Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-03-14
A Word to Clergymen

they are, DO doubt, employing their tai
ents and energies to that end, and are
accomplishing much good. But there
iz a choice of means, or variety of
means may be employed iu reaching an
object.
Tha. the peculiar mission Of the
clergy is to minister to the spiritual
wants OF the people, is admitted. And
with this we would in no way interfere,
nor have them intermit their labors 10
that behalf. But there is very large
outside sphere. which they ought to be,
and many Of them are, we'll fitted BY
their literary requirements to 6ll, with
out at all interfering with their pulpit.
or even pastora! duties.
1t seems to rs that man who has
spent years Of his life in acquiring an
education which would enable him to
interest, instruct, educate, and elevate
general society, is hardly justified in
condning his efforts to single congre-:
CATION, and that often very small one.
1t seems like waste of energy for
highly gifted mind to exhaust itself in
so small sphere. if larger one opens
itself, which promises more extensive
use. A sermon, however good, dies
upon the ear, and the impression is too
often very transient. But the point We
make is, that but few, comparatively,
even hear the sermons This is mani
fest from the meager congregations
which attend the service.
But all the people read. And they
all read newspapers. A paper is not
like spoken sermon. 1t comes into
the homes Of the people, and stays there.
It is one Of the household. IF any
member Of the family is away when it
comes, itawaits their return. tits taken
up again and again during the week,
aud is read and reread. The impress
sion it makes is lasting. The respon-
sibility Of an editor is fearful one. For
good or evil, his paper is an organ Of
almost incalculable power. If con-
Quoted with ability and conscientious
regard for the good Of community, it
becomes an educational instrumentality
of unspeakable worth, ever tending to
the elevation Of the standard Of taste
and aiding the social progress Of the
community to higher state Of cultiva-
ton and refinement. Such an instru-
mentality We earnestly desire to make
the Telegraph. That it comes far short
Of our ideal, is very freely admitted
And it is for the nurpose of improving
it in this respect, that this article is
written TIE thousand papers VIC send
out every week is probably read by
three or four thousand people. And
We ask any clergyman in Pomeroy, if it
, would not nerve him With new. energy
if he had such au audience every week
to attend on his ministra tions7 Well,
, that is precisely what we propose to
give you. And is it not worth few
additional hours Of labor daily, or weekly,
to have the opportunity to speak to such
an audience7
| Let us be understood. We invite to
our columns, most cordially, contribu-
tions from the trained minds among US,
and have instunced the clergy as such.
We do not want your sermons. Let
those who desire to hear them attend
to their delivery in the churches. But
the whole field Of morals
philosophy, and literature is open 10
you, and We offer to you, through our
columns, such In audience as you will
never preach to from your pulpit, or
your lecture room And we ask you, if
you are willing, while preaching to an
irregular congregation of few dozen,
OF at m most a few hundred people to have US,
mere layman, preaching to twice as ma ,
thousand constant attenda nts, and as
probable as not, preaching herecies al
that? Come, then, with your best
thoughts-your ripcst scholarship
your choicest productions. Our offer
is surely liberal one-it is certainly
made in good faith. We feel the re-
sponsibility of the position which We
occupy, and would like your aid. Dc
you desire to do good? When will you
End better opening? And with the
opening, is there not moral obligation
laid spon you to occupy the field? Fol
Igood or for evil, the Telegraph is one oi
1.-The ':ins.itutions" Of this county. It's /,
permanent fixture" It, is going inte
|all the reading families. You can g
there with it and speak the words o
wisdom, that will make the world th'
better for their being spoken. vii
you DO it7
StEll After Them.
Congress has just adopted the follow