The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-12-30

possession. "Did any one ever hear
of thing SO absurd!'' In hiring your
husband for our minister"
=" You did not hire me % interrupted
Mrs. Newton, with calm dignity. "Bear
that in mind, if you please"
" Thank you for the remark, Mrs.
Newton" said ], coming almost invol-
unfairly to her aid. !" 1t throws flood
of light upon the whole subject. True
as Gospel! We did not hire you, and
have no claim upon a single hour of
your time. All that the Church of ST.
Charity has a right to ask of you is,
that you do your duty as a wife aud
mother" s
Mrs. Newton turned to me with a
grateful look, and grasping my hand,
said,
"Thank you !" in return.
A little while she paused; but no
one spoke in the deep silence. / think
some wholesome conviction of truth
were finding their way even into the
mind of Miss Lane, who, somehow,
reminded me of a wilted leaf, or a
piece of stiffly starched muslin suddenly
drenched with water.
"My husbands duties are clear"
very evenly spoke Mrs. Newton-very
kindly, yet very firmly and very lucidly.
" My husbands duties aie clear. He
has come to you as spiritual guide
and instructor. His office is to point
to Heaven and lead the way. 1t is
high and holy office. Ihonor him in it,
and sustain him to the best of my
ability. My duties are also clear. 1
am simply a wife and mother; and,
God being my helper, / will faithfully
discharge wife and mothers sacred
obligations. AT present these duties
take up all my time; and conscience
will not permit me to neglect real duties
for the performance of imaginary ones.
In doing such duties l best serve the
Church. This is my religion, and
have learned it from the Bible"
She paused for few moments. No
one replying to her remarks, she went
on:
"It has been alleged that I am not
pious enough for the people here.
Perhaps not. But of one thing you
may all be certain; / am no hypocrite.
| shall never put on pious exterior to
hide the want of charity in my heart.
AS am you will always see me-"
Mrs. Newton paused again; but as
none of her visitors showed any incli-
nation to speak, she continued:
My religion is somewhat peculiar,
1 believe. l do not keep it as a snowy
Sunday suit, but wear it every day.
My essential worship consists in daily
discharge of my duty as wife and
mother; my formal worship, in the
pious prostration of body and spirit
before my Heavenly Father at set times,
either in my closet or in the public
assembly. The Sabbath, to me, is the
golden clasp that binds together the
circle of weekly duties. 1t is a bless
ing and consolation, just in the de-
gree that the worship of my six days
has been essential worship"
"And are we to expect nothing of
our minister's wife ?' said Miss Lane,
in very subdued voice. She was evil
IDENTIFY conscious of having made a
great mistake in her estimate of Mrs.
Newton's character.
Nothing more than her duty as
woman. If she have qualities that will
give her leading social influence, and
have time to spare from home duties
which are always frst-she ought to
let these qualities become active for
good. But no more can, with justice,
be required of her than from any other
woman in the congregation. Your
contract for service is with her husband,
and not with her; and you have no
more Just claim upon her time, nor
right to control her freedom, than
you have over the wife of your lawyer,
doctor, or school-master. 1t is this
mistaken idea of the people in regard
to ministers wives shat is producing so
much trouble in societies, and making
wretched the lives of hundreds of poor
women, who hardly dare say that their
souls are their own. 1t is not enough
that the minister's wife is expected to
keep her house and clothe her children
upon the lowest range of income, that
will not allow her competent help, but
she must spend half of her time in
gossiping around among the idle or
wel-to-do ladies of the congregation
take part in their sewing circles, and
attend all their various meetings for
good or doubtful purposes. Now all
this is wrong; and if you are not
satisfied with my husband, because L
will not initiate so bad an example, you
must give him notice accordingly; or
if YOU think my services absolutely
essential to the prosperityo thechurch,
Just state the amount of salary you
can afford to give, and if, for the sum,
| can procure a person In every way
so competent as myself to assume the
charge of my children and household,
l will take into serious consideration
your proposition. Beyond, this, ladies,
/ can promise nothing"
"Thank you again, my dear madam, >
said I, with a warmth that expressed
my real feelings, "for giving this matter
its right solution! You have spoken
out like true independent woman, as
you are, and will see that your views
are correctly reported. Consider me
as your friend"
She turned upon me grateful look
ard as she did so, could see that my