Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-24
M | S G L L L A n Y.
THE COUNTRY MINISTER.

We have no DR. Stops in our day, and no Rev
Mr.. Primroses. Country Wears are not to be
found secrcted among our hills for the sake Of
being embalmcd IN the sentimental measures Of
our verse -makers. The poetry ofthe calling has
somehow cvaporated 1t Is nothing but the most
actual prose p0ssble
Times in thscountIy have changed good deal
from what they were once, we know and with
the times, the relations between pastor and peo-
pie have changed alsu. a facetious but most
GENIAL aud cultivated clcrgymen OF Massachusetts
remarked, in the course OF a witty speech made
at horse-show not long slnce that the horse
was noble animal, and fine thing tor MIN
is,er; for he verify believed the time was close
by when it would be necessary for clergymen
TO "sete" on horseback
The ld-fashioned, old-school, patriarchal, posi-
tive, dogmstic, aud benevolent ministers that
used to hold their places all over our land have
nearly all passed away and none are found to
supply their vacancies. They were stern men
and godly; primitive and PURITAN ascetic and
forbidding in their men, yet as playful as child
ren in their hearts, wherein they morning and
night prayed God that there might be found no
guile. They were located on broad and fertile
acres, though the acres, after all, were sometimes
as apt to be sterile IA fertile. They lived in huge,
square capacious houses, with low ceilings AMI
with good cheer, and garnished with double
row OF children; and kept their horse, and cows
and sometimes yoke or Two of oxen, with whose
willing help they powcd their stubborn fields in
the spring.
Theirs was day and generation by ITSELF
They were the Popes OF their little isolated par
ishes. Besides the doctor and the lawyer, none
knew as much rs the minister. Indeed, not ev-
en- they were at all tunes admitted to equal tavo or
in the popular esteem with him. The little boys
and girls were taught 10 fear his frown, and to
be eternay grateful for even a ray of his benig
nan, smile. When he walked 10 the road, the
women hurried to the windows and called out
for everybody in the house TO come and see him.
They thought the very atmosphere about him
holy. Even the earth on which he left the print
of his substantial soles, they esteemed almost
sacred beneath his tread. What he divided to
them of the Word on the Sabbaths, they accept
ed with thanks and without shadow of ques-
ton. His commentaries on Scripture were re-
ceived as final, and out Of the reach Of human
criticism. His definition of the doctrines he en-
forced were the beginning and end of true the
ology-and Alpha and Omega Of biblical truth.
Outside of the Romish Church itself, it is dif-
fcut for person to be found in any age who
so completely personated, by means of his per-
sona influence and force Of character, the un
limited and unavailable power of its priests
While cschewing, and protesting against, and
denouncing, and defying that Church with all
the vigor, and passion, and bitter energy of his
rugged nature, he at The same time, in his own
way, illustrated, in his conduct and influence,
most poinedly.the very failures and peculiarties
agai ls which he was honestly praying and con-
tending.
These were the clergymen of old. They had
| Al. =. 4 =. a. hraI IA,
make show of pluck as well in the pulpit as
out, and could shoulder musket, draw sword
and lead on fororn hope (some of them) as
well as many whose repute is established ioTey'
er on the page of history. They took Their
stand, whittier on religion or on politics, and
vigorously defended il. Not a foot did they ever
surrender to the assauting enemy, whether he
was human or satanic. The last Thing the cler
gymen Of the old school gave was "quarter."-