Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-20
New England Festival.

At the festival of the New England Societ,
in New York, speech was made by the Rev
Henry Ward Beechcr, in reply to the toas
complimentary to the clergy. The following
are extracts from it.
In early times the ministerial function
was different from what it is now. 1t is now
our business to preach on the Sabbath, and
to lecture during the week, and, if we make
calls, to make calls of courtesy but what
should do, if / were led back to the days ol
the colonies, | am at n loss to know.
should be as much puzzled to discharge my
duties, as some of the clergymen of that day
would be, standing in my position tonight
How much the people valued their ministers
in their new country-in Massachusetts, and
Connecticut--you can imagine, when it is
known that they could not get along without
two ministers to each church. In the first
six churches of Connecticut there were ter
preachers. Each church, if possible, had q
pastor. The teacher was n professor OF
theology, and his business was to indoctri-
nate. The other was the revival minister, as
we understand the term The doctor put the
powder down, and the other man touched it
off. In those grand old times, besides his
Sabbath sermons and weekday lectures, the
business Of the minister was to go from house
V,
however, that business is entirely transferred
to women. 1t was expected, too. that he
would address himself SO thoroughly to every
individual, that each would stand in fear OF
God and the minister. However, let it not
be supposed, because clergymen were earnest
and devout religious ministers, that they
were men devoid of humor. The man is not
half Of Il man who has not streak of that in
him.
g recollect even so late as in my day that
the old sort of ministers of Connecticut could
crack joke, and smoke tobacco in an accom-
pished manner. rccollcct that when thcy
used to meet at my fathers house, pipes and
tobacco were set out and other creature COM
forts in proportion, which were never seen
there at any other time. In those times it is
to be supposed that Providence winked at
those things, for certainly they did not know
any better. | rccollcct, too, the explosions
of human thunder, called laughter. which
could be heard in the room filled with smoke.
and where it is supposed the ministers were ;
and if you had loen listening, as | was, you
would have said that every mothers son of
them was Dutchman. When the services
were all over for which they had met, they
were ACCUSTOMED not unfrequently not only
to run eaoh other with their jokes, but with
their horses.
" 1t has been maxim, that minister's and
dcacons children are worse than any others.
The Greeks express a similar opinion. was
informed by my Greek tcachcr-who, NAV
sly, earned his money for the services rem
dcrcd--that it is said in Greece. that minis
tors children are the devils grandchildren.
don t believe a word of it. | know who nv
grandfather was, and am bound to say, that
ministers children are the best sort of chill
dren--tlat is, if they are the children Of good
ministers. have in my hand Il letter that
wa6 .:nt to me enmn ti,nn o;,,"". ana which
contains some faces tearing upon this matter
In Connccticut, of 937 children over fifteen
years of age. lf 207 ministers and deacons,
only 20 turned out badly suppose because
they were not much in the habit of attending
public dinners.
s. In Massachusetts, out of 433 families of
ministers and dcacons, there were ,59S chill
dren over - years, and only % ever became
dlsSipatcd. Here We have 40 out of 3. .535
children, and some of nv friends. who arc
used to figures, say, that this is Just 2 IL per
cent. in the whole number. Now, gentlemen
! will ask You, il any grazier who was breed
ing cattle would not be glad to lose only2 l-2
per cent. Of his stock ! will ask anv bust
moss man, If he would not be glad oftimcs if
his losses were not greater than 2 10 per
cent! undertake to say, that no business
has ever been so safe IL one as that of raising
deacons' and ministers children in New
England. There is but one thing more that
wish to mention before close, and it is.
that while ministers are generally exceed
ingly talkative, ministers children are both
modest and taciturn, 1t is on that account
that | am unable to extend my remarks any
further ut this time