National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-07
From the Copgregationalist.
Ministers Work.
by REV. w. l.. GAGE.

are situated SO as to pass an intel
ligent iudgmc 1t on the actual
amount of toll which enters into the
work OF clergyman. And mas
much as great error prevails in this
matter, and ont of this miSundc'-
standing great practical evils and
MISUNDERSTANDING arise, 1t is per
haps worth while that one who is
so situated as to know the facts,
and vet to tell them withoaC incur
ring the charge of gloritying his
own profession, should let II little
light into the public mind touching
Minister'S Work. We can speak
personally in this matter from eXnc.
Iiencc, yet for more than four years
the hand of sickness has made the
pulpit less than the pew our home.
The minister writes during the
wear an amount of matter which,
were it printed, would make a good
" row of volumes. The amount OF
thought and care which he puts into
what ne writes, is quite equal, and
in fact superior, to that bestowed ON
the larger part OF the books and
magazines which are printed, while
in nervous force, sermons cost much
more than do published works. But
not To press this point, which it
were difficult to p.ovc, it is an easy
matter for person to verify the fact
that the number OF pages written
yearly for the pulpit. by every hard
working minister vino Is pouring
out fresh sermons, is equal to the
work done by the most prolific an.
thors OF our time. Eight sermons
il printed, would make an ordinary
sized duOdccimO dollar and half
volume. and Il hundred and four ser
mons. (oit-Setting vacation by pre-
paratory lrcturcs) would make al
most thiltccn volumes. Now make
any reasonable allowance for eX-
changes and the repetition of ser
mons, and there still remains a good
ly row OF books, longer than is pub
lishcd by the most prolific authors,
eXceptil g our popular novclists, and
hardly excepting any of these save
Miss Braddon and her school. No
editor writes more than this; few so
much. No magaziuiSt writes more
than this: almost none so much
As an author. the active clergyman
takes pla, among the most prolific
Of his time AS an author he does
one mans hard work.
But this isonly apart. The mum
bcr of calls made by an active pas
tor yearly, ranges from five to fifteen
hund,cd. These cost about rs much
time. and sympathy, and thought as
the average calls of a phySiclan.-
Were they charged for, as are the
calls of a physician. they would yield
a rood living. While they do not
edual in number the visits of Il ply
stefan in first class practice, and
while they do not often take the
minister at inclement seasons ane
at late hours, they yet pursue Inn
with a haunting sense OF lmc0mniet
cd work, and in many eases they
amount to IL list equal to Il fair mcdl
cal practice. There are scores o
physiciaus who would count them
selves happy. if charging fifteen hun
drcd visits during the year Man,
do much more than this: hut Wha
| want to make out is this, that II
addition to the work Ctsa NoiumI
nous author, the minister does tn
work OF a physician i'll tan practice
! There are two mems work.
NcXtis the advice which a clergy
| man has 10 give. If there Is any
) thing to ne asked and ausWcre'
: about schools and libraries. ahou
lectures and newspapers. apou
. books and pictures, lfa widow want
; counsel, OF i father to know Wher
. to send his son to college, or
, Young man to ask about gong I
/ the ,itN. ii there is any town WORK |
- he douc. or general reform To bc Il
i tended To. or speech making To Il
4 effected, it anybody is going to =
}. up anything good. and anybody els
II is going to put down anything na'
O ifthcrc is to hc any advising, con-
) selling. planning, making OF uiilnal
l. ing, the minister is called n. EN
y ~ body feels the right to go tc mn
# and everybody avalIS himself iretI
{ ot the right. NobodN ont of Il
S secret has any conception OF I'll
e part of minister's work. 1t IL
II mirequcntly involves the writing
/. more thau a thousand letters Il yea
- Said one of our most prominent cle
gymm TO me, it Is not sermons tn
threaten 20 Kill me, II Is the ahswt
., ing of letters. The amount ot I'll
" general advice, aud general outsl,
u work which is done 10y an ciliciei
" live. ~ Il hard working minister,
~ nearly or quite equal to that do'
:" 10y u lawyer with Il ihr practice.
- =. This is said knowingly, coolly al
u with sense of perfect certainty
That makes Il third mans work.
Now if to this there he added I
2, funerals to he attended, tie mar
t, ares TO be celebrated, the reports
Dt bc written, the newspapers To
$: read, and the books to hc studit
t. the associations TO be participat
G, in, the newspaper articles to he pi
pared. not to spc X Of the hotel
be kept, (for most ministers keep
,g hotcl,) and YOU have the work o.
y lazy man. in addition to mat oi !
c. thee able bodied ones ncntlon'
S, 70 sum /, up then, u minister "
al docs the full work that no wants