The New York herald., 1845-07-14
The Social Condition OF ,hc Priesthood.


ternoon.
The Social Condition OF the Priesthood.
Within the last few years, d number OF cases OF
clerical delinquency have forced upon us,with ecu
nuated and melancholy interest, a consideration a
The social condition of the priesthood, which thus
appears 10 be marked with degree OF demorallza-
tion the causes Of which become most important
aud urgent subject Of study and investigation 10 al
who desire the we-being OF society and the homo!
of true religion. We have had in several cases ths
pitiabe spectacle OF dlgntares Of tle highest RANK
aud standing falling from their lofty estate down INTO
,he very mre of(degradaon, whilst esserhghts nave
gone out around them in all objections clergy
man in this metropolis, who had Tor years enjoyed
brilliant reputation for pley, and zeal IN me cause oil
religion, has, within the last fortnight been under
some judicial process OF trial. for the attempted Sc
duction Of a lovely orphan glrl, who had been
member of his household and now, hardly have the
tears of the faithful dried up, when another priest OF
this city is presented 10 Us as guilty of crime that
cannot be even named.
What is the cause of thus frightful turpltude
amongst the cergyl The sin and the disgrace are
not confined 10 any sect Al'the churches have been
ilshonored Eplscopalian- n-Presbyteran-Meth
d,st--Bapnst-every religious. denomination IN the
land, has been thus wounded and assaulted by the
very men placed for Its especial defence Where,
then is the source and the root OF this growing I'M
morality Of the clergy! May not an attentive nves-
tgailon OF the social condition OF the priesthood,
4 body enable us 10 arrive at some conclusions not
altogether prolitless in helping us to SEINE remedy
for this deplorable state of things?
Let u, then, calmly examine this matter. First
of all we canrot fail TO be struck with the fact
which presents itself 10 US, the very threshold Of
this inquiry, that the lite OF the minister OF religion.
is. iii the vast majority Of cases, OF habitual
cnervating and destructive Incidence. Where,
amongst the clergy Of any of the sects, do we find
men of such ahorlous and faithful zeal the first
missionaries OF the cross-the Peters and the Paus.
who everywhere, IN all circumstances on the shores
of Gahee. in the streets Of the holy city, on the
tempesnors sea IN the strange city, surrounded
hy wicked enemies, on the desert island, were 10
be found ike their great master, :" continually
doing good,' teaching. exhcrting, praying, cheer
fully submitting every privation, living examples
of the sublime and self-denyng faith they taught TO
their fellow-men! Alas alas. only here and there,
ii wide distances. in the vast moral wastes of rel
gous formality and pretenson, do we find in our
day such apostles of the truth The service of the
altar has become a trade no, 10 earn The heavenly
inheritance of fidelity 10 Goo, but to get comfor
table settlement" and enjoy a lazy life is the OBJ
ect Of the great mass OF the Leyites of the chris
rian dispensaton Hence il is. that, into the ranks
Of the clergy. we have, year after year, such an in
fux of hypocrisy. worldy-minded and vice, 80
that that divnely-commissioned stream of the gos-
pei ministry, which should flow for the healing OF
the nations has been made turbid. sluggish, inky
food, defng the fair fields OF christendom-the
vile tracngs OF ever-working sin the of the
christian world.
Place man whose heart has never been touched
with the living fire from the altar of eternal truth
aud purity, in the place OF one OF your wel-pa'd
wel-fed, sleek and sleepy pastors OF flock OF for
NAL releonists IN the nineteenth century, and can
YOU wonder that the ancient enemy of man-the
restless spirit Of evil. which has been rightly named
IN that holy message, sent by inspired men Of old,
from heaven 10 earth. the Serpent,-at once seizes
upon his soul, and with malicious JOY riumphs i.
his fall over all that is pure and lovely, and OF good
report IN the profession Of christianity! ldleness
the greatest that be inflicted on human
ly. Il is that which has ruined so many OF the
clergy Lazily and sleeply they proceed IN the he
reditary OF dogntic theology, not one ener-
gy Of their physical intellectual nature called into
play and yield they, without struggle, TO thegigan
tic vice. eldest born OF sloth-lust, ,concupscence or,
well expressed in of the formularles OF ven-
cradle church, " the world, the devil and the flesh.
Here, then. We believe we have some clue TO the
unmoraiity Of the clergy. want, originally, OF
spiritual fitness.or their work, and the lncItement
and opportunity for vicious indulgence, which their
life OF luxurious incidence affords, explains the fire.
quency OF their declenslon from the paths OF virtue
Look at the active and laborlous professions of law
and medicine, and In the comparative freedom OF
their members from immoralities of that descrip-
tion to which our attention has been SO painfully
called in the case of many OF the clergy, do we not
see ample corroborative. evidence OF the justice
and accuracy OF the views which we have lust now
presented, WITH in all sincerity let US add as much
delicacy as we could properly observe in consistency
with truth and duty.
This subject presents itself 10 in another view,
IL possible still more painful. To 1t. however, we
can at present merely glance. 1t is the social state
Of the women Of tins country, regarded in
nection with the influence OF the priesthood. Mitch
elet in his work on "Aurcular Confession in
France" has revealed terrible state OF things To
no inconsiderabe extent we exhibit here par
alle TO that. The ungodly priest in America, in
France has facilities for crime IN his intercourse
with the females Of his flock, which ought not 10
exist, and which the iudcious and unhesItatlng ad-
monltion Of The social refomer may entirely re-
move This. however, j. branch OF the subject OF
obvious importance and peculiar delcacy, and 10 1t
we must revert on another occasion. Atpresent we
nave said enough, We trust, 10 convince the genuine
friends Of pure and undefiled religion, that some
means should Re employed by them 10 prevent the
entrance into tire ranks of the christian ministry, of
men who are net truly devoted TO the work. and
who are not fully prepared and fitted 10 emulate the
liborious lives of the immediate disciples Of the
self-denying end immaculate founder OF the chris
tian faith
COMMON CouYcIL.--Both Boards will meet THE
eyeninn when il IL expected ihev will iaks their