The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-10-20
MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND
RAILROADS."

The above quotation forms the text for
communication signed "a Lsyman," which
appears in the last Knoxville Wing, and
which is made up of unwarranted censures
and rebukes Of the railroad management for
having, in the exercise Of clear and we'll
defined duty, abolished the practice which
had obtained, until it became an annoyance
and nuisance, of passing the clergy free
over the road The writer also avails him
self Of the occasion to indulge little of his
spleen and bad feeling for those "infdel edi-
tors" who have approved that act of the
President CT the Company, and who do not
mechanically bob their heads every time
church bell rings or assume nm attitude OF
devotion whenever one of the elect thunders
from the desk. In the course of our humble
editorial career we have seldom thought it
necessary to notice any thing emanating from
an irresponsible sources and we deem all writers
irresponsible, for the time being at least, who
shelter themselves behind an anonymous
signature to bestow unmerited censure upon
men for acts done in the discharge Of official
duties, and to pass judgment upon and de-
nounce others who have the hardihood to
approve what they beliovo to DO juot and
right. Nor shall we deviate from that rule
on the present occasion further than to cor
rect some misapprehensions into which the
investigating and censorious mind of "a
Layman" seems to have fallen. And in do
ing this we disclaim all intention of disrepect
to the Clergy, for we have for the true and
faithful ministera reverence rs deep and pro-
found as any man, although we make no mer-
it of proclaiming it at the streeL-corners or Of
assuming an outward walk of goodness when
all is rottenness and corruption within.
In the first place, then, in regard to the
text from which "a Layman" has undertaken
to write us sermon: "lnasmuch rs We have
done it unto one of the least of these my dis
cples, We have done it unto met may well
be questioned wherein consists the relevancy
Of the text and the subject treated by the
writer in tine Wing, and whether the Savior
when he uttered the words spake with any
particular reference to the clergy of the pre-
sent day in connection with free tickets on
rail roads, steamboats,, or stage coaches.-
While on earth He went about doing good,
intoxicating peace, love and charity, practicing
what he taught, and was neither beggar, a
grumbler, a bigot, nor aPharasee. His disci-
pies of the present day wherever they imi-
tate his example, and devote themselves
faithfully to the work they have underta-
ken, are never forsaken nor their families
permitted to suffer for the comforts of life
If, as "a I.ayman" says, ministers of the
gospel receive "but meagre salaries and are Of
tentimes in exceedingly Strengthened crcum-
Stances" why is it so, and whose fault is it!
Is not the laborer worthy of his hire! Who
should provide n competency for the minister
but the congregation for whom he breaches!
If he is not able to pay as other men, why
don't the laity, many of whom are rich, wear
fine linen and purple and fare sumptuously
every day, why don't they make him able!-
why do they keep him on such stinted pit
lance, and that often grudgingly paid, that he
is frequently compelled when wishing to ira
vel from point to point to make known his
humiliating condition of inability to pay!-
Whose fault is it, Mr. "Layman," that your
preachers are " oftentmes in exceedingly
Strengthened circumstances" and not able to
pay their fare upon railroads! The blame
does not certainly rest with the heather who
dwell by the outer gates! Is not the fault
with the Church, Oh, yes sir! 1t is well
enough for you, and such as you, to preach
charity and liberality to others-to require
the officers of public enterprise to frank
your preachers and their families to and fro,
at the same time do you button up your
breeches pockets tight and clnch your hands
fast and hard lest dime of your own mo-
ney should step out on an errand of mercy.
We do not know who"A Layman" is, but we
will venture to say there is not an officer
belonging to the East Tennessee and Geor-
gia Railroad Company, from the President
down, nor an "iniidel editor" who does not
contribute rs freely to the support of the
ministry, to charitable works, and is as ready
at all times to bestow soup of cold water"
where it is needed, and brush away the tear
from the sorrowing child of want and Attic.
ton, as "a Layman." And that, sir, is what
your Master meant in the text inaptly quoted
at the head Of your article, and not riding
ministers on rail up and down the country
free Remember that, when you 60 to your
closet tonight, and you will! perhaps rise on
the morrow with n more enlightened and cor
rect view Of the subject.
But to the order recalling the free tickets.
Knowing the President Of the Company rs
we do, we are satisfied that he assumes all
the responsibility and is quite willing to bear
al the odium that may attach 10 that act
1t was simply discharge of duty to the in
terests of the Company, and the idea that
railroad owners are under special obligations
to support the gospel Qf riding ministers on
n rail free is supporting itD is perfectly ridi-
culous. The whole Dead Head System is
humbug and a fraud Rail road companies
all over the land are satisfied Of this, and are
fast discarding IT, II was found to be IN an
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