'i^pP ipg! SHALL' KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE
--- . .
'AY, MAY 5,1927.
'4
THE PUCE OF THE PASTOR IN THE
WORE OF THE CHURCH
(A paper read at the Twelfth Annual Presbyterian Workers’ Con
ference, held at Johnson C. Smith University.
By Rev. A. H. George
The primal duty of the church
is to seek to establish the King
dom of God in the hearts of
men and women; to reconstruct
society and religion into forms
expressive of the will of Christ.
Its mission is to touch every
need of the human race. The
pastor is an integral and an in
separable part of this institu
tion. No church, regardless of
its equipment or the personnel
of its membership, can function
well for any length of time or
attain a high degree of efficien
cy without a pastor. He should
be the moving spirit of the
church. His life should be in
terwoven into the very fabric
and fibre of the life of the church
with golden and scarlet threads
of usefulness. His life should
be tangent to every organization
in the church, not as a dabbler
or a disturber of the peace, but
as one ready to work in a co-op
erative way with any project
that an organization may put
forth for the good of the church.
He should be in position to give
constructive advice freely when
asked for. ' To define precisely
his place in the activities of the
church is a difficult task. His
place is here, yonder and every
where. His work is doing this
and that not now and then, but
continuously.
He is first of all a shepherd
of the flock. As such his place
is to lead his flock in the green
pastures of life and besides the
still waters. He must place his
• JoodiJ«h^4w^J9«5k caa-^eack
it. His commission is to feed my
lambs, not my giraffes. As the
shepherd knows every sheep in
his flock by name, so should the
pastor know every member of
his church by name. Not only
should he know them by name
but he should know something
about their home life; he should
know something about their in
terests and aspirations; about
their economic life. As the
shepherd of old living among
his flock, was absorbed in their
interest and welfare, felt for
them more than He felt for him
self, so should the pastor live
among his human flock. It is
indeed an unfortunate situation
where the minister lives where
he preaches not, and preaches
where he lives not. He may see
the throng of men more clearly
than those who live among them.
He cannot possibly so much feel
for them. He cannot possibly
lead them to the higher planes
of living and remain detached
from tnfem, descending upon
them at periodic intervals de
livering his message and then
departing. His message will be
lacking in the elements of love
and sympathy:—two elements
that are essential in welding to
gether the pastor and church.
The flock should be his first love
and. first work.
Let me suggest another place
of the pastor in the activities of
the church. He should be a
teacher. This division may not
entirely exclude the previous
one. I prefer to treat it sepa
rately. A soldier is reputed to
have said to a chaplain in the re
cent World War, “The duty of
the pastor is to teach his people
about God and His manifold rev
elations about Himself. He is to
teach not as an hireling, working
only for his salary, but as one
who has received his commission
from above. He is not so much
to say what this theologian or
that sociologist said, but ‘thus
saith the Lord,’ must always be
his authority. As a teacher, his
task is great.”
Many of our people have con
fused and jumbled ideas con
cerning what Christianity is.
Many of them have unethical
conceptions of life and conduct.
Some of their conceptions of
life are warped and crooked so
as to make a .trap for the unsus
pecting and innocent. / Many
perish for the lack of knowl
edge, for, the lack, of, the right
conception of life and conduct.
The pastor, the head of the
church, must bear the blame for
leaving them ip; ignorance. His
task is to teach them the right
conception of life and conduct,
their relation to God, their Fath
er, and to their fellowmenr to
teach them to ‘direct their
lives into practical Christian
channels. As.. ‘ Jesus tried; to
train His disciples from the first
day He met them how to connect
every situation in which they
found themselves . with God,
their living Father, so should the
pastor teach his, people how to
connect the. principles of Christ
with every situation in which
they may find themselves.
