." They are living mostly in the past. All their friends of "the days that are gone" are sleeping in the "silent city of the 174 THE CHURCH MEMBER. dead." They are left alone, like some solitary tree marking the place where once upon a time stood a dense forest. They have born the burden and heat of many a summer's sun. Their hairs have been frosted by the snows of many win- ters. Time has taken the elasticity out of their steps. The cares of years made the form, once erect, now bent. The totter- ing step, the wrinkled brow, the hoary heads, the bent body, the trembling hand, and the melancholy crack in the voice, all indicate the nearness of the end. These prophesy that the journey will soon be over. They live in the fond memories of the past. Their best days were in the long ago. But now they are strangers in the community where their whole life was spent. The eyes that once looked into theirs with the most tender affections have long since been closed by the hand THE EVENING OF LIFE. 175 of death. The voices that responded to theirs like sweet music ; the voices that cheered and stirred their souls with the most tender affections, have been hushed these many years. The old familiar home- stead, and the scenes about it, with which were associated so many fond friends of by-gone days, has undergone changes under the ravages of time. Yea, all has changed since the days of their youth, and in the march of time they find them- selves strangers in the home of their childhood and youth. They are sad and lonely and with the Psalmist cry out : "Lover and friends thou hast put far from me." Yes, the old have outlived their day and generation. They cannot become reconciled to the new ways and ideas in life, and, thus, are not in sympathy with the way we do things, hence we naturally think them peculiar. Their language is 1T6 THE CHURCH MEMBER. often the antiquated brogue of the past generation ; and, thus, with all their sor- rows and longings they become, to an un- filial son or daughter, a burden. How sad it is ofttirnes to see an old father or mother, who spent a life of sac- rifice for their children, when old and feeble, to be shoved aside as an old, worn- out, and useless article of furniture. One such sad incident came under my observa- tion. It was that of an aged mother whom none of her children wished to be troubled with, and, be it said to their shame, all of them had of this world's goods an abundance. When she came she received as cold a reception as the actic explorer, and was soon given to un- derstand that they could put up with her only for a certain definite time, and well did the poor old soul understand what that meant. So long as she could help them to do THE EVENING OF LIFE. ITT drudgery, and bad some money of her own she was received with open arms and the best was scarcely good enough for mother, but, now, since she has given them her all, and is old and feeble and almost helpless, she is an unwelcome guest lest she may become a charge to them. With the Psalmist her soul breathes out the words : ''Cast me not off in the time of old age and forsake me not when my strength faileth." My dear readers, can you not remember her for the good she has done in days that are gone by? She it was who bore you and gave you being. She it was who cared for and watched over you during the helpless and trying times of infancy and childhood. Can you not now be a guardian angel of old age '? Oh ! be kind to the aged. If they do cost you some extra care and expense, re member, they will not be with you long 178 THE CHURCH MEMBER. anymore, for behold! the shadows are de- clining and they will soon leave you, and when you must stand beside the open grave you will never have cause to regret what good you have done for them. We have, indeed, a beautiful example of true filial affection and consideration in Joseph's conduct toward his aged father, Jacob. Though he is ruler of Egypt, yet he is ever mindful of his aged father in far-away Canaan. He sends for him and his kindred and does all he can to make him happy and comfortable the remainder of his days, and, when he dies, Joseph takes his father back to Canaan and has him buried beside his beloved Eachael, as was his last request. Joseph, though he was ruler of Egypt, was not too busy to have his old father about, nor was he afraid lest he might embarrass him by his uncouth and rustic manners. Another beautiful incident was the con- THE EVENING OF LIFE. 179 duct and consideration of Millard Fill- more, when President of these United States, toward his aged father. We see the elder Fillmore visiting his son, Millard, at Washington, and the care and consider- ation he showed his aged parent was an example of true filial affection. How he was introduced to all the great men ! How he spoke with the great Webster ! This was an evergreen spot in the old man's memory, which he could never for- get. This stands out in sharp contrast with the incident, which suggested to Will Carlton the subject for his poem : "OVEK THE HILLS TO THE POOE- HOUSE I'VE WA^DEBED ALOXE THEEE TO DIE," when a rich and pros- perous son had turned his poor old mother out of his home, for the simple reason that it cost too much to keep her, and she having no home crossed the hills 180 THE CHURCH MEMBER. beyond which was located the poorliouse. Shame ! shame! on the wretch is the ver- dict of the whole world. The money, he thus saved, was "blood money." His wealth shall become moth-eaten. His riches are corruption. His love of wealth has dwarfed all his better and higher nature and thus robbed him of the first principles of manhood. But, thank God, this is a rare excep- tion, and with most sons and daughters that filial spirit is manifested, and the last days of the parents are made as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Both sacred and profane history is rich and full of the noble deeds of sons and daughters in their conduct toward their aged parents, and they never had cause to regret it. Would that all children were as kind and considerate to their aged parents as was Joseph and Millard Fillmore. Then THE EVENING OF LIFE. 181 we would see fewer lonely old ages and more happiness in the evening of life. Oh, think of it, friends, many of our