forth to larger service than most of us have thought. There is really more
willingness to take up new tasks and to engage in aggressive enterprises
than they have had credit for. The people want something to do. They want
a work that is worth while. Many churches are languishing for a job which
they may apprehend and accept--for something large enough and difficult
enough to challenge their powers and kindle their enthusiasm. And when a
proposition is made to them that seems sane and sensible, when they can
have confidence in their leaders, they are generally ready to fall in line
and to march forward with firm and steady tread. That was the case with
this particular church, and they have stood behind the work of the Larger
Parish from the first in solid phalanx. There have been no kickers, no
knockers. In all this work I have had the satisfaction of knowing that the
people were with me. They have been helpers all the way and not hinderers.
3. But how should we begin? How can we move out into this Larger Parish
and get hold of this greater work? In some way we must be something to all
these people. We must find a way by which the church may make itself felt
as a force in all these five hundred homes. But how? Well, I began to
hold services in the schoolhouses around. I could at least hold one
meeting a week in these out-stations in addition to my regular duties.
That seemed a very small beginning, but it was a beginning. It was the
entering wedge to the larger work that followed. On Wednesday nights some
of my people would take me to these more distant points, where I was
almost invariably greeted by a good and attentive congregation. I had no
conveyance of my own, and of this I was glad, for it gave an excuse to
call upon my people for transportation, and gave them a chance to have a
part in the work; for I considered that the success of the work depended,
not so much upon what I did or said, as upon the attitude that the people
of the church took toward it. And the presence of the men with me in these
services greatly increased the effectiveness of the efforts. I was a
preacher and I was simply "on my job." _They_ represented the church and
proclaimed to the people in the outlying regions its attitude toward them.
In some of the neighborhoods there were no schoolhouses, and the services
were held in private homes. In this simple way the work began to grow.
4. At first I had no definite thought of how the work would develop. I
simply started out to do what I could for the people in this wide
territory. But it soon became evident that one man would not be able to do
all the work that was opening up before me. The need of a helper began to
press heavily, but the possibility of securing one had not yet dawned upon
me. The General Missionary of the state became interested in the work, and
he was the first one to suggest that an Assistant might be secured. This
put new hope and courage into my heart. The matter was brought to the
attention of the Superintendent of the state, and he consulted with his
Advisory Committee. He came upon the ground, and after making a thorough
investigation, agreed with the General Missionary that a helper was
necessary. He thought that the work proposed was legitimate home
missionary work, that the best way to evangelize the whole country is for
each village church to reach out into the country around as far as
possible, until village with village should touch hands over a region that
is adequately supplied with gospel privileges.
The result was that a proposition was made by the Superintendent to the
church. It was substantially this: that we should take into the Parish
Grace Church, a small Congregational organization four miles distant from
Benzonia, which had been moribund for a long time, with no regular
services for a number of years. The Home Missionary Society would make a
grant of one hundred dollars if Grace Church would raise one hundred and
fifty dollars. It was understood that the Benzonia Church would raise the
other two hundred and fifty dollars that should make out the Assistant's
salary. This should be the contribution of the Benzonia Church to the Home
Missionary Society, but should be returned to the Benzonia field to be
spent in the development of the Larger Parish. This proposition was
brought before the church at a regular meeting, and by a unanimous vote it
was accepted, and so the church in a formal and positive way committed
itself to the work of the Larger Parish.
The pastor wishes to make grateful acknowledgment of the part that the
state officers of the Congregational Conference have had in developing the
Larger Parish. Without their cooperation it could never have been brought
to its present stage of development. With clear foresight and generous
contributions they have fostered the work, and the success of the
experiment is largely due to their sympathetic interest, and their wise
and helpful efforts. They have regarded it as the demonstration of a
method of dealing with the country problem that may, if it proves
successful, find wide application throughout the state, and they have been
glad to give it their fostering influence and their substantial aid. It is
possible that the "Larger Parish Plan" may furnish a most effective method
of home missionary activity.
5. But the next thing was to find the man who, for a salary of five
hundred dollars, was willing to undertake the work of tramping over three
townships, and of becoming the under pastor of twenty-five hundred people.
