Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-01-07
Donation Visits.

In our last paper we noticed the very
creditable visits recently given to Kew.
Mr.. Hopkins. 1t seems on reflection not
altogether out Of place to say something
on the principle, or practice Of these VS.
its. In some place it is made part OF the |
machinery by which the minister is sup |
ported, and the donation, though profess
ing to be a gift, is merely the payment OF
an honest debt, and is no donation at all
This kind of sharp practice Is entirely
one side Of what we conceive to be prop
er in such transactions. Let the minis
ter have sufficient salary to support him
comfortably, or even a little over rs
margin for wet day" There can be
no more reason why minister should
work simply for his bread than there Is
why lawyer, or any other professional
man should simply make the ends meet
We ask as great talents, or even greater
and more learning in his case than in the
others. He should be able to interest
and instruct all professions, even lawyers
and judges, and produce by his abilities
a decided impression on the community.
Then he should be paid fairly and hon
orably, so that he should not fear to speak
out in any place the peculiar doctrines
which he teaches. But this is not all
that is his due or ours. In order that we
receive the greatest amount Of good from
his labors we must have a kind OF re-
spect and love for him which we find 1t
difficult to entertain for a hireling. Pu-
pulls who look upon their teacher simply
as pedagogue who is hired to spend
certain number Of hours in day, make
n certain number Of rules, look very Sc
we're and majestic, and flourish the ruler,
instead of one who loves them and wishes
to aid them in acquiring the rudiments Of
science, and thus fit them for usefulness
will not be likely to make that proficiency
in their studies, neither to enjoy Their
school days as they would in the latter
case.
So in this case, If the minister is only
man who receives a certain sum for ;
specified number Of sermons, and a gen
eral agreement to visit, &c, when w
have paid him his money our connection
with him ceases, and when he has bel,
forth the aforesaid number of times, hi
duty is done, and we may care 10 NOR
for him than the Russian for his serl.-
But we do not believe this relation to b
the true one. We should look up to hir
as our spiritual guide, our teacher in tn
great science of Christ, and he should b
made to love us as his pupils and labC
for us as his children. TO this end W
should give him our sympathies-our CT
enlargement and our favor 1t is not f
US to point out all the ways and near
by which this should be done by the pc,
pie, but we can well conceive that a Wis
aud a donation like that we had the pie
sure Of recording last week would 90 f
to create bond Of love, if not Of oblig
ton on his part, which would be valu
BILE for the people-which would yield
large return for the money invested
would be a cheap way of making hi
happy and receiving a large return OF
selves.
There is still another value in these V
It's, arising from the commingling Of
classes, and their mutual emulatons
such an object. We "loog time ag
suggested the importance Of some sui
BILE way to spend our winter evenings.
We must have some amusements for {
young, and if we furnish them none Il
are safe, improving and socialising
their character, they will find those Il
are not so. But these visits, in which
classes mingle, are from their very
ture free from the objections often raj,
against balls and card parties. Here
parents and the children, the profes
and the worlds people, meet on a &C
mon level for a mutual purpose, and
both classes there is n real benefit deriv
But this is large subject, and we
bear.
In conclusion, we give our voice 70
perpetuation of the system Of "donat
visits"
Christmas.