parents are near the sunset of life. Many of them have visited us for the last time. Their days are growing few and soon they, too, will sleep in the village graveyard with our ancestors. The care and attention we bestow upon them will only make us better and nobler, and, when they are no more, the sense of having done our duty with them will come back as so many drops in our cup of joy, and, think of it ! What a happy day that will be when we shall meet them in that heavenly home. Let not the cares of this world engross you so much as to make you too busy to care for them at a time when fhey need your special care and attention the most. Consider nothing too good nor too ex- pensive for their comfort and conveni- ence. 182 THE CHURCH MEMBER. They will not be here in any more days, for behold ! the shadows are declining, the sun is fast sinking behind the western hills, and the night is setting in and soon we shall see them "no more for awhile." It is then we feel the force of the words of the poet i — k 'Farewell ! I did not know thy worth ; But thou art gone and now 'tis prized, So angels walk unknown on earth, But when they flew were recognized." CHAPTER XV. THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. America's favorite poet has beautifully said : "There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there ! There is no fireside, howso'er defended, But has one vacant chair!" There is no truth more frequently brought to our notice than, "man is mortal and in time must pass away." It is, al- ways, a sad time, when the tender ties of love and friendship are broken in this way, and when we see the remains of our loved ones laid to rest in the silent city where soon the grass will grow green in "heaped turfs." We all need the help and encourage- 184 THE CHURCH MEMBER. nient, the friendship and love of dear ones, and we are poorer for every friend we lose. Yes, we miss them sorely. When they are gone we feel an aching void, a loneliness which baffles descrip- tion. No wonder the tears — those silent tell- tales of deep sorrow — flow unbidden. Under such circumstances our sorrows are too great to be expressed by words, and then the only language is tears. During those sad visitations of Provi- dence there is nothing like the comfort- ing assurance, revealed to us in God's word, of the blessed hope in store for the saints of light, when this weary life shall cease. Another one of our loved ones gone be- fore us, and now we, perhaps, for the first time look beyond the things of time and have an interest in the heavenly home — for we are always interested in a place where we have friends. THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. 185- We now want the minister of the Gos- pel, if at no other time, to be in our home to pray for us, and to speak words of comfort as we sit under the shadow of the cloud. Naturally, after the first shock, result- ing from the loss of a dear one, has passed away, we must needs make arrangements to lay the body to rest. And now let me proffer a word of advice. See that every- thing is done "with decency and in order." Avoid empty show or vain displays of all kinds as much as can be done. That you desire your pastor's service, at the funeral of a member of the family, is a foregone conclusion. Therefore, remember that, though he is always willing to do all within the limits of justice, common sense, and physical possibility to give you all the comfort to be had, yet he has also a multitude of other grave duties claim- ing his attention, and, therefore, must needs plan ahead. 186 THE CHURCH MEMBER. Frequently he has other engagements which cannot be postponed without the greatest inconvenience and at times heavy loss. He is not only your pastor but has also pledged his service to the other members of the household of faith as well as to the needy outside of the fold of Israel. Then the wisest, the best, and the safest plan — as many of the more thoughtful members do — is to be con- siderate and respect your minister's rights. Go and consult with him as to the time, all things being favorable, it would be the most suitable to have the last sacred rites. You can name the time when you think it the best for all con- cerned, and, I assure you, he will do all that is reasonable to conform with your plans. But, if possible, avoid holding the funeral on the quiet Sabbath day— let it be as it siguifies a holy day of rest. On that day yo ir pastor, if he has more than THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. 187 one congregation, as most pastors of our church have, has all he can well do, or 4&lse he may be obliged to disappoint a congregation of worshippers who have a right to his service at that -time, or he must postpone either the Holy Commu- nion or some special service for which all preparations have been made $pmQ weeks ahead, or not be able to officiate at your loved one's funeral which has been my sad experience on several occasions when some good, faithful, aged member whom I loved and cherished must be laid to rest without my services, because he had to be buried on Sunday for no other reason than that the family desired a Sunday funeral for which there was no necessity what- ever. One special instance which I now have in mind was that of a young woman who had to be buried on Sunday, because some of her nearest kin could not spare the time to attend the day previous. 188 THE CHURCH MEMBER. True, it is, there are some instances, and they have come to our notice, when a Sunday funeral becomes a necessity — as when a young man in the full bloom of health lost his life by a railroad train on Saturday eve, and we must bury him so soon as the necessary arrangments can possibly be made— under such circum- stances, which are special, a Lord's Day funeral is justifiable. Our Synods, Classes, Consistories, in fact all ecclesiastical bodies, with a few exceptions, urge the sancity of the Sab- bath day to be observed as much as pos- sible and thus they advise the minister to do all they can to avoid Sunday funerals which make extra labor a necessity, and which also interfere more or less with the sacredness of the day. If all the ministers of all denominations would co-operate and educate their peo- ple against Sunday funerals they could THE CHRISTIAN" FUNERAL. 