PULPIT AND PEW.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1908, Page 2

PULPIT AND PEW.

j -, se-.-A CONGREGATIONAL PROBLEM. In tho conrs-s of an address to the Congregational Union last eA'ening the Rev. Hird, president of the union, referred to tne burden upon both peopleand ministers by a too strict adherence to the tradition of a settled pastorate. "Thore is," he said, "vmrest in our pulpits, and peAA-B that may Avell be regarded aa indicative of a someAvhat grave disorder somewhere. There areoften ministers and churches Avho alike recognise that a change AA-fculd be mutually beneficial, and they seem poAverless to effect it. Churches are often long suffering in the patience of hope that a call may come, and Avith it the hour and opportunity of deliverance. (Laughter.) Thore Avere men, thank God, Avho will suffer a good deal before they Avill stoop to certain modern methods of self-advertisement. It may be part of the price- that Aye have to pay for our freedom, but.it may be open to question whether the price is not too big. Our present system is often too severe upon ministers and churches alike. Ihere aro times Avhen we realise that the congregational pulpit lays too heavy a 101 l upon tho rank and file. Perhaps avc nave to, acknoAvledgo that avo cannot retain thel priceless priA'ilege of our free congregational pulpits, and at the same time enjoy tho benofits by a more or kss connexional system rest- [ ing upon sonio credal basib. But it seems to me that there is a problem here ! to which, as a union of churches, Are ought to address ourselves." These statements Avere concluded ' amid strong marks of approval.