The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-04-19

of his language, yielding to him her conf
dence, it is not strange that, before she Is a
ware, she is captive without captor, vic
tim without an enemy, a wreck without de-
stroyer.
Now know that there is not pastor of a
strong and graceful and sympathetic nature
who reads these words without understand
ing what mean-who does not know that
there are women in his congregation, who
are, either consciously or cnconsciouSly, the
slaves of his will. | have no doubt that there
are some such pastors who will read this es-
say with flush of guilt upon their faces
They have never meant these women any i'll
they would not harm them for the world
but they are conscious of a selfish and most
unchristianly pleasure in these conquests of
female natures these parlor trumphs. God
forgive them Perhaps they go further,and,
by the lingering, fervent pressure of hand,
or the glance of an Eye, or the utterance Of
some bit of gallantry or tlattery, send into Il
woman's heart an unwomanly and an I'M
christian thought. Perhaps they take spec
lai delight in the society Of some half doz-
en- female members of their flock, and find
themselves dressing for misunderstanding to
them their eaknesses-opening. in various
ways, avenues by which the quick eyes and
instincts Of these women can see directly in
to them. The number of pastors is not small,
| think, who are not aware that there is one
woman, or that there are some women, who
know more Of what is in them to their dis
advantage, than any man,-that before GER
tain lenient-possbly sad and forgiving eyes
they stand as men who indulge in essen
tally unchristian vanities of purpose and
lite.
OF all wemen-killers in this world, know
Of none so disgusting as one whose chosen
profession 1t is to preach the Gospel Of Jesus
Christ. A clerical fop. a ministerial gallant.
a man who breaches the love of God on Sun
day. and lays snares for an innocent heart on
Monday afternoon, is disgrace TO Christian
lty, and sad burden TO the Christian cause.
Does such a man think that he can add a lit
tie zest to leisure hour and humdrum
life by toy ing with tender friendship, and
giving lease and latitude to his desire for per
Sonal conquest, and Vet that no one shal!
know il , All, the fallacy know of en-
inent cIergymen-earnest workers-who bv
wedding to this desire once, have been shorn
OF their power for good forever. 80 far as
those are concerned who really know them
and their weakness. There are men in Amer
ica before whom strong men trembe, and
great congregations bow thems, ives. vino
could be laughed to scorn and smother
ed IN cloud of bushes. hv some girl to
whom. in weak moment, they BETRAYED the
vain heart that beats within them. All ye
mcr Of the black coat and the white neck
cloth toying with women. under whateve,
disguise indu!gins in the vanity of person
al power, however ingeniou>ly you mask it's
not tor YOU You can never do il without an
INJURY TO the religion which YOU profess to
preach. II YOU find that YOU are too weak to
to such As you--then You should leave The
desk forever. You, Al least, are bound in
personal honor to quit the public advocacy
OF a cause which your private litt di>honor>.
las! 10 preach. YOU "a, Easier to preach
than practice? Nobody knows il better than
unless it be you. DO not expect pert,c-
ton in this world Of anybody Il do not cN-
pect mpossiblit.e. of anybody. But there
are certain duties which men owe to humani-
ty and their race, and which member. OF
Christian churches and teachers of Christian
churches, owe 10 Christianity and 10 their
brotherhood. which are possible to be per-
formed and which insist upon. do not
appeal to the highest motives-at least do
not appeal to religious motives appeal to
personal honor. | say that every man, high
or low, is bound in honor 50 70 conduct him
self as not TO disgrace humanily-as not to
shake the confidence OF men in human hon
or. say that every man who belongs to a
Christian church-no matter what his inter
nal lie may he-is bound in honor so to car
ry himself before men and women. that the
Christian name receive no damage and the
Christian cause no prejudice in their eyes,
Every man carries the burden Of his race
and his brotherhood and if he be a man.
he will neither ignore it nor try to shake il
off.