Southern Christian Advocate

From the Christian Repository.

PREACHING TO SMALL CONGREGATIONS.

Mr. Editor: The article of your correspondent, S. U. P., has brought to my recollection a circumstance related to me some years since by Bishop Andrew. It will serve to enforce his views respecting the propriety of considering no congregation too small to be entitled to a sermon. Indeed, it seems nothing more than right, that those persons who have gone through considerable difficulties to meeting,—say a severe storm, should be as well treated as though the day had been fine, and no effort had been required to reach the place of worship. This is particularly true in regard to those who reside in country places, where the visits of the preacher are "few and far between," and his services are the more highly appreciated.

The story of the good Bishop, to the best of my recollection,—and I depend entirely on memory, was as follows. On a circuit in one of the southern conferences, there was an appointment that, from some cause, had gone down and been abandoned for several years. A preacher was sent upon the circuit who determined to resuscitate it, and accordingly announced his intention to preach on a certain day. The day came, and so did the preacher, but not a single individual followed their example.—Nothing daunted, however, by this unfavorable beginning, he ascended the pulpit and commenced the services. While singing the second hymn, a farmer, who was looking for a stray horse, was attracted by the sound, and drew near to ascertain the cause of it. Finding the preacher thus engaged, the novelty of the circumstance excited his curiosity, and he slipped into a seat. The text was taken, and the zealous man of God,—no doubt greatly encouraged by this unexpected addition to his audience, delivered his message with great faith and energy. There was no dodging it: the solitary hearer could not, by any possible subterfuge, as the manner of many is, turn it over to his neighbour. The Spirit of the Lord accompanied the word to his heart, and he began to ask, "What must I do to be saved?" The preacher came down and prayed with him, and before they separated the man was happily converted.

This singular circumstance was soon noised through the neighborhood; the people came out, from curiosity alone, and numbers were converted and added to the Church. There is now, concluded the Bishop, a flourishing Society in that place, as the result of that one sermon.—To every minister of the Gospel who reads this let me say, "Go thou and do likewise!"

February 6, 1844.

DORADOR.