The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-25
The Rev. Peter Mullens.

The following paragraphs from DR.. Hol
lands novel of Arthur Bonnicastle {"
(Scribner's for October) describes the mel
ancholy fate of the charity student who was
introduced early in the story.
1t became matter of wonder that any
religious society should be content with the
spiritual ministratiOns of such a man as
Mullens but this society was simple and
poor, and their pastor had an ingenious way
of warming over his old broth and the broth
of Others which secured for him a certain
measure of respect. His tongue was glib,
his presnce imposits, and his self assurance
quite overwhelming.
But at last there came a change New
residents in the parish saw through his shall
low DISCUSSES, and raised such storm of
discomfort about his ears that he was COM
PEELED to resign his pulpit and to cast about
for other means of living. No other pulpit
opened its doors to him. The mans repu-
tation outside of his parish was not desir-
able one. Everybody had ceased to regard
him as a man capable of teaching; and he
had so begged his way and lived upon his
acquaintances, and had so meanly incurred
and meany refused to recognize thousand
little debts among his early friends, that it
|
temporary engagement as preacher.
There was nothing left for him to do but
to become peddler of some sort, for which
office he had rare natural gifts. Leaving
his family where tney were, he took an agen-
cy for the sale of the Cottage Bible. He
drove thrifty business with his publication,
going from house to house, wearing always
his white cravat living upon the ministers
and deacons and advertising himself by
speeches at evening meetings and Sunday
schools. Sometimes he got an opportunity
to preach on Sunday, and having thus made
his face familiar TO the people, drove brisk
business among them on Monday. His
white cravat he used as sort of pass on
railroads and steamboats,, or an instrument
by which it was to be secured. Every Pc
cuniary consideration which could be won
from contemptuous business world, by the
advertisement of the sacred Office which he
once held, he took the boldest or the most
abject way to win.
1t must not be supposed that "Old Null
lens," as people learned to call him, was
really distressed by poverty. Never paying
out cent of money that came into his hands
if he could avoid it, he accumulated hand.
some property, which he skilIfuly hid away
In wise Investments, maintaining his show
OF poverty, through all his active life. Hen
ry shook him of at last and helped me to
do the same. We heard of him not long
ago lecturing to Sunday-schools and buying
wool, and 1T ls not ten years since he ap-
peared in Bradford as an agent of life-in-
surahce company, with specially favorable
terms to clergymen who were kind enough
to board him during his visit. l shrink
from writing here the stories heard about
him, concerning the way in which he adver-
tlsed his business by mixing it with his
! public religious teachings, because it as
soclates such base ideas with an office which
l revere as the highest and holiest a man
( can hold but when l say that in his pub
lie addresses he represented the Christian
| religion as system of life-inSurance of the
spiritual kind, l sufficiently illustrate his
methods and his motives.
He passed useless life He became
nuisance to his professional brethren, bur-
! den to all who were good-natured enough to
open their houses to him. and disgrace to
the Christian ministry. Wearing the badge
OF clergyman, exactng as right that
which was rendered to others as a courtesy
or testimonial of love and friendship, sur
rendering his manhood for the privileges of
ministerial mendicancy, and indulging his
greed for money at the expense of church
to which he fancied he had given his life,
he did, unwittingly perhaps, what he could
to bring popular contempt upon his profess
| sion, and to associate with the Christian re-
iigon the meanest type of personal charac-
ter it is possible to conceive.
Amid the temptations of this poor. earth
ly life, and the weaknesses of human nature,
even the most sacred profession will be dis
graced, now and then, by men who repent
in dust and ashes over their fall from recti
tude, and the dishonor they bring upon
cause which in their hearts they love but
Mullens carried his selfcomplancency to
the end, and demonstrated by his character
and influence how important it is that dun
ces shall not be encouraged to enter upon
| high walk of life by benefactions which rare
ly tail to induce and develop in them the
spirit of beggars. | am sure there is no
field of Christian benevolence more crowded
with untoward results than that in which
weak men have found the means for reach
ing the Christian ministry. The beggarly
| helplessness of some of these men is pitiful
and spirit Of dependence is fostered in
| them which emasculates them, and makes
them contemplate among those whom they
seek to influence.
Thodgh the Rev. Peter Mullens is still
living, | have no fear that l shall be called
to an account for my plain treatment of
him, as he will never buy this book, or find
friend who will be willing to give or lend
it to him. Even if he had such friend,
and he should recognize his portrait, his
amour propre would not be wounded, and
he would complacently regard himself as
prosecuted for righteousness sake