189 be done away with entirely except in cases of absolute necessity. But we are sorry of the fact that some ministers are always catering to the populace, and thus, are ever ready to do their bidding. Instead of educating public sentiment to have a sacred regard for the Holy day they cater to their whims and fancies. They sacrifice principle for policy's sake. They wish to be popular. Desiring the good pleasure of men more than to do the will of God. These words grate harshly on our ears but they are cold facts, which no one will dispute, and not the theories of a day dreamer. But, I am glad to say, the most un- pleasant experiences in regard to funerals, for most ministers, are with those people who are outside of the Church — those who have nothing for the Church and nothing for the minister unless death invades the family circle — these think, they then have 190 THE CHURCH MEMBER. an exclusive right to the minister's service and he must leave all else and come do their bidding. They send for the under- taker and pass by the minister's house. They make all arrangements for the fun- eral, and, in a day or so later, send word to the minister that they want him to of- ficiate at the funeral on Sunday morning. They are very thoughtful and ofttimes send a text which is anything but appro- priate, they manage to borrow a neighbor's hymn book so they can hand the minister the hymns — one of which invariably is : "Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep," no matter what kind of a life the dead lived he now "steeps in Jesus" — and, if the min- ister finds it impracticable or impossible to comply with their requests, he usually incurs their enmity which is, as a rule, the most bitter and he is branded and anathe- matized forever. In short, they want the minister to preach comfort when there is THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. 191 no comfort ; they want hiin to give hope where there is no hope. Yea, they ask him to do the impossible. They always manage to have some one tell him of the great virtues of the dead — of his kindness in the home, etc., etc., no matter what his life was like; now, since he is dead, we must remember only the good deeds and give him a passport to the heavenly home. And, when all done, they never appreciate the minister's ser- vice. If all were as they, then the Church of Christ could not exist and they and their dead would be buried as they lived — without Christian obsequies, But we are writing to those who are members of the church and they are usu- ally — though not always — thoughtful. The arrangements are now being made for the funeral, and let them be made in "decency and order" with reason and common sense prevailing. Prepare to 192 THE CHURCH MEMBER. lay your dead to rest respectably but not extravagantly, nor beyond your means. I know of a certain family where the mother passed away, and they said : "It is the last we can do for her, we will give her a grand burial." They ordered a very expensive casket and buried her in the grandest, yea most extravagant style, but the undertaker is not paid to this day, and that is only half the story. Eemember, friends, it is always more honorable to have an inexpensive — a sim- ple, modest — funeral and feel that all bills are paid, than to have an elaborate — showy — affair with the bills never paid. You show more respect for the dead by honesty than by pomp. You will feel more respectable when you meet the un- dertaker, and you will be more at peace with your own conscience when you come to need burial. Again, I would say : Be prompt on the THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. 193 day and hour appointed for the last sacred rites. Set your time for the services at the house and begin when that hour ar- rives. All the friends can be there in time if they only think so. There is a wide margin for improvement along this line. Sometimes one man, and usually one who lives nearest, keeps the whole assemblage waiting (and their position is always a very tiresome one) because he would like to attend to something more before the funeral, and he knows they will wait for him because he is one of the friends. I knew of a man who, at the funeral of his brother, kept them waiting for more than one hour and a half while he was pottering about his premises. If a man's time and mind are so much taken up with worldly cares, it matters not much whether or no he will be pres- ent at his brother's funeral. He is too much for self and too full of world. 194 TRE CHURCH MEMBER. Should you pay the minister for his services during the funeral of a member of the family ? We feel loath in express- ing our opinion on that question, but we say : That in some sections of the church no one would think of asking a minister's service for a funeral without expecting to give him something lor it, no more than he would ask him to perform a marriage ceremony gratis. They look upon it as involving extra effort and time on the part of the minister who, of all profes- sional men, is the most underpaid, consid- ering the time and effort and expense involved in preparing himself for his call- ing, and thus these people are educated to give something for his services, in that way showing their appreciation. In other sections many of them are in- clined to think that it is his duty to bury the dead, and this seems to be the pre- vailing opinion among outsiders. THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL. 195 Others, again, think that the "outsiders " who never contribute a single farthing toward the support of the Gospel, should giye something for the minister's service, which requires extra time and effort. We reserve our opinion. Let each one ask : Is it j ust ? Is it right ? Is it Christ- ian ? and then do as you think best, or "as yon would be done by." "Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears. Where lights and shades alternate dwell ; How bright th' unchanging morn appears Farewell, inconstant world, farewell !" Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Nov. 2005 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724) 779-21 1 1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 017 052 033 6