by Dr. Jay Richard Akkerman
G. Arthur Janssen frames it well: “They are spread out from Alaska to the Virgin Islands, Maine to Hawaii. They cover the gamut of national parks, monuments, a seashore, parkways, memorials, a preserve, a battlefield, recreation areas, historical parks, historic sites, three administrative offices, a couple of state parks, a city park and two schools. They are in sixteen UNESCO biosphere reserves. They are in eleven world heritage sites. They are a bit of history; they are a present reminder; they are a challenge for our future. Visiting them is a journey… they are America at her best.”
Janssen is describing something called “Mather Plaques.” If you’re a national park enthusiast, you may have seen them. Then again, perhaps not. It all depends on where you’ve been and how attentive you were. Some are posted prominently in plain sight, while other plaques are squirrelled away in obscure, almost clandestine places.
Each of these 87-pound bronze plaques honors Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930), a self-made California millionaire and the founding director of the National Park Service. After a dozen years as the NPS director, Mather retired in 1929 after several debilitating health issues forced him out. He died the following year and was buried in Burien, Connecticut under a small stone marker that simply reads “S.T.M.”
Mather’s visionary, foundational leadership of the park service grew out of his deep love for nature, which helped him stave off many debilitating bouts of depression that could even require hospitalization at times. Despite these setbacks, Mather and his staff professionalized the park service, even including the design of the NPS uniform and distinctive flat-brimmed hat, which rangers continue to wear to this day.
Following his death, Mather’s friends believed a plaque honoring the park service’s first director seemed appropriate, despite Mather’s own opposition to the philosophy of includingf any memorials in the parks. After all, Mather believed that the parks themselves are memorials unto themselves—they say it all.
In 1930, 28 plaques were cast, which were installed in many of the 59 park units in place at the time of Mather’s death. Since that time, 42 more plaques have been created in additional castings in 1959, 1991 and 2015-17.
The inscription on the lower third of each plaque describes Mather in this way:
HE LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. DEFINING AND ESTABLISHING THE POLICIES UNDER WHICH ITS AREAS SHALL BE DEVELOPED AND CONSERVED UNIMPAIRED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
But the final sentence says it all:
THERE WILL NEVER COME AN END TO THE GOOD THAT HE HAS DONE.
Mather labored a century ago, against intense opposition and often at personal expense, in creating a world-class system of national parks that continue to be preserved unimpaired for the benefit of the American people.
The dedication that Mather’s friends commemorated reminds me of so many faithful pastors I know who faithfully serve Christ — often in obscure corners of the map—almost always with resources that fall far short of their needs. In my role, I have spoken with countless pastors like Mather and myself, who have struggled with depression—or battled serious doubts about the effectiveness of their ministries. In such times, all of us need to remind ourselves that our ministries are in service to Christ himself—whether we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” now or across the veil.
As you survey the breadth of your ministry during this annual season of pastoral appreciation, I want to echo the message found in the final sentence on every Mather plaque: There will never come to an end the good that you have done.
Pastors, you are making a difference! Let the Spirit’s vision continue to inspire the life-changing care and leadership you offer. In fact, let that same good bless and inspire you and your family. Despite every setback and obstacle, we never know how God can bless the good we extend to others—and how far-reaching it will be—even back to our own households!
No end to the good you are doing. Full stop. Thanks be to God, pastors—well done!
From the Office of University Mission & Ministry’s Engage newsletter for churches.
