The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-10

Pope was 90 years OF age
From Harpsr's Magazine tor January.
Mrs. Grxndv IN tho Church.
Tho Easy Chair has long looked through
the religious magazines, reviews, and jour
nails, to find an uniclo upon "Mrs. Grind!
In the Church." Mrs. Gnindy in sociei!
we all know. Mrs. Grundy in politics is al
so q familiar acquaintance. But It Is in thu
church that Mrs. Grundy mods supreme ant
holds highest her vituous hands Of horror
She denies moral freedom Of action to tli'
clergyman. Erecting certain standard o
action, he must conform. She spreads foI
him what seems to many very soft ant
pleasant couch. 1t Is the bed OF Procustes
and she tries to force him to lie upon it,
Mrs. Grundy does not permit the clergyman
to do what he thinks right and best. but in
sists upon what she thinks he ought to think
fight and best. The very person whom she
invited to take spiritual charge Of her. ana
in whose moral rectitude. and just judg''
ment she must therefore he supposed tr
confde, is the very one whom she will moi
suffer to dance, if he wishes to, or to hear
any but slow music. Is slowness religious
Is tune impious because It is merry? The
opera is n device of Blcczcbub, Is It, dcal
Mrs. Grundy? Aud what do you think o
bobolink? The accessories are bad BuI
what of malice, and hackbiting, and spir,ua
pride, and jealousy, and intolerable person
al gossip in church,
# is extraordinary how that old woman
controls us. Hero Is young fellow,
preacher in the bud, and full Of the happi
est promise and he gocs-well. pretty Of
ten, to see as lovely and amiruble a young
person Of the other sex rs can be found
anywhere; and merely because this wretch
ed old woman puts up her eye glass and
says, "lIam, ha, twice last week. What
does that mean !? No young clergyman ought
to be suspected of flirting" The young fel.
low drops of, and the young person Of the
other sex begins TO grow pale. Or there
was the good old pastor Of the church, so
we'll know to those Of US who arc familiar
with It, who after his long and faithful ser.
vice should be omitted. And why not
Every Sunday afternoon he preached to a
lew brethren, more or less asleep. Il was
not very unreasonable that he should sup.
pose that they would prefer to sleep at
home. In any case Il was cruel tax upon
him. But Mrs. Grundy was aghast. She
could see In such suggestion nothing but
soheuing Of the brain, or the overthrow OF
tho Christian religion; and she stated her
case no strongly that the rest of the parish
yielded, and still continue to take their Sun.
day afternoon nap in church instead Of ul
home.
Why don't tho ministers break Mrs.
Grinly's head2 Why do they not say to
their societies thut they will not, because
they ought not, continue to work so severe
Iy for pay SO miserable? And why do not
we who sit in the pews Interfere? Above
all, il we cannot pay large salary, and
choose occasionally to send purse to our
clergymen, why do we not make Il point
Of honor that nobody shall mention the
fact to tho newspapars3 What honest
man does not vince with shame when he
reads that the parishiones Of the Rev. MIR.
Blank presented him on Tuesday evening at
his residence, with neat purse containing
twenty-five cents in new five cent pieces |;
that the Honorable Somebody or Nobody
mude a few felicitous remarks to which
the pastor feelngly responded? What Is
the object Of this kind of thingf Iii the
glorifcation Of the generous society that
presents the purse. 1t is not, as somebody
claims, beautiful public tribute Of respect
and regard for the minister; for he knows
and they know and everybody knows that
The sole public. impression Is that poor
Blank mus, be very sore pressed indeed when
he Is eloquen,ly grateful for finy cents. or
new hat or coat, or whatever 1t may be.
The whole ceremony is Mrs. Grndy's at.
tempt to eat her cake and have il at tho
same time.
A conscientious clergyman Is the hardest
worked man among us; and yet there are
very many who look. upon him as a kind
Of drone In the great hive, and who have a
vague idea that he is pretty well paid for
doing very little. It is this half contemptu-
Gus feeling which DR.. Wayland. the chief
Of the Baptist clergy, had in mind when he
said "Brcthren, if one Of you have lazy,
ood.for.nothing son, about whom you are
In despair, you are sure to make a Baptist
minister Of him." II that is the feeling
how can we expect our children to care or
wish to 60 to churcA' And yet what right
have we to expect that another kind Of man
will bo satisfied with tho pistapee wo pay
The mos, shining proof Of the generally
noble character Of the clergy b that despite
tho pit.anec, they sre not the kind Of men
DR.. wsyland described. But they do want
moro independence. They do want to
Tread down Mrs. Grundy under their feet.
In ALICE CAaY's"OEr WHr TOO MAN,
when tho widow Van Horn set her wedding |
lav With Rim Van Biaham oulv few days |