The paster should instruct
the people as to the general pro
gram of th£ church, so that
when the cj^fins of the Boards
and agencies are put before them
they will be in position to con
tribute intelligently and liberal
ly, for they; will know what they
are doing. - The place of the
pastor is to develop a well-in
formed group, thoroughly famil
iar with the multiplied programs
of the general Church., It is a
compliment to the minister
whose congregation possesses
this information.
I would suggest another place
of the pastor in the activities of
the church: that is. he should
sHouKf strive fofBraag'aSwrFa'
harmonious relationship between
youth and age. In a very real
sense it is the minister’s atti
tude toward the youth of his
church that determines in a
large measure their character in
the community. They are the
index of the church’s status in
the development of the moral,
spiritual and intellectual life. I
am aware of the apparent antag
onism between youth and age
due chiefly to a lack of sympa
thetic understanding of each
other. The result nevertheless
has been a stifling of youthful
aspirations, and a paralysis of
their efforts to render. effective
service in the church. They are
a component part of the church,
and the task of the minister is
to so corral the young and the
the old that age will approve of
youth and youth of age; to unite
these two potential forces in the
church, that bright youth and
snow-crowned age, strong men
and maidens meek, will join
hands and work harmoniously
for the general well-being of the
church.
There is a new era dawning
among the Negro youth all over
the land. Some of them are
thinking more solidly. Their in
telligence has been developed to
the point where they want to
examine religion to see if there
is any pragmatic values in it.
They say that there has been
enough confusion, mystery, su
perstition and sham. They are
clamoring to see the utility in
the creeds we proclaim. The task
of the minister to meet this
attitude with the principles of
the living Christ whose teach
ings are supremely adequate for
all of the problems that may
arise in the life of young or old.
The minister should be able to
let flaming youth know that they
do not know it all.
From ancient China comes a
significant proverb: ‘‘One Hun
dred Tellings Are Not So Good
As One Seeing.”
In the ancient Persian we find
the same famed proverb: “When
Will Hearing Be Seeing V
We have it in the English:
“Seeing is Believing.”
And in the Americanese:
“I’m from Missouri—Show
Me!” -
Dear friends and
sermon
W.,
his;
gation irom realm 90:2.)
I present this subject to
today, not because you have
had a chance to know God,
because I meet so many who
word and action deny the ea
ence of God. I therefore dc
to speak to you for a few ml
utes in a practical way.
I. There is a God.
1. The herbs of the valk
the cedars of the mount
bless him; the insect sports
his beams; the birds sing hi
in the foliage; the thunder pi
claims Him in the heavens;
ocean declares His immensity
man alone has said, There is
God.
2. The Object ot Nature.
Unite in thought at the sam
instant the most beautiful ot
jects in nature. Suppose tha
you see at once all the hours o
the day, and all the seasons o j
the year;, a morning of sprin;
and a morning of autumn;
night bespangled with stars;
and a night darkened wit
clouds; meadows enameled
flowers; forests heavy
snow; fields gilded by the ti:
of autumn; then alone will yo
reach a just conception of th
universe.
II. Let us Look at the Sun.
1. While you are gazing oi
that sun which is plunging int
the vault of the West, anothe
observer admires him emerging
from the gilded gates of th^
East. 1
2. By what inconcei
power does that aged star, w
4s drinking' fatigued and
ing, in the shades of the evening,
reappear at the same instant
fresh and humid with the rosy
dew of the morning.
III. Look for God at Night.
1. Go out beneath the arched
heavens at night, and say, if you
can, “There is no God.” Pro
nounce that dreadful blasphemy,
and each star above will re
proach the unbroken darkness
of your intellect; every voice
that floats upon the night winds
will bewail your utter hopeless
ness and folly.
IV. Is There No Lod:
1. Who then, unrolled the
blue scroll, and threw upon its
high frontispiece the legible
gleamings of immortality? Who
fashioned this green earth, with
its perpetual rolling waters, and
its wide expanse of islands and
of main? Who settled the foun
dations of the mountains? Who
paved the heavens with clouds,
and attuned amid the clamor of
storms, the voice of thunders,
and unchained the lightnings
that flash in their gleam?
