the development of a true christian life in the church depends much on the social influences which, like an atmosphere, pervade and envelop it. these, therefore, the pastor should seek to inspire and control. as far as possible, the membership should find their society within the church—not in a spirit of clannish exclusiveness, but on the principle that the higher bond of spiritual affinity, which binds them as a church to one another and to christ, involves, as a natural consequence, the lower [p. 100] bond of social affinity, so that the church is the natural sphere of the soul’s activities, social as well as spiritual. to make the social life of the church strong, healthful, enriching, such as render it a magnet to attract other souls, is of primary moment in a pastor’s work. i suggest two ways in which this may be done.
1. personal effort to promote mutual acquaintance in the congregation by introducing strangers, and by securing for them those attentions which will naturally draw them to the church as a home. see that they meet a cordial welcome at the public meeting, and also socially by the calling of members at their homes, and by extending to them social courtesies and kindnesses. a watchful pastor may do much to secure this by personal suggestion.
2. social gatherings in the church, in which the people shall have opportunity for acquaintance and for the exercise of the social feelings. these differ in plan. (1.) they are sometimes purely social, in which the object is conversation, music, and such forms of recreation as may be innocent and healthful. the tact of the pastor will here be required to give the right tone and spirit to the gathering, to promote general acquaintance and sociability, and to guard against doubtful forms of amusement. (2.) they sometimes add to the social the literary element, and a part of the time is occupied with readings, recitations, essays, poems, and the discussion of subjects in history, biography, general literature, and science. these, when carefully managed, are often of great value in advancing the general culture and intelligence, and in calling out, especially in the young, talents which would otherwise be undeveloped. the successful working of such an organization of course presupposes broad intelligence in the pastor and not a little careful [p. 101] thought and labor. (3.) sometimes the object is not only social and literary, but also missionary, and the exercises consist in part of reports on missionary work, home and foreign, correspondence with missionaries, and essays on the lives of eminent missionary characters and topics relating to the missionary enterprise. the organization might also engage in different forms of actual mission work, such as mission sunday-schools, religious meetings at destitute points, and personal labor, young men among young men, young women among young women, to bring them to church and otherwise help them in entering and prosecuting a christian life.
the social element is so mighty a force that no pastor can afford to ignore it; nor should he imagine that it will take care of itself, for, left unguided, it will almost certainly take a false direction and destroy much of his work. his true position is as its inspiring leader, thus linking its power to those forces which shall ensure his success.
hints.—1. the pastor, i think, should ordinarily hold no official position in these organizations, but should stand related to them simply as pastor, and as thus the general head of all church organization; and he should be felt not so much (if at all) in the assertion of his authority as in the way of quiet suggestion and inspiration. 2. in all social life there will necessarily be different social centers, caused by naturally differing social affinities, and it is unwise to attempt to break this up. but care should be taken that these social centers do not take on the exclusiveness of cliques with party spirit and jealousies, and that the aristocratic element does not develop itself to the discomfort or exclusion of the poorer classes. these tendencies, always present, should be carefully held in check. 3. every house of worship [p. 102] should have a church parlor, or some room which can readily be converted into one. this should be furnished attractively, and supplied with musical instruments, pictures, and other means of culture. if a reading-room and library can also be connected, it adds much value in the increase of intelligence among the people. a church will readily furnish funds for this purpose if properly instructed; for parents, aside from the advantage they personally derive from such an arrangement, will feel the advantage to their families of a church social life so strong and attractive as to draw and hold the children to the associations of the church in preference to the associations of the world.
