Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

churches."you."me,"The Society of EncouragersBy Rev. Walter L. Lingle, D.D., LL.D.The title of this article comes from the biography of Dr. Alexander Whyte, the great pastor ofFree St. George's church, Edinburgh, Scotland, fornearly fifty years. There was a distinguished eldernames similar to the group he wants to benefit. Ifhe has not spelled out the full legal name, his bequestmay not reach the right organization.A case of this kind came up several years agoin the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. A man whowanted to help in the work of one of the Churchagencies had used an incomplete name for the organization in his bequest. After his death, the courtwas called upon to decide to whom the bequest shouldgo. Although his intent seemed clear to those whoknew him, it took the Church agency more than ayear, to say nothing of the legal costs, to prove tothe court that it was the group he had in mind. Fortunately, in this case his wishes were finally carriedout and today his bequest is helping in the work hechose to support. With a different interpretation bythe court, however, all his fine intentions might havebeen thwarted.Any will needs careful thought and preparation,but one which includes a bequest for specific Churchpurposes needs special attention. It is a good ideato consult with the agency in charge of the work youwant to support, as well as with your own attorney.In this way, any possible problems, such as the fulllegal name of the agency, a correct statement of thepurposes to be supported, or the naming of alternate causes for support, can be settled in advance.Your pastor can give you the names and addressesof the agencies in which you are interested, or youmay call on the Synod's Treasurer.Your will is many things. It is a solemn covenant as well as a legal agreement and the documentby which you will be judged by those who haveknown you. It is a continuation of your life and influence, and it is your personal representative.If it is a valid will, it will represent you well. Itwill do its job expeditiously and, if necessary, standup in court to assure that your wishes are carriedout as if you were present.If it is a Christian will, it will in addition havethe spirit, even if not the wording, that appears inone will made by a minister who bequeathed his estate to an agency of our Church :"I have regarded such advantages, opportunities, and possessions as were mine a trust from God,to be administered in a spirit of responsibility andhelpfulness. As this feeling has grown on me, lifehas taken on a greater meaning with each passingyear."It is in the light of this meaning that I amdrawing this, my Last Will and Testament. I wishthis instrument to speak for God, for Jesus Christ,and for the cause of Christianity,which I havesought to serve in sincerity and truth. Because Hehas done so much for me and through me, I wish tolive on in His Service here below long after my spirithas gone to dwell with Him forever."232in this church of whom it was said that he belongedEncouragers."to "the great Society of He was always encouraging somebody, especially his pastor.There should be a society of that kind in every community and we should all be members of it. Theremust have been a society like that back in Isaiah'stime, for we read in his forty-first chapter: "Theyhelped everyone his neighbor; and everyone said tohis brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth withanvil."the hammer him that smote theIt was the elder's helpfulness to his pastor thatwon for him this title. Did it ever occur to you thatyour pastor needs encouragement? He probablyneeds it more than any one in your community. Thatpeople think ofstatement may surprise you. Manythe minister as the most carefree person in the community. The Apostle Paul, after reciting all the perilsand sufferings through which he had passed, addsthis significant statement: "Beside those thingsthat are without, that which cometh upon me daily,the care of all the I do not suppose thatlayman will ever be able to understand thatanystatement. The care of the whole church is constantly pressing upon the heart of the good minister. Heis constantly visiting the sick and sorrowing andburying their dead. He is a sharer in all the sorrowsand tragedies that come upon his people.In addition to this, he preaches his heart out butthere arevery few visible results. Of course, peopleoften say nice things to him after the sermon, butsome of the things they say hurt. For example, somewell meaning person will rush up and say, "Let mesermon,"congratulate you on that and then he wonders whether that is the deepest impression the sermon, over which he had toiled and prayed, had madeon his hearers. On the other hand, some seriousmindedperson says, "Your sermon today helpedand then he knows that person is a member of theSociety of Encouragers.Some of us who are older remember when thatdelightful little book of Scottish stories called "TheBonnie Brier Bush," by Ian Maclaren, was published.The author's real name was Rev. John Watson, whowas one of the great preachers of Scotland and England. His biographer tells a beautiful story about hisearly ministry. His first pastorate was a small country church with about a hundred members in theHighlands of Scotland. The young minister startedout with a determination to preach without readinghis sermon from a manuscript. It was hard work.Sometimes his sermons would leave him right in themidst of the service. He became terribly discouragedand felt like giving up the ministry.One day after he had forgotten his sermon,a gaunt Highland elder came to him after the serviceand said : "When you are not remembering your sermon, just give out a Psalm and we will be singingthat whiie you are taking a rest, for we all are lovingyou and praying for Dr. Watson became agreat preacher without manuscript, and in afteryears he said : "I am in the ministry today because ofthe tenderness and charity of those country folk,those perfect gentlemen and Christians."By the way, let me commend to all young minis-COVENANTER WITNESS