2. Who made the light pleas
ant to thee, and the darkness a
covering, and a herald to the
first gorgeous flashes of the
morning?
V. There is a God.
1. All nature declares it in
a language too plain to be mis
apprehended. The great truth
is too legibly written over the
face of the whole creation to be
easily mistaken. Thou canst
behold it in the tender blade just
starting from the earth in the
early spring, or in the sturdy oak
that hath withstood the blasts
of fourscore winters.
The purling rivulet, meander
ing through downy meads
and verdant glens, and Niagara’s
tremendous torrent, leaping
over its awful chasm, and rolling
in majesty its broad sheet of
waters onward to the ocean,
unite in proclaiming “There is
a God.”
Lastly, there is seen or heard
in everything that there is a
God. This is heard in the whis
pering breeze and in the howl
ing storms; in the deep-toned
thunder, and in the earthquake
shocH,; it is declared to us when
the tempest lowers; when the
hurricane sweeps over the land;
when the winds moan around
our dwellings, and die in sullen
murmurs on the plain; when the
heavens, overcast with dark
ness, ever and anon, are illumi
nated by the lightning's glare.
These all unite in one general
proclamation of the eternal
truth, there is a Being, infinite
in wisdom, who reigns over all,
undivided and supreme—the
fountain of all life, the source of
all light—from whom all Mess*
ings flow, and in whom all hap
piness centers.
, “There is a God in science, a
God in history, and a God in
conscience, and these three are
one."
; Only "the fool ha^h said in
his heart there is no God.”
HODGE PRESBYTERY
By Rev. Thomas B. Hargrave
The Hodge Presbytery con
vened in Augusta, Gav April 13,
and lasted through the 15th.
Every minister in the Presbyte
ry was present and a large num
ber of elders.
The meeting opened in
Haines Auditorium with a large
and appreciative audience, in
cluding the Haines students and
faculty.
Rev. T. L. Kennedy, of Con
yers, Ga., the retiring Modera
tor, preached a flowery and in
spiring sermon from Isaiah 48:
18. The Presbytery was then
called to order and Rev. W. D.
Wood, Sunday School Mission
ary, was elected Moderator, and
Rev. T. B. Hargrave, clerk pro
tem.
Dr. Locket, o? Augusta, made
a fervent welcome address in
behalf of the citizens of Augus
ta and presented the Presbyte
ry a key to the city. Mrs. John
son, the charming wife of Dr.
SLiLjahnson, gave the welcome
address on behalf of the ladies.
Mrs. John L. Phelps, of Boggs
Academy and Dr. W. H. Bry
ant, an elder of Westminster at
Waynesboro, made the response.
The following visitors were
made corresponding members:
Dr. G. W. Long, of Cheraw, S.
C.; Rev. D. T. Murray, of Colum
bia, S. C.; and Dr. Provine, of
Tennessee, all of whom made
timely remarks.
The Haines choir rendered
beautiful music and every one
took great interest in the open
ing meeting.
Thursday Morning.
At 8:45 the members of the
Presbytery assembled in Haines
chapel for devotions. Many of
the brethren made timely re
marks to the student body.
The Presbytery opened for bus
iness at 9:15 with prayer. The
docket was revised so as to al
low Drs. Provine and Long to
speak as they were anxious to
visit other fields. Dr. Provine
spoke at length on the pension
plan. We feel that this plan is
very constructive and it met the
approval of the entire body.
Dr. G. W. Long, in his usual
calm and clever way, put his
plan of benevolence before the
Presbytery. Never before in
the history of the Church has
our constituency shown as much
interest. Rev. A. A. Wilson, of
Decatur, showed what the Pres
bytery had done during the
year and also told what we were
planning to do in the future.
Our Presbytery may be the
“baby” Presbytery, but even ba
bies can be heard. Dr. Long is
full of information on all phas
es of church work and knows
how to impart it. The quota of
each church for the ensuing
year was adopted and each min
ister pledged himself to put his
program over.
