Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-08-16
III PAY
A MINISTER'S MISTAKE.
BY ELSIE EARNEST.
[From the Baltimorean

[From the Baltimoreau
Mr.. Wilson was decidedly the most pop
ular minister with which the church a.
UniOnSville had ever been blessed. Ht
preached good sound gospel sermons, anC
his hearers hearts were stirred by thC
earnest love and charity, which ran through
all his words. He was much liked by al
denominations, and by sinners us well a
saints. The church fomishc'!, the con
gregatiOns were larger, and the finances il
a much better condition than at any pre-
viOus period of its history.
The parsonage was in wealthy anG
fashionable neighborhood; and the minis
ter's family were invited ont to dinner, ant
to tea, while he was the life If rvory socia
gathering. Truly minis.cr so highly
honored and universally prlted must bt
sans reprOche.
Let us 60 to his home and see the mo-
tive power of his actions. a lovely place
was that village parsonage. Nature and
art We'd with each other in making it q
worthy abode for Gods ci4, ,,tn ministers
place suggestive Of pure thoughts and
lofty aspirations.
Let us visit it in beautiful May, wheI
the air is burthened with Ihr erfume OF
many lovely flowers, and lh~ free and
happy SOngSters are carOlin- il ir songs of
praise from the bOughs of noble trees
and Ill and around all seems peaceful and
pure.
1t was balmy afternoon. A sumptu-
Gus dinner had been partallen OF, and the
family, together with young friend, were
seated on the piazza, enga agh in pleasant
converse. That young frirnd Was Robert
Ar1nistead, an intelligent and wealthy
young law student, who had halted between
two opinions for some tim", almost per-
Suaded to become a Christian, and whom
Mr.. Wilson was particularly Al Nous to get
into his church. He was very fond Of Mr..
Wilson's society and visitct. him very fire.
quently, ever finding his conv, ISation both
pleasant and instructive. he had well
nigh decided to lenOUnce the pnmps and
vanities of this wicked Ntlld and unite
with the Rev. Mr.. Wilson - tl:th.
While thus pleasantly cIr' aged, mar,
well known i'll the village and It's vicinity,
as a rough, dissOlute char.,tcr, living IN
abject poverty and steepC" ia wee. walked
up and enquired for the Rev. Nj. Wilson.
The reverend gentleman pi.'d, 81 am
Mr.. Wilson, what do you ,Anl:' He re
piled, "My wife is very IL; br. Blown
says she can't live twenty-fDuI hours. She
heard you preach once, amt is very anxious
for you to go and pray W ia her before she
dies. She is in great distress sir, and |
wish you would go at One.
The poor man seemed deeply distressed,
but he was great sinner, and the prOpriG-
ty of going into such neiHhborhcod must
be considered. The minister answ cred
coldly, 81 will see what L can do for you"
The disconSOlate hOvel to WhirI he was
invited was five miles dl>tnt, and in a
neighbOrhOod noted for its ,irIrnvity. The
Mr. Inc. ..f
excuse himself upon the plea that he had
not the facilities for reaching The It or man 8
home.
ton which presented ils.nr. Every in
stinct of his nature shrank from such low
associations, even for one hour. He con.
suited his wife. She urged him to go, and
go quicnly. He consented, provided
brother Jones, an old and Influential mem
Der of the church, would consent TO accom-
pany him.
Brother Jones, it was asccrtained was
from home, and would not return before
nightfall. Brother Smith doubted the pro-
priety of mixing up /" with such people.
a visit to such a place might iDjure his
usefulness, and excite remarks which
might render him less acceptable among
his own circle. That was sufficient to de-
ter him from moving another sued iii a work
of mercy.
at will not pay" was lls comment as
he returned home to inform the man that
he could not go. His rrtus.I was not
smOothed in the least. Au apology FOR
not going with such "a man would be out
of place. O! spirit of the meek and lOwly
Jesus, where dwellest thou?
The Rev. Mr.. Wilson saw the look OF
n fIl,. 4, in IN
mans face change TO one OF deadly hate
and rebellion, as he turne "n, but he
needed it not. Was not he above his anger
secure in the confidence OF las people +?
Mrs. Wilson implored him Ia 90, and of
fered to accompany him. lie still refused,
and gave as a reason that tie General good
of the church required him 50 be very cir
cumspect. There were cll-niIfded per
sons always watching a minister, and eli
dcavOring to bring some charge against
him, which would damage his power for
good, and bring reproach upon the church.
This reasoning might be V"iI conclusive
to his mind, hut his wife rcito. ,Ii,d from her
instructive feeling for dislreasi humanity
and, with tears coursing do II Ler cheeks,
plead
80, my husband, did our b sscd Saviour
hesitate to do good becans' his subjects
were poor anu vic. DIu ~
the touch of Mary Magdcl,rr., though lie
had to cast ont seven devi3 ~nich pos
sessed her? Do you not remember that
when rebuked for eating "+iir publicans
and sinners, he replied: 81 ANA not 10
call the righteous, but sinn - 10 repcn-
tlnce;' and, do we not read that ''thcre is
Joy IN Heaven over one sarher that re-
pentsth." 1t does not read IA rich and in
fiuential person, but sinher. How can
you hesitate? Even while ! aIn pleading,
poor creature is dying aiui begging foI
the prayers of one of Gods MINISTER'S
Tears nor prayers could not move him,
though he felt and knew it was his duty.
yet "Will it pay? interposed, and made
him still refuse. While he might 90, and
be instrumental in saving that pool
woman's soul by SO doing, d dozen others
might be lost TO this church. He thought
| it his duty to consider how Le might ac
complish the greatest amount Of good n I'd
get the greatest number Of members into
the church.
I My readers may think the picture over
drawn. Some may say: "fbere never
was such a case. No minister would re-
fuse to visit dying person under any cir
| stances" All, reader, L thought SO, too