, 1874-09-13

The Adrance gives aomo interesting and good
advice with regard to pastoral visitation:
For years it has been mooted point rs to the
tent PASTORS duty the matter Of the visitation
Of his parish. In otner days this Systematic and
solemn performance especially in the rural Parishes
Of Mem England. Often announcement WIS made on
Sunday that certain districts would be visited on
specified days Of the following week. The pastor took
tho houses iu succeasion aud met the assembled FAM
lily in each, holding religious service partly conver
sationat and catochctica with parens children and
domestics. But, modern dayn, set time has been
as convenient, aud except III Seasons Of revival the
call ha4 usually been Of social character and has
found 1T home only the nifo an1 the very young chill
dren While this custom has had its aivan:age,1nd
pastor must hare opportunity to know his people
il his preaching is to lt their necd-1t has aRo beea
something Of bondage Many minister :1a has
social dissipation, when his hours VIZ would have
bren far morn alvantageously passed in biz
yisug-pastor, no doea he begin to full in the
freshness and power Of his pulpit ministrauons than
seek et anoher @ nu % on 1a s uas sa
pany abe preaching, with the help Of ordinary tact
and efficiency out Of the pulpit Our conception is
pulpit and then that be should visit when actual
sion requires rs III cases Of sickness, niction, ard
special religious interest," tn the relief Of the poor in
rrspSnse to Invitations, and where personal friendship
demands. The suspicious that will be set afoAt by the
allegations made in the Broosyu affair Nil for time
do something, it may bo hoped, to that unrea
soniug clalor for pfo1scious md pastoral
visitation, which has filed the Of intster hith
errO
Nc Cannot indeed, base society on suspicion That
to 80 back to the Oriental etcluson OF the female
sex, substituting the upprehen1iyc secrecy OF the ar
e1n fnr tho friendly orcn!a@s Of tho modern home
Christianity calls for mutual faith, under
pure religion aud protective civil Government.
Ecucc civilization allows wives aud daughters
to walk the streets unveiled, aud to receive their
friends Of both sexes with reasonable freedom.
paste: surely partako of this rieadly intercourse
Yct, for wisdun'a sake, to avoid both SUSPICION and
temptation, 1t may be well to exercise caution
than has sometimes been used. This may 10 done
without going tho Kornish extreme Of having the
grating between the penieut and the cehbate priest
For that, while separating bodily creates closer pri
vacy and often more corruptin9 intimacy than any
thing known In Professionalism.
And hare word may be dropped with respect to 4
visitation Of Iadea to pastors, well the Visitation
Of pastors to adies. Tits may bo necessary but it
should Lc conducted in u manner to expose neither
party to unjust suspicion. or to false accusation. For
this it il better that PASTORS study shold bo
In lis house. IN the bosom Of his family, rather than in
the church-bul1ding. Let tho Church par
zouage, aud build it broad enough or high enough !
to provide in it spacious and cheerful
1t all hours. Then let the ladies call nEon him 1t his
home, in the presence OF his household, and see him
il the paror sittfngroona, where company is re-
.eiyel or friends entertained But II study ia
provided away from his houae he il exposed to q
:esaion Of calls from aiss, coming hiuely and for the
st Of purposes yet putting him and themselves into
awkward relations, should tho evtmlnded choose to
1tart base zurnise. And what an opportunity is
hus Afforded to adyenturesscs Of vile character to OBJ
ain interviews which to found false charge, leav
ng the pastor with witness In his favor to
Tut that few, scandals occur that the intimacy Of
ergymen with ladies so seldom leads to fu1purtty.
constant opportunity; that even
harges Of esi It is owing to the preserv
mr. power OF marriage the clergy, and to the high
ons Of moral. which accompanies evangelical re-
Igion.