King's Business - 1914-08/09

THE KING’S BUSINESS

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ness has been built.” Mr. Ford himself says: “If I had listened to salesmen I would be making 365 different cars. You notice I am making only one, and I will make that until we have manufactured 365,000. We may possibly change it then, but if We do, only a very little.” Shall “ clergymen” follow the methods recommended by the New York Federation of Churches, or the principle of the Ford Motor Company? •Now we are in whole-souled sympathy with each of the above named philanthro­ pies. The question we raise is : Is it a pastor’s business? After studying the text­ books, statistics, constitutions and by-laws, and processes of those divers good offices, and made the daily or weekly rounds of their premises, what time and strength and zeal will he have left for the study of the Word and prayer, the visitation of his flock or the preaching of that gospel which is ‘the power of God unto salvation to every one that be­ lieveth?” s We firmly believe that, if it be true that the Church has failed in making a success of her calling, it is because she has not con­ centrated on the one thing specified in her articles of incorporation (Mark 16:15; 1 Cor. 2 :2 ). Thousands of clergymen will be moved more by the “fifty or more sug­ gestions,” than they ever have been by the one commission—and they will mean well, as Mr. Ford admits many have done who have urged on him the expediency of re­ laxing his rigid policy of “ one model.” “ Yes,” he said, “ sell any color your cus­ tomer chooses provided it be black and that precise shade of black that we are using at the time.” Pastor, “preach the word, in season, out of season,” and that particular shade of the Word that wins souls; wins them direct; wins them now. “Around this cardinal fact of having only a single model to produce and of produc­ ing that in enormous quantities, the Ford business has been' builded up,” and the Lord’s business might be.

four great guiding principles that Christ laid down ; namely, absolute purity, hon­ esty, unselfishness and love. These are sim­ ple and intelligible, yet how many of us are checking up our every thought and word and deed by these, or by asking, Is this pleasing to Him? Our personal hab­ its, amusements, all our intercourse with others, business or social, should be con­ sidered in this light. W e must seek not tnerely to avoid quenching the Spirit, we must also be careful lest we grieve Him.”— Sayings of Wm. Borden. T h e New York Federation of Churches has sent to all the Protestant clergymen that live within twenty-five miles of the center of New York City a full outline of a method “by which they may become really efficient in their work.” Here are a few of these suggestions: Co-operate with the Tenement House De­ partment to banish dark rooms. For method apply to the Federation. Assist the Association of Tuberculosis Clinics in conducting the nearest neighbor­ hood, clinic or day boat camp. Organize the children through the public schools for a periodic “ Spotless Town” campaign. Acquaint your district’s people with the city’s recreation resources by organizing vis­ its to museums, zoological gardens, parks, and playgrounds. Regard the police as an ally and develop a personal acquaintance with them. “ The World’s Work,” from which the above item was clipped, contains another remarkable article on the secret of the phe­ nomenal success of Mr. Ford in the manu­ facture of the Ford car, from which we clip the following sentences: “ The Ford Motor Company manufactures only one model of automobile. Its plant has been designed and equipped throughout for the specific purpose of manufacturing the parts of this particular car.” “ Specialization and complete adaptation to one kind of work is the essence of the Ford plant.” "Around this cardinal fact of having only a single model to produce and of producing that in enormous quantities, the Ford busi­

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