The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-28
The Duttes b. HIlnisters, yKIvea


The following appeared nearly a year
since, but 1t is just as good to-day. It
was evidently written by Zone who
knows, and a lady at that. We COM
mend it to the people of all our
churches: ae rpfI5 I..a-s-. .g.4
or course, believe; as many others
do. that minister's wives are getting too
independent, too much inclined to
think and act for themselves not
seeming to realize that they are public
property. a lady WAS asking me few
days since why 1t was that ministers'
wives were always sickEy. Reason
enough, i thought, as long as ministers
will insist upon marrying girls who
have done nothing but attend school,
making IL as an excuse that they want
intellectual wives, who can sympathize
with their literary and pulpit labOrs.
ana to train up their children in an In
telLgent manner. Now 1 love minis
ters, and do not like to speak as
though they had single failing in the
world; but 1t seems to me, that while
they know they have the entire sympa-
tiny OIL us sisters in, regard to their adj
Vancement and spiritual interest, that
might be sensible enough to marry
good stout farmers daughters who
could attend the children milk the
cows, make the. butter, &C., and get
comforting and encouraging their hus-
bands' docks. There are a great many
good people who are not able to nav the
minister anything, but if himself and
wife would call around, once in a week
or two, it would encourage them so
41eHch and as soon as they felt able they
would probably do something for their
support. cannot imagine how Paul
neglected to give minister's wives some
instructions; he seemed to remember
deacons' wives. have heard that he
was opposed togetting married at all.
Bnt1 Will lay down SOME rules, and If
our ministers wives do not abide by
them, it will not be because have not
done my duty faithfully: -s
1. She should be like Mary, always
sitting at the feet of Jesus, in possess
sion of the one thing needful, regard
less OF every worldly interest. ar
2. Like Martha, she should do all the
SAVING yet without being encountered
byit..Ca 3. -s4H5a h ,,,s57
3. She should be little more prompt
than Sarah of old, and have refresh-
ments always ready for those travelling
angels, whose visits ut the minister's
mouse are not "few and tar between"
Like Dorcas she should keep con-
stantly on hand supply of ready
made c!othingY to bestow upon all the
poor saints and sinners in the commu-
nifty where she resides, with q spare
box for others abroad. =
.. Like the prophecies Anna, she
should not depart from the temple day
or night" for the multiplied meetings
OF the church, constant attendance In
the sanctuary, and it is the duty OF the
nlint8teI's a0ife to attend to them all.
3. Like the widow of Sarept8 she
must have the art of using meal out of
one barrel, and oil out of one cruise, the
quantity.
Lastly she must be apt to please
everybody, "becoming all things to all
men," women and children, grave or
gay, refined or rude, intelligent or ig-
norant, aftable or the reverse, as suits
the company she may chance to fall in.
Upon these conclusions are based the
following "remarks:"
!. That 1t is the duty of churches to
set apart y Y0ung women, and educate
them for minister's, wives.
2. When u church is, about to call a
pastor, they should appoint a special
committee to visit his wife and ascer-
tain whether she is able and willing to
perform the labor of five ordinary Wo-
men, without any compensation except
the crumbs which fall from her masters
(husband's) table.
8, A minister's wife should be always
at home and always abroad; ALWAYS
serving God and always serving tables.
Lastly she must be little more pru.
dent than our Saviour, for he had ia
Vorites among his disciples, which in
her is unpardonable.