The Larger Parish was still unorganized. It was still a rather indefinite
and unrealized vision. It was clear that in some way gospel work must be
inaugurated in all that wide territory; but just what form it would take
was not yet so clear. The Assistant must be a man of initiative and
executive ability. He must be able to strike out on new lines and to walk
in untried paths. There would be plenty of hard work, much need of tact
and wisdom, and the absolute demand for consecration. With these
aggressive qualities he must also be able to act under the direction of
another, and to carry on this work in harmony with the pastor of the
church.
This would seem to be a rare combination, and the task of finding
a man who would fit into this rather peculiar place seemed very
great--especially so, since a mistake or failure at the beginning of the
work might put it back indefinitely, or spoil it entirely. But with
unexpected promptness the very man was found who most fully met the need.
He had finished a high school course, had taught two terms in a country
school, had spent some time in the lumber and construction camps of the
northern Michigan and Wisconsin woods. He had had a wide and a varied
experience for one so young in almost everything except Christian work and
preaching. In this he was a novice. None of us--not even he himself--knew
what he could do. He had but one sermon to start with and all his powers
were untried.
I made out a schedule of appointments for him. At first there were seven
neighborhoods where he was to hold services, preaching at the Grace Church
every Sunday morning, and at the other places as often as he could get
around. His regular program on Sunday was three sermons, a tramp of from
twelve to twenty miles, with such occasional "lifts" as he might from time
to time receive. Several days of each week he spent among the people,
sharing their hospitality, and entering into their life. For two and a
half years he lived this strenuous life, organizing the work along various
lines, reducing the chaos to order, getting close to the people, and
making a large and warm place for himself and his work through all the
wide Parish. He made good, and at the end of that time he was in demand as
student pastor in more than one college town, and went to pursue his
college course, paying his expenses by giving his services as assistant
pastor in a large college church.
As the work developed and the boundaries of the Larger Parish have
extended it was found necessary to employ a second Assistant, and three
men found more work to do than they could fully cover. The relations
between the pastor and his two helpers are very close and happy.
6. Of significant importance are some achievements in denominational
comity that have greatly helped the work of the Larger Parish. I had
observed that in many parts of our country zeal for the denomination had
outrun love for the Kingdom, and I despaired of doing such a work as
ought to be done in the region round about, unless there could be some new
alinement of the Christian forces. In many places churches have been
multiplied to the great detriment of the cause which they are supposed to
represent.
It is true that some portions of our cities are overchurched, but the evil
of it is not so much felt because of the unlimited material to work upon.
It is in the country and in the small towns and villages that the greatest
harm is done. There is many a country neighborhood where one church would
thrive and be a great blessing; but two churches spoil the community
completely, so far as the interests of the Kingdom are concerned.
Oftentimes, too many churches are worse than too few. If there are no
churches, there is a chance for some one to come in and start a successful
work. But if there are too many, the forces are so divided that none of
them can do a vigorous work, they all live at "a poor dying rate," an
unholy competition is almost unavoidable, and by their fruitless struggle
they defeat the very object for which they exist. A minister who had
recently gone to a new field replied to the inquiry, how he was getting
on: "I am doing very well now. I only have two churches to contend against
in my new field. I had three before." The people of the world, looking at
the situation of the overchurched community, regard it with contempt, it
is so illogical and unreasonable. This evil is recognized by all, and will
not much longer be tolerated by those who are sincerely interested in the
progress of the Kingdom. In fact, there is a strong movement in these days
toward a better state of things.
A fine example of what may be done in the way of denominational comity
when a really Christian spirit prevails was shown in this field, and it
did much to make the work of the Larger Parish possible. In Benzonia there
was a small Methodist organization, in addition to the Congregational
Church that had existed for thirty years, but it never got a very strong
foothold, and finally it was evident to all that it was not needed. Five
miles away there was another Methodist church at Champion Hill, that was
really within the territory of the Larger Parish. In an adjoining county
the Congregationalists had two churches of about the same grade, and
surrounded by the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
representatives of the two denominations got together, canvassed the whole
matter thoroughly, and were able to come to a unanimous and cordial
decision that was satisfactory to both sides. The Methodist Episcopal
Church in Benzonia was dropped, and the Champion Hill Church became
Congregational. And the two Congregational churches in the adjoining
county became Methodist, thus leaving a clear field in each county for
each denomination, much to the advantage of both. It is understood that no
work is to be undertaken by either denomination in the territory thus
surrendered.
