To the Absent Members of our Churches in Iowa.
By George I. Butler
THE following resolution was unanimously passed at our recent State Conference near Marion, to which I desire to call the especial attention of all the class in this State, to whom reference is made: “Whereas, The duty of exercising a watchcare over its members is obligatory upon every church; and as this cannot be done in the case of absent members unless they frequently report themselves, therefore Resolved, That this Conference, considers it the duty of all the absent members of our churches to report themselves to their respective churches as often as once in three months. And furthermore, that we consider the persistent neglect of this duty a sufficient ground for church labor; and we advise our churches to judiciously carry this resolution into effect.” This matter of absent membership in our churches is becoming an embarrassing one. In some of them quite a large percentage of the entire membership do not meet with the church at all, or very rarely, not living within convenient distance. Many of them do not report themselves at all, and in some cases churches have known nothing of some of their absent members for years. The thing is getting to be a nuisance, and something must be done. In many instances our absent members have been requested to report; but that seems not to have the desired effect. So this resolution was passed by our State Conference. It means business. And we here inquire, Of what use is a membership in a church to the one possessing it who never has interest enough in its prosperity to report his condition, his feelings, his desires, &c? What good does the church do him? I have always supposed one benefit of church fellowship to consist in association. To communicate with, and exhort each other, to counsel with, and share each other's joys and sorrows, and in this and other ways aid each other in the Christian race. All these particulars require that there should be communication between the church and its absent members. And of what benefit to the church are members who never report themselves, and of whose life the church knows nothing? They are rather a source of weakness; and it is a fact that some of our churches are exceedingly burdened in this way, and their usefulness endangered. Our churches ought to be efficient, full of life and interest for every member. In order that this result may be reached, the members must have an interest in the church. If there is an interest it will most likely be manifested. The Conference has expressed itself upon this point, and made the duty of all absent members plain. We expect then that all who have any real interest in their several churches, will promptly report themselves as often as once in three months. Let your reports come in, directed to the elder or leader of your church, informing your brethren and sisters of your feelings, hopes, and spiritual condition generally. And of course all who really desire to help in the cause of the Lord will see that their s. D. is also sent in just as promptly as though they lived in the vicinity of the church. This resolution embraces all members who are absent from their churches whether they have taken a letter or not. Some get the idea because they have a letter from the church, they have no longer a connection with it. This is a mistake. All the letter is for is to let those with whom you may come in contact know you are a person worthy of their confidence, and that there is nothing standing against you in the church of which you are a member. Our General Conference has expressed itself on this point, that a person retains his original membership until he joins another church. So this resolution means those who have letters, or those who have none. As I said, the resolution means business. Now I do not mean this as a threat, but the idea is this: The thing has gone so far, that for the sake of the cause in some of our churches, something must be done. We hope our brethren and sisters will act cordially and willingly, and do what their own judgment must tell them is reasonable, and not constrain the churches to take other measures. I would say further to those who may see this article, who know themselves to be members of the Mt. Pleasant church (of which I am a member) it especially means you. That church is worse off in this respect than most others. There are members of it whose post office address is not known to us; and we hope they will at once act upon these suggestions. Something must be done and that ere long. Let us all be prompt in doing our whole duty, and thus not stand in the way of the cause and work of God. Adel, Iowa, July 11, 1870.