THE CHURCH IN SARDIS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 277, 16 August 1867, Page 3

THE CHURCH IN SARDIS.

(to tiie tditor of the dunst.vn times.) Sir,—Presuming that the columns of a public journal are quite as open to receive remarks bearing upon religious aa well as secular subjects I feel disposed to pen the following lines in a friendly spirit, with a hope that they may prove, to some extent-the means of imparting "life" to the religious " death now reigning in the districts of Clyde, Alexandra, and Cromwell. One of the Seven Churches in Asia (Sardis) was told that it had the name of being "living" and yet was "dead," and Buch an all-im-portant st.itemaiit was in every sense a discredit to it 3 mDmbaH, and should have produced a salutory effect, especially a3 it was made by the highest spiritual authority. Apathy in religious matters cannot for a 'moment be tolerated, if that apathy exists in persons professing to be members of the religious world; and on this point I would throw out a few hints to professing Christians in the Dunstan district. In secular matters the district has made rapid progress. In matters of religion it has every reason to be ashamed of the past as well as the present, Mr. Stratford, when Gold Receiver at Clyde, exerted himself in a mo3t praiseworthy manner to raise subscriptions for the erection of a Church of England. His efforts proved perfectly successful, and eventually Sabbath service was performed in it. A choir was formed and jinJiarmonium purchased, which greatly assisted in giving effect to the sacred ceremony, and matters seemed to progress favorable towards having a settled Minister for the Church; but; instead of -pressing the Bishop of the Diocese to appoint a clergyman for the district, Mr. Strat, ford contented himself with having himself appointed as lay-reader, and held office until he was removed to Cromwell, at which'place he fulfilled the similar duties, till he was finally removed to Switzer's. Mr. Stratford, in order to prove that vigorous spiritual life existed in him, should have not remained satisfied with having a Church building erected at Clyde, bnt should have left no stone unturned until at least one properly qualified minister was secured to serve alternately in tho three towns of the district. I will now pass from Mr. Stratford to Mr. Warden Robinson, who succeeded fri»n as reader for the Church at Clyde. No fault can be -found with Mr. Robinson's manner of conducting service, or of his reading sermons; but surely ia » district liko this, where the popular mind U&B no means impressible occasioned possibly o4£ |oldfislds' -habite, we require w»ijf-tte

most energetic preachers that can be found. It is an unquestionable fact that, however talented a minister may be, he cannot bring about sincere conversion without a higher aid, ; but such powerful preachers as Spurgeon, Dr. Candlish, of Edinburgh, Cook, of Belfast, and Canon M'NeiL of Liverpool, are far more calculated to produce religious sentiment in a hardened mind than delivery of written sermons by timid private individuals who scarcely vary, the tone of their voice from the reading of the text to the closing of the sermon. At Alexandra, some time ago, a very angry discussion took place at the election of a Church Cjmmittee as to whether such Committee should be styled the "Presbyterian Committee" or the " General Church Committee." Judging by the iuterest manifested as to who should be elected one could be under no other impression than that, if such Committee were to foster the cause of religion in the district, by entering into an arrangement with Clyde and Cromwell, to support a stipendary minister, much good would result. Cromwell exhibits an accurate representation of the Church in Sardis. A short time ago Mr. Stafford acted as a kind of make-shift parson . but now he is off to another district, and there is no one to read a sermon. Mr. Darling the Gold Receiver, reads the Church of England Service on the Sabbath day, but he entertains a strong antipathy to aping the pulpit orator, and in that respect he is much to be commended if he feels that in preaching he would bo only acting the part of a parrot. A few Sundays ago a gentleman advanced in years, finding that Mr. Darling was too diffident to preach, stepped up to the reading desk and at once gave out a text, from which he preached a tolerably good sermon. The Wesleyans. some three or four years ago, erected a chappel at Clyde, and public worship was carried on in it for a few months, when tha building was closed, and remained unoccupied until it was taken up for use as a school. The Roman Catholics of the district are quite as blamable for their want of energy in promoting religion as the Protestants. A fine commodious Church has been erected at Clyde and one at Alexandra, but Service is seldom performed in either. The Scotch Presbyterians must not remain unnoticed, and to show that religious energy is not too active with them I may mention that, a few months ago, certain son 3 of Auld Scotland bestirred themselves with astonishing energy to procure subscriptions towards securing the per. manent ministry of a Rev. gentleman then on a visit to the up-country districts. The subscription list appeared very promising, the ministe 1 was consequently engaged, and, as a matter o course, entered upon his Sacred duties. However, it is painful to state that, after a few weeks' labor in the good work, the state of the funds became too low to warrant a further prosecution of the mission, and the Presbyterians arc at present, like other denominations, without a pastor. The chief cause of the district being without a single minister is denominational bigotry. Those who. judging by their conversation, are bewailing the want of a minister will not unite together to support one and make common cause of the necessary stipend. One will state that ho is a Presbyterian, another that he is a member of the Church of England, and so on "ad infinitum, and through sectarian distineions will not worship under the same roof. It should not matter to any one in whose company he worships if that company is as earnest as himself in the one cause. There can be no dcubt as to the folly of worshipers of their God keeping aloof from each other in such an unsettled coountry as this, and eventually it will be proved to be the causo of the want of which I now complain. In support of this opinion I will quote aome lines from Dr. Young's poem on the "Last Day;" " Now man awakes, and from his silent bed, Where he hath slept for ages, lifts his head, Shakes off the slumber of ten thousand years, And on the borders of new worlds appears." . At such a time it will matter but little the denomination to which wo once belonged, as other affairs of more importance will demand our special attention. Let people endeavor to form as it were one congregation, and surely, by unity of purpose, a minister of religion can be maintained without pressing too heavily on any one. Situate as we are no one stands sufficiently forward to warrant any persons aying " There goes a religious man, and his example we will follow." Let us have a minister of true piety and extensive abilities, so that we may boast of having an individual in the district akin in character to the Village Parson described by Goldsmith, who pointed the road to Heaven and led the way. I am, .&c, Clyde, Aug. 12, 1867.