It was comparatively easy to work the matter through with the officials,
but there was some doubt whether the churches themselves could be brought
to consent to a change. They were visited by two representatives, one from
each denomination, the whole matter was fully explained, showing how much
better the work could be cared for under the new arrangement, and, though
there was some reluctance on the part of some who were strongly attached
to their old church associations, most of the members accepted the
situation and cheerfully made the change. After trying it for a year they
all seemed well satisfied with their new relations, and new life and
vigor has come into all the work.
The property interests involved in the exchange were adjusted in a very
happy way. All the four churches had houses of worship, and some of them
had parsonages. A commission was appointed to appraise the property,
consisting of two members each from the Congregational and Methodist
Churches of Traverse City. They went together, examined all the holdings
and brought in a report. The two Methodist men thought the
Congregationalists ought to give two hundred and fifty dollars to boot.
The two Congregational men thought the Methodists ought to give two
hundred and fifty dollars. So they agreed to trade even, and all parties
were satisfied. This gives the Congregationalists undisputed jurisdiction
throughout all the territory of the Larger Parish. In all that region they
are without competition, with the exception of a small Disciple church in
one corner of the field, which divides up the work of one neighborhood to
its great disadvantage. There are a good many Methodist people living
within the bounds of the Larger Parish, but most of them are allying
themselves with the church that is doing the work, and the same is true of
the Congregationalists. They are now well satisfied with the arrangement.
So we may trace the steps by which the vision became reality. The work has
been a gradual development from the very first, one step leading to
another, often with no more light than was sufficient for the single
step.
V
THE METHODS OF THE LARGER PARISH
Practical methods that can be successfully worked constitute the great
need in any enterprise. The real measure of the value of any plan or
scheme is found in what it accomplishes. It may look well--the vision may
be enticing--but will it really do the business? If, after a fair trial,
achievements sufficient to justify the effort do not appear, the scheme,
the method, the vision, however promising it may have seemed, must be
discarded. A mill that does not turn out lumber soon goes upon the junk
heap. So a plan that does not bring results will soon be relegated to the
limbo of unpractical and useless things. Of course it requires time fairly
to test a plan, an enterprise, or a method. An important experiment
cannot be finished in a day. But after three years it is time to look for
some proofs of success. What have we to show after working three years
that will justify the methods that have been used? What methods have been
employed? How have they worked, and what have they accomplished?
Nothing has been finished. The work is a growth, and is still in the
process of development. We are all the while finding something more to do
for the people, and larger possibilities of service are opening up before
us continually. But it may be said to have passed beyond the experimental
stage. Nobody looks upon it any longer as simply an experiment. It is a
practical plan in successful operation. The church has come to have a
well-defined policy. The people have accepted the idea of the Larger
Parish and are cooperating heartily in carrying it out. The work has been
organized in respect to various community human interests, and is moving
on with a fair degree of satisfaction. We are now in a position to deliver
_some_ goods--at least enough to prove that we are working a practical
scheme; enough, as we believe, to be a sure prophecy of greater results in
the future.
I. RELIGIOUS AND EVANGELISTIC PROGRESS
First, I will speak of some methods used and some things done that show
religious advance. This must be the crucial test of any church work. It
must be work for the kingdom of God. It must bring people into harmony
with God and his truth, it must line them up on the side of Jesus Christ,
or it cannot be said to be successful, however many other desirable things
it may accomplish. It is not easy to tabulate spiritual results. Any
showing that can be made on paper may be more than the truth or less than
the truth. Reports of organizations and methods and activities may be
misleading. The most that they can do is to approximate the truth. And
yet, that is the only way we have of reporting spiritual results. The
results of religious work must appear in the lives of the people, in the
Christian sentiment of the community, in the upward trend of all things
that make for righteousness and for the establishment and prevalence of
the kingdom of God. These things cannot be definitely reported, but some
things can be mentioned that will indicate progress.
The work has been fairly well organized throughout the whole parish and is
moving steadily forward in definite directions. There are now twelve
points where regular Sunday services are held in this territory, which
comprises one whole township and portions of five others. These services
are held in one church, six chapels, four schoolhouses, and one private
home. Other points are asking for services, but with our present force no
more work can be undertaken. These preaching points are so arranged that
no family, with the exception of a few who live in one remote corner of
the parish, need go more than a mile and a half to find a place of
worship. The aggregate attendance on these services will average not far
from six hundred, in a population of twenty-five hundred--about one fourth
of the inhabitants of the parish being present with some degree of
regularity.