2:00 P.M.
The afternoon session opened
with prayer by the Stated
Clerk. Committees were ap
pointed and records examined.
Rev. A. A. Wilson and Rev.
F. Gregg were appointed as a
committee on resolutions.
Rev. Franklin Gregg made an
inspiring stress on National
Missions, x
Rev^TJ^ Kennedy also made
of Augus
ta, pathetic letter from
Elder A, B. Fortune, of Rome,
who is ill. Elder Fortune has
always shown his love and inter
est in the work.
Rev. S. D. Thom, D. D., made
the report on Bills and Over
tures.
Rev. Dr. Harris asked the,
Presbytery to contribute to
Haines Institute as an apprecia
tion of the work done and the
great assistance the school has
rendered ha helping the Presby
tery. Each minister gave $1
and the total was given to our
dear Miss Laney.
After the session we were
greeted by the members of
Christ church who took the
Presbytery over the beautiful,
historic city, and also across the
Savannah River into South Car
olina. Much credit is due Mrs.
S. S. Johnson and Dr. Locket
and their friends. Those high
powered sedans were palaces on
wheels.
»:uu r. m.
We assembled in Haines
chapel for the night services.
Dr. S. D. Thom, Synodical Evan
gelist, was at his best. He
spoke from Ephesians on the
subject, “The Unsearchable
Riches of Christ.” The sermon
was full of power.
Friday, 9:15 A. M.
We entered Christ church and
after prayer we heard an excel
lent report by Dr. Harris on
Christian Education and Rev.
Hargrave made a report on For
eign Missions.
A committee, composed of
Rev. Gregg, Rev. A. A. Wilson,
and Rev. Griggs, was appointed
to meet Rev. Johnson who has
)xm supp&fn* th® pstoft*!
Rome. It was recommended
and passed that Rev. Johnson
continue to labor within the
bounds of the Presbytery.
Mr. Howard Givvins, of Boggs
Academy, was taken in as a
candidate for the gospel minis
try.
Dr. Harris made a report on
Vacancies and Supplies and ex
pressed a desire that all our va
cant churches be supplied.
The following named breth
ren were elected as commission
ers to the General Assembly:
Rev. A. A. Wilson, principal;
Rev. A. C. Grigg, alternate; El
der S. S. Johnson, M. D., prin
cipal, and alternate, J. M. Rowe,
of Newnan.
Mr. Taylor, of Haines Insti
tute, was presented to the
Presbytery by Dr. Johnson. He
was appointed to supply Madi
son and Greensboro fields. Rev.
Campbell was also appointed
Stated Supply of Union Point.
After Rev. Gregg made his re
port on Ministerial Relief and
Sustentation Rev. Harris asked
that all candidates for the min
istry be retained. Rev. Wood
then made a full report of Sun
day School Mission Work and
urged the ministers to place
more efforts on the Daily Vaca
tion Bible Schools.
We go to Waynesboro, Ga.,
for our next meeting.
Rev. J. L. Phelps had a large,
delegation from his field. Elders
Davis, Wigfall and Jenkins
made timely remarks.
8:00 P. M.
The ladies took charge of the
night. Mrs. L. A. Gregg pre
sided as the President. Mrs. J.
R. Harris was confined to bgr
bed was very ill. We all en
joyed the great reports which
were rendered and are proud of
our ladies.
Mrs. Gregg, Mrs. S. S. John
son and Mrs. Tutt all made won
derful addresses/ Miss Amada
Harris, of Washington, and
many others sang like angels.
We can always depend upon the
ladies to go far over the top.
Rev. W. D. Wood, out* young
and energetic Moderator, was at
his best on Sunday. We are sor
ry that his bride was not there
to hear his powerful message,
but her inspiration was with
him, I am sure.
