REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE WORK OF THE CHURCHES.1 T. CLAYTON WELLES, TAUnton. "The Spiritual Life of the Churches.” Your committee on the work of the churches, with unanimous agreement, turned this year to the subject of "The Spiritual Life." For some years past, questions of organization and method and adaptation have engaged the attention of the committee and furnished the chief items of report. These are recognized as matters of very great interest and importance, but there must also be spiritual power if we are to have blessed results. The latest improvements in cylinders and valves and driving rods are by all means to be utilized, and yet the vital steam pressing upon the piston, of whatever form or patent, is indispensable for effective work. In the apostolic church they had very meagre organization, but they were endued with power from on high and wrought marvellously. If there could be in our churches a more general possession of all the members by the Holy Spirit, we cannot doubt that the Lord would add to them "day by day those that were being saved." Our inquiries this year, therefore, have been along the line of the manifestation and development of spiritual energy in the churches, concerning the weekly prayer-meeting, the Sunday school, the Young People's Society, and other special means, as promoting spiritual efficiency and results, about actual church membership on the part of all believers and the general spiritual condition. By this means we have hoped to be able to make our report concerning this truly essential matter to the General Association, and incidentally through this body to impress upon the thought and action of the churches throughout the Commonwealth the need of a more intense loyalty to Jesus Christ in the personal life, and a more devoted service in the selfsacrificing endeavor to win and encourage others to the same loyalty. The first question on the circular sent to every church was: I. What is the apparent spiritual condition of your church?" In the responses it has been impossible to arrange any scientific tabulation. Different reporters would speak of the same condition variously, according to the various ideals accepted by each. What one would consider quite satisfactory, another would bemoan as distressingly poor. One pastor who consulted some of his members on this point writes, "as usual," "fair," "rather low." "Low," "very low," are answers given by some of our active workers to this question. 1 Page 12. But in general, fifteen dare to say that the spiritual condition of their churches is "excellent," "very good," and eleven are candid enough to confess that it is "very low." Forty-five report an "improved" or "hopeful" condition, and forty-two describe it as "poor" and "lukewarm." Seventy-five express their estimate in the very indefinite but favorite adjective "good," and sixty-seven use the still less positive terms "fair," "medium," "normal." It would appear, then, accepting the reporting churches as fairly indicating the condition of affairs in all the State,-though really there might be reason in holding that the churches duly and promptly sending in returns are on an appreciably higher spiritual plane than those failing in this duty also, but taking a charitable view, it would appear from the estimate concerning themselves of those on the watch-towers of Zion, that fully one half of the Congregational churches of Massachusetts are in an unsatisfactory spiritual condition. The work drags and suffers and progress fails, not from lack of numbers nor of well-adapted organization, but from lack of interest and devotion, from the low ebbing of the spiritual life. Strength seems to be wanting in this body ecclesiastic not from any organic disease, but from a low state of vitality. Many of our churches are not holding their own in this stronghold of our faith, in numbers or in influence, because there is so little heartiness in directly Christian and churchly service. The fire of devotion to Christ burns low in many places because there is so much sacrifice offered at the altars of worldly profits, positions, and pleasures. Lukewarm water will never generate steam to set in motion the most properly constructed wheels, and lukewarm Christians, neither cold nor hot, do not make aggressive and victorious churches. But I will let a few of the responses speak for themselves: "Our power is latent, as a whole. We lack in enterprise and aggressiveness." "While a few are alive and active, the majority seem to be easy going." "Some interest in the congregation, the church not really awake." "Resting on our oars." "Almost as numb as the average." "As a whole, great indifference to the work to which we are called in Christ's name." "Outside the Christian Endeavor Society a low spiritual condition." "No spirituality except in two or three members." But it is not all in this strain. Others say concerning the spiritual condition: "Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." "They talk precious little in prayer-meeting, but the church has done more practical work during the past year than for many years." Practical righteousness generally apparent, devoutness not so evident." "Better than it has been for years." "There is greater desire to see souls saved, more prayer and more effort." "Greatly revived during 1896. The work is being prosecuted vigorously." "Excellent; conversions constantly." The last which I shall quote under this head takes hope from the subject suggested by the committee, and answers, "The tide is rising. Statistics have been more emphasized than spirituality in previous years." REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE WORK OF THE CHURCHES.1 T. CLAYTON WELLES, TAUnton. "The Spiritual Life of the Churches." Your committee on the work of the churches, with unanimous agreement, turned this year to the subject of "The Spiritual Life." For some years past, questions of organization and method and adaptation have engaged the attention of the committee and furnished the chief items of report. These are recognized as matters of very great interest and importance, but there must also be spiritual power if we are to have blessed results. The latest improvements in cylinders and valves and driving rods are by all means to be utilized, and yet the vital steam pressing upon the piston, of whatever form or patent, is indispensable for effective work. In the apostolic church they had very meagre organization, but they were endued with power from on high and wrought marvellously. If there could be in our churches a more general possession of all the members by the Holy Spirit, we cannot doubt that the Lord would add to them "day by day those that were being saved." Our inquiries this year, therefore, have been along the line of the manifestation and development of spiritual energy in the churches, concerning the weekly prayer-meeting, the Sunday school, the Young People's Society, and other special means, as promoting spiritual efficiency and results, about actual church membership on the part of all believers and the general spiritual condition. By this means we have hoped to be able to make our report concerning this truly essential matter to the General Association, and incidentally through this body to impress upon the thought and action of the churches throughout the Commonwealth the need of a more intense loyalty to Jesus Christ in the personal life, and a more devoted service in the selfsacrificing endeavor to win and encourage others to the same loyalty. The first question on the circular sent to every church was: "What is the apparent spiritual condition of your church?" I. In the responses it has been impossible to arrange any scientific tabulation. Different reporters would speak of the same condition variously, according to the various ideals accepted by each. What one would consider quite satisfactory, another would bemoan as distressingly poor. One pastor who consulted some of his members on this point writes, "as usual," "fair," "rather low." "Low," "very low," are answers given by some of our active workers to this question. 1 Page 12. But in general, fifteen dare to say that the spiritual condition of their churches is "excellent,” “very good," and eleven are candid enough to confess that it is "very low." Forty-five report an "improved" or "hopeful" condition, and forty-two describe it as "poor" and "lukewarm." Seventy-five express their estimate in the very indefinite but favorite adjective "good," and sixty-seven use the still less positive terms "fair," "medium," normal." 39 66 It would appear, then, accepting the reporting churches as fairly indicating the condition of affairs in all the State,-though really there might be reason in holding that the churches duly and promptly sending in returns are on an appreciably higher spiritual plane than those failing in this duty also, but taking a charitable view, it would appear from the estimate concerning themselves of those on the watch-towers of Zion, that fully one half of the Congregational churches of Massachusetts are in an unsatisfactory spiritual condition. The work drags and suffers and progress fails, not from lack of numbers nor of well-adapted organization, but from lack of interest and devotion, from the low ebbing of the spiritual life. Strength seems to be wanting in this body ecclesiastic not from any organic disease, but from a low state of vitality. Many of our churches are not holding their own in this stronghold of our faith, in numbers or in influence, because there is so little heartiness in directly Christian and churchly service. The fire of devotion to Christ burns low in many places because there is so much sacrifice offered at the altars of worldly profits, positions, and pleasures. Lukewarm water will never generate steam to set in motion the most properly constructed wheels, and lukewarm Christians, neither cold nor hot, do not make aggressive and victorious churches. siveness." But I will let a few of the responses speak for themselves: "Our power is latent, as a whole. We lack in enterprise and aggresWhile a few are alive and active, the majority seem to be easy going." "Some interest in the congregation, the church not really awake." 66 Resting on our oars." "Almost as numb as the average." "As a whole, great indifference to the work to which we are called in Christ's name.' "Outside the Christian Endeavor Society a low spiritual condition." "No spirituality except in two or three members." But it is not all in this strain. Others say concerning the spiritual condition: "Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." "They talk precious little in prayer-meeting, but the church has done more practical work during the past year than for many years." Practical righteousness generally apparent, devoutness not so evident." "Better than it has been for years." "There is greater desire to see souls saved, more prayer and more effort." "Greatly revived during 1896. The work is being prosecuted vigorously.” "Excellent; conversions constantly." The last which I shall quote under this head takes hope from the subject suggested by the committee, and answers, "The tide is rising. Statistics have been more emphasized than spirituality in previous years." |