There are four organized churches in the parish, at Benzonia, Grace,
Champion Hill, and Eden. Their combined membership is about four hundred.
When the church was organized at Eden last year, thirty members were
dismissed from the Benzonia Church to enter the new organization. They had
long been connected with the Benzonia Church, and it was with some
reluctance that they severed their connection with the mother church. They
wished in some way to retain a relation to the church that had for them so
many tender associations. So they decided that of their five trustees, two
should be chosen from the old central church. The two churches at Grace
and Champion Hill are likely to follow suite. In that case, we shall have
a group of four churches, organically related, standing together to do the
work of the Larger Parish. The trustees of the local church will attend to
all ordinary matters, but will feel free to call in the other two trustees
to consult with them in things of special importance. The trustees from
the central church will, of course, feel a special responsibility for the
welfare of the branch church with which they are connected. This
arrangement will unify all the religious activities of the parish, and
bind them up together in one organic relation. And the churches that
enter into the arrangement will surrender none of their independence as
Congregational churches. They will still be absolutely free to control
their own affairs. It is understood that the office of the trustees from
the central church is largely advisory. While this is something new in
Congregationalism, it promises to work well, and if it does, it will be
its own sufficient justification.
Ten Sunday-schools are maintained within the parish, with a combined
membership of about six hundred. Most of the schools are self-sustaining,
and are well able to carry on their own work without outside help, but
some are conducted by helpers who go out from the central church. The
schools at Benzonia and Eden are well graded, and are conducted according
to the up-to-date methods. The Benzonia school has an average attendance
of more than one hundred and fifty, and the music is led by a large
orchestra. The Eden school has graduated two classes in teacher-training,
and the third one, with seventeen members, is now at work. The Home
Department is maintained, and much is made of the Cradle Roll. Conventions
in connection with the schools in the two adjoining townships are held
once a quarter, and they are doing much to unite the Sunday-school
interests in this region and to promote team work.
The clerical force that carries on the work throughout the parish is
composed of the pastor and his two assistants. The pastor preaches twice
on Sunday, in the church at Benzonia in the morning, and in the chapel at
Beulah, half a mile distant, in the evening. Each of the assistants
preaches three times, traveling from twelve to twenty miles in reaching
their appointments. The Larger Parish naturally divides itself into three
parts: the North Parish, with two churches, and two out-stations, served
by Mr. Caldwell; the South Parish, with one church and five out-stations,
served by Mr. Huck; and Benzonia and Beulah in between, served by the
pastor, who also has the oversight of the whole field.
The three pastors usually get together on Mondays, talk over the work,
compare sermons and discuss them, and spend part of the day in the most
delightful fellowship. They make frequent exchanges, taking each other's
work for a Sunday, thus giving the people a change, and themselves some
variety of experience, and promoting acquaintance and fellowship
throughout the whole parish. This is a most profitable combination. The
older pastor helps the younger men with his wider experience, and "the
boys" put new life and fresh spirits into the heart of the "older man."
Two men, if they are congenial and can work harmoniously together, are
worth more than double the value of one man. And three men, joining their
forces, increase their efficiency in geometrical ratio. Many a minister
who works away in isolation and discouragement would have new heart and
courage for his difficult task, if he might be closely associated with one
or two congenial and kindred spirits. That is one of the advantages of the
Larger Parish Plan--it makes such association and combination possible.
In the autumn of 1912 the pastor was impressed with the thought that the
special emphasis for that year should be placed on the evangelistic phase
of the work. Thirteen weeks in all were spent in holding special services
at six different points. Two ministers from neighboring parishes assisted.
Much use was made of the stereopticon. In the out-stations the preaching
was done by the pastors in turn, and there was thorough personal work.
Good results came from these meetings. A large number decided to begin the
Christian life. About sixty new members were received into the Benzonia
church, and as many more into the other churches in the parish. Not all of
those received were converted in the special meetings. Thirty of those who
came into the Eden church were dismissed from the Benzonia church, and
some others came by letter. One of the results of these special meetings
was the organization of the Eden church. The hearts of the people were
drawn together, the religious interest was quickened throughout the whole
territory, and the idea of the Larger Parish came to be more generally
accepted.