The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-04-24
Mmrellanruu5.
The Dying Clergyman.

It's the ostyS thorn in aiy pillow, it's the
,nly pang feel" Thus spake servant Of the
Most High, as he drew nigh to the dark val.
ley" and shadow Of dea th." lie had been
sInitten by the hand Of disease and prostmtcd
III siay, he had gone from his pulpit to his bed,
where after lingering some eight mouths, h fell
asleep in Jesus.
1t was only some four days previous to his
death, that we sat at his bedside and cvntefssd
with him ON the approaching dissolution, his
confidence in God aud the sustaining power Of
the gospel Of Gods dear Son. With delight,
that dying man contemplated the scene brfotc
him, with JOY he exclaimed, as he lifted his hand
to his head, ".he blessed crown, the crown of
glory, l hope to wear it, the crown Of life, the
purchase of a Savior's blood"
Turning his eyes towards HE, and smiling
with the smile Of heavcu-inspred love- hc re
marked: My days are almost ended, the
strength aud vigor Of my youth gave to the
church, for the prosperity Cf Zion; have not
ceased to labor from the hour / w;ls led 10 the
work Of the ministry, till that when God placed
lne where you sec me, yet for the church can
pray-wiil pr,y--do pray" Speaking of his
family aud their future abiding llacc, he added,
III am poor and pennicss my wife, my chill
dren; what will become of them! This is Il
severe thought, and now, When life is closing, its
strength spent. and must leave my loved ones
in this uneeling world, do not ccnsure me, my
brother, when tell YOU, Its the only thorn
inmy pillow, its the only pang feel That
good minister Of Jesus Christ" was laid away
in therest OF thechurchyart, tartyy''ast summer,
but his diving testimonies We cannot forget
First, his hope Of heaven, through the rich grace
Of Christ, his hope Of III eternal crown through
the promise Of the E;ernal jehovah and then
his testimony Of sorrow, because those dear un-
10 him AS life $ereto Le left bcgggars--eccesa,.
teal pensioners ON charitys il! supplied treasury.
How many ministers have gone down tu
Heath and the grave, pressed and panied with
the thought, the cherished ones Of their house
holds, have, as their only legacy, lhe.coll, stn
ID charity Of u too selfish church, and ah unfeel-
ing world! How many 6nd this terrible fact to
b. "tle ONLY thorn i'll their pillow" at death,
the only pans" that rends and dis:urbs The
Jeace of the ,niml
While such is the fact, and known SO general;
~, IL it to be wonder,sI at that so many men Of
acceptable talent are leaving the ministry for
secular pursuits They do not do this from
choice but necessity, for to stay where they are,
with mere pittauce Of a salary, is to live in IN
uncomfortable, and to a great extent, disrcrut;.
Lle manner, iujnling the cause they so much
love, without nRaus to educate their children, to
rcplenish their own neager and wasted war
drotes and libraries, pnched from quarter to
quarter, if not from day to day and the same
iactoperates to prevent talented and promising
young lnen from entering the ministry.
1t is mistaken view of the claims of the
ministry, we think, taken by those who say, If
those already in the ministry, or the youthful
candidate, are influenced by considerations Of
money let them go where they will, the church
is better without them" Is this correct -
One or two things are said in the Scriptures
worthy Of attention on this very sut ect: i" If any
provide not for his own house, he hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an inideE." "1llou
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the OK that
,readeth out the corn" for the Lord hath ordain
I'd that they which preach the gospel should
liveaof the gospel" for. the laborsr is worthy
uf his hire :s.-. =
Ministers do not preach for money sbut this
IS no reason Why they should receive none, or at
most, barely enough to keep them in Il condition
for labor. WlIen the churches act in this mat
ter, and afford to their ministers competent
salary, the cry men-the destitution OF the
ministry will cease to be heard, and enabled to
lay something aside for the p4KK,DAr, tho
"thorn" will be removed from the Z" pillow" Of
the dying clergyman, and his heart saved from
the /" pang" Of absolute poverty WatcAman
and Reflector.
It is mentioned as among tile bad effects
Of Uncle Toms Cabin that the four little boys
who fell in love With, 'litle Eva" and took pri-
vate box every night te see her at Barnutn's
Museum at s5 night, derived the means Of
doing so from the enterprise Of one Of the lads