DEATH OF MR. WESLEY
Mr. Wesley Williams,; a highly
respected citizen of Charles,
S. C., passed to the great; Beyond
April 16th after an illness of
about five months,- '' .
At the adyice of hisphysician
the deceased,was carriedto the
hospital in Florence, C.,
where strenuous efforts." hi> re
gain his lost,Mth; were inade,
but to no.avfuL * ,.
There have been few, if. any
other men who h&ve exercised
more energy ^d 'i deyptioh in
church work 'Utah Jhg, 1% de
ceased. ‘
Mr, Williams, .though' deprived
of educatipnfti advantages, Fas
intelligent and stood jfpr educa
tion. He accumulated , jpuch
property and was regarded as a
model in , his community. His
exceptionally pleasant person
ality woh for him an unusually
large' circfe * of friends. * -
Mr. Williams- #as kxbeptional
ly broad-heartetf,/ ih : treat* he
would never .^ay lip' ttrahyone
who would seek' his di# to time
of trouble, and it seein&l/. to be
real pleasure ftc^ Mm 'to Minister
to the comforts * of al£ who
needed his help. It can be truly
said of Mr. Williams that “'He
lived in a house by the side of
the road and was a friend to
man.” " ” f
The funeral service > was con
ducted at Mt. Sinai Presbyteri
an church, Monday, April the
11th, at 12 o’clock, in the pres
ence of a host.pf sorrowing rel
atives and friends.
The pastor, Rev. I. D. t)avis,
officiated, assisted by Rev. I. P.
Pogue, of Mayesville, Rev. M. J.
Jackson, of Dalzell, Rev. M* M.
Martin, of Sumter1, Rev. X C.
James, of St. Charles. “Asleep
.in Jesus” was sung by the con
gregation. Prayer was then, of-__.
fered and sljort eulogistic ad
dresses were made as follows:
“The Life of Mr. Williams as an
Elder,” by Mr. Milton Mont
gomery; “As a Supday School
Superintendent,” by Mr. Laddie
Charles; “As a Citizen,” by
Judge Wells, (white); “As a
Mason,” by Prof. C. Al Lawson,
President of Lincoln Graded
School, Sumter. Remarks which
were striking evidence of ’ the
useful life of the deceased were
made by several others; Each
spoke in the highest terms of
the Christian life the deceased
had lived.' r>!i ’ •/li;'* * ‘
A solo, ‘ Life s Railway, was
sung by Mrs. Sarah Charles:
Dr. Davis, spoke, from He
brews 4th chapter and 9th
verse, “There remaineth there
fore a test to the, people of
God.” 1? ;
“Face to Face”, was then sung
by Misses Nannie Dayjs,;‘ Lila
Campbell, Mrs. NL Ji1'Jackson
and Pink"iScriven.
Mr. Williams waaJii^ie^'yrith
Masonic and Joint §t<#k ^Opors,
having, beep a laitp^iir^inepiber
of. these two orders for ] several
years. '*.» ’••'* 1
He was interred'in ML Sinai
cemetery and .leaves. Ip. njourn
their loss % Roving wife, two
brothers,,_an.. adopted son, a
daughter, a grand-daughter, and
a host of relatives and -friends.
“The ships*1 Sail -overthe bafbor
'■ bar;;;,/:? }'i >.lr ;
Away and away to seat* ■ u
The ships sail* id* with fheleve
: ning star - - d %.il
To the port where-ho- tempest: be;
The-harvest waves on, the sum
:/-• mer hills,
And-the bands go forth-to reap;
And all is right, as oar Father
wills,i‘i
Whether we wake, or,.sleep ” .
A FRIEND.
Dalzell, S. C. .. . >
Tommy's Sisters . j “Tommy,
what|is a synonym?” » ..
Tommy: “A synonym .if a
word you use when ypn can’t
spell the other one.”
Wallie: “Papa, why do you
call our language thdr rfiother
tongue’?” ':'K
Father:" “Wfell, just see'who
uses it most.” « *• ivr: