A CHURCH WELCOME | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

A CHURCH WELCOME.

We have lately moved to one of Boston's pretty suburbs, which I will call Hayfield, because from my window I see a field with five hayricks.

Last Sunday I started out to find a church, and found a little mission chapel, where there were perhaps thirty or forty people assembled. After the service there, I started off on my search again, as I wished to know what and where were the churches we could attend. Seeing a spire in the distance, I aimed for it, until at last I came to a pretty church, from which the congregation was just issuing. Meeting a tall, dark, and rather fine-looking gentleman walking along with his little girl, I asked him if he could tell me what church that was. He at once answered with genial courtesy that it was the S—— Street Church. He told me that they would be glad to see me there, and would try to make me at home. They would like to have me come into the Sunday-school. He went on to tell me about the minister, the work he had been doing, and hoped to do. Would I like an introduction to Mr. D——? He would look for me that evening if I were there, and make me acquainted with the minister. He went on to give me a list of the services, and the time of each. All of this in an easy, genial way, which put me entirely at ease, and made me form a favorable impression of the church which had in it such an atmosphere of welcome as breathed in this member's words.

I came home, and had not taken off my wraps when there was a ring at the door-bell. I answered it to find a young lady who had called to inquire if the new neighbors were church attendants. If so, we would be very welcome to the S—— church. Of course, I invited her in, and we had a friendly chat. It was the same thing over. Would we like to have the minister call upon us? We would be sure to like him. She would mention us to him. We had a hearty welcome, a cordial invitation.

We went to church that night. We were shown good seats. We had good singing, and listened to an earnest sermon from a man whose face reminded me of a fine portrait of George MacDonald, which I saw once in the Eclectic. Then there was an after-meeting, to which we stayed. A young lady, who saw us without hymn-books, came across the aisle and gave us her own. I saw afterward that she was without one.

Next day we had a pleasant social call from the minister, in which we grew friendly and acquainted. We were told about a literary society about to be formed. We were not pressed or urged to anything, but simply made very welcome. He had seen us in church last evening. Then it turned out that I was the one that Mr. M—— had spoken to him about meeting; and then that Miss R—— had told him about us.

“Do you see your congregation when preaching?” I asked.

He answered that he looked over the church before the service and during the singing. If there were any strangers, he fixed them on his mind, and endeavored to see them. He meant that strangers should not come to his church many times without his becoming acquainted with them.

We have decided to attend that church.—Christian Weekly.