A Multiplication Table for the Church

In many of our largest and most prosperous Churches, there must of necessity be a considerable number of members on whom there rest but few active duties, and to whom are entrusted few responsibilities. They thus come to feel that they are not needed. The labors of the Sabbath-school, the prayer-meeting, and the trustee room are performed by a certain number of individuals — generally the elder members of the Church or congregation. A large portion of the resources of such Churches is thus entirely undeveloped. Their “capital” for doing good is, to a great degree, unemployed. But let a new Church be set on foot, and a field for the exertion of these dormant energies, and the employment of them is secured at once. Those who were once thrown in the background now come forward. Those who were once inactive now have a work to do. He who has a tact for business arrangements is needed in the new Board of Trustees, and finds there a place. He who saw but little need of his assistance in the old Sabbath-school well stocked with teachers, hastens to volunteer for the new one with its multiplied calls for labor. He who was seldom called on even to pray in public, may, under the new circumstances in which he is placed, most profitably conduct the devotions of his fellow-worshippers n the social circle. In view of all this, is there no call for a more general colonization in the large and floiirisliing Presbyterian Cliurclies? Might not our undeveloped resources be brought out in such a way as to double our effective power for good in nearly all the principal towns, and cities? Might not many a Church-roll soon be multiplied by two?

2. In every large congregation there is a considerable number of individuals who are not Church -members, but who are active and indefatigable men of business, doing their hands find to do,” with all their might. Unless these men happen to belong to the Board of Trustees they can do but little toward advancing the Church in any particular. They occupy their seats on the Sabbath, they pay their pew-rents, and there their interest in the affairs of the Church commonly terminates. But enlist these men in a new Church-enterprise, and their whole position is changed. They have a work to do — a work which brings not merely a benefit to the enterprise itself, but is productive of rich spiritual blessings to the men themselves. One employs himself in raising money for a new building, and the very labor (in the best sense of the phrase) “does him good.” It teaches him liberality, and teaches others — sometimes old Church-members — a lesson also. It teaches him self-denial, and the value of gold and silver when they are employed in the service of the Saviour. A second is appointed upon a committee to secure a pastor, and he listens to preaching as he never listened before. A third does “yeoman’s service,” in rearing a Churchedifice. Now is it not more than probable that all these individuals, while thus laboring for the externals of Zion, will place themselves in a favorable attitude for receiving spiritual blessings from Him whose cause they are promoting? “Them that honor me, I will honor.”

3. A third argument in favor of a more general colonization in our leading Churches is found in the fact that every newly organized body will, of necessity, enlist some who never could be reached by churches already established, however faithful or eloquent their pastors. Past unhappy difficulties may have alienated some, who would enter a new Church, although an inveterate prejudice would forever exclude them from their former place of worship. Above all, the necessity for auditors — a necessity which was not felt in a well-filled sanctuary — stimulates to exertion in gathering in the shepherdless from the highways and the hedges. New faces are thus seen in the Lord’s house which were often seen on the Sabbath in the tippling-house, the markets, on the wharves, or at the corners of the streets.

These are but a few of the arguments in favor of more general Church-colonization, bat they are enough, we trust, to incite to thought, and action. While so much is said, and wisely said, in regard to establishing Churches in frontier or destitute regions; there is a necessity (too much disregarded) for many a new enterprise, and many a missionary under the shadows of our oldest and most prosperous Churches. We may profitably repeat the battle-cry of the politicians on the eve of an election — ‘’’•organize! organize P^ The “children of this world” teach us many lessons which we are slow to heed, and which we neglect to our cost.