The Portland daily press., 1869-11-30
DAILY PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, November 30, 1869.
A Model Charge 10 IA Clergyman.
CORTLAND.


The Boston Transcript says The charge
at ordination is usually considered the weigh
tiest part" in the services and it is some
| times just that in leaden sense. But here
are the Rev. DIR. Hedges counsels to Rev. hr.
Grennell, given at the recent installation OF
tue latter at Charlestown, which in Its SEN
tehtlous wisdom and pungent phrases, will be
| 1ound iull OF meat for ministers, and not with
| cut tit bits for laymen, circumstances changed.
| Possibly, in lntlmation rather than positive
assertion, the DIR. braces himself up against
some of the tendencies of the day, with the
conservatism of individual habit and taste, a
little more stiffiy than charity demands; but
as he stouty contended for substance, hrst,
last and always, and urges an all-peryadlng
integrity OF head, heart and lips, spufnng
of shams will be assented 10 as timely, even
ii he does quarrel little with the innocent
instrumentalitles of sensation. Here are his
words, as reported in the Charlestown Chron-
icle:
"Friend and Brother: You have requested
of me what is technically known in our de-
nomination as the charge. L have acceded
to your request, though L am conscious that
1t seems with some Inconsistency. l am con-
vnced, alter forty years in the ministry, that
experience, so far as it should influence 9TH
| ers, IS not worth much. The most valuable
| experience is our own. Each generation must
| must learn its own work over. The minister
would fail who should adopt the experience
OF others. In no position, / am convinced, is
individuality more needed than in the minis
try.
f" / charge you, first, therefore. to be true TO
your own ideas. Be no second edition of any
man on the earth or under the earth. You
have in your own mind an ideal of what you
desire. 1t may not coincide with the ideas
and opinions OF others. But it is your con-
viction, and by it you are to stand or fall. The
minister is to be the medium of Christianity,
the method must be left to himself, governed
by the circumstances of his pe ople.
Some men indulge in multiplicity of du-
ties. They institute conference meetings,
prayer meetings and social gatherings. / do
not object to these, il needed. Whatever will
prosper Christian truth is well. But in my
judgment the main instrumentality in our de-
nomination for influencing and saving must
be the pulpit. / charge you, therefore, give
heed to your preaching. Let nothing be care
broad sense, Of course. Choose your topic,
then think closely, brood over it., turn all its
parts to the light and so give it an adequate
presentation. As to methods of study, there
are two operations, quite contrary, which the
minister must combine. For information,
open yourself to all the channels about you.
But for opinion close every avenue to the
NOiiu WItuOul anu oGth yOurS6lI. III is Ill
solitary communion, in lonely walks, that the
spirit will visit you, 1t it visit you at all.
"The preachers success must depend upon
the aims he proposes for himself / charge
you, beware of the ambition which courts
popularity. 1t is too dear purchase when
purchased at all. We know the qualities
mons 81 to make the popular preacher. Ser
certain mixt;ldfffb morality is the basis and
Of speech and orat0ffedote and fancy, How
traa the crowd and seem These at
piety sails But object to success @asrs %s.srs
is simply statistical-a full house, long retl-
nue. OF folleyers. The kingdom of heaven is
not to be measured by polls. The preacher
who gives up the gospel and breaches mordli-
tv simply, spicily aad with display, will at
tract Others. But it's the man which at
tracts, it is not regeneatins power.
"Some trouble themselves more about the
effect of their words than about the truth at.
tered. They think more of The entertaining
than the whispers OF the gospel. Let your
preaching be serious in purpose, earnest in
tone and wejghty with the weight of truth.
Avoid noisy defamation. Let the sermon
be powerful only with the fire of truth it en-
bodies. Address not the fancy, or silly senti-
mentality. Preach to the deeper feelings of
the soul. Beware of fancying that the COM
piments you receive are any test OF the good
YOU are doing. Be assured that what comes
HUH yOul OWn SAPNAiNhNN VIZ
come to some thirsty soul with sweetness and
power. Begin to suspect something wrong
when all men shall speak well OF you: AT
conventions be not forward to speak. They
who generally speak most desire to be heard
| for their much speaking. Be not forward to
yourselfout in the columns OF newspaper.
| There is enough babbe in the world. Com
mune rather with your heart in secret.
"Your influence will be the influence of
/ char so rnuah hv tho flfnatior of
| your office as by yourself Dare to be nat
ural. Dare TO be yourself. 1t is the friend
that makes the pastor, and not, repeat, the
function.
"You will not satisfy all. But I have yet to
learn that our chief Office in this world is to
give satisfaction. There is only one being in
this world worth satisfying, and that is your
! self. And thus acting you will have your re-
ward. Testimonies will come TO you as you
live that your preaching has been to many a
| medium of new life. And what better sue
cess can any profession have?"