Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-16
IF CLERGYMES
TEHlland, in Scribner's for Novem-
mus handles very delicate subject:

{ - - eA06 BI&cSGl
is man peculiarly subjected to tempta-
tons to unchaste conversation with
the female members of his flock. Tt is
undoubtedly and delightfully."- true that
a popular preacher is the object Of gen.
uine affection and admiration TO the
women who sit under his ministry. A
true woman respects brains and COM
handing masculine nature; but if there
is anything which she naturally
chooses to hide from her pastor it is her
own temptations-if she has any-to
illicit qualifications. She naturally de-
sires to appear well to him upon his own
ground of Christian purity. To expose
herself to his contempt or condemnation
would be forbidden by all her preten-
sions professions. and natural instincts.
A bad woman might undertake to atone
for, or to cover up. her outside psccadil-
Ices by the most friendly and eonsiderate
treatment of her pastor. but she would
not naturally take him for her victim.
1t is precisely with this man that she
wishes to appear 1T her best Any mar
with the slightest knowledge of human
nature can see that her selfish as well as
her Christian interests are against any
exhibitions of immodest and unchaste
desires in the presence of her spiritual
/ teacher
There are only two classes Of women
with whom minister is liable to have
what, in the language of the world.
is called dangerous intimacies. The
first consists of dlscontented wives-dis-
eonted through any cause connected with
their husbands or themselves A woman
finds herself married to a brute. She
suffers long in silence her heart is brok-
en- or weary. and she is dying for SYM
patty. She tells her story TO the one
man who is-tO her-guide, teacher,
inspirer, and friend. He gives her the
best counsel of which he is capable.
comforts her If he can, sympathizes with
her, treats her with kindness and consid-
Grafton. That woman should, in many
instances, look upon such man as little
less than god, and come to regard him
as almost her only solace amid the daily
accommodating trials of her life, is as
natural as it is for water TO run down
hill. That she should respect him
more than she can respect brutal hus-
band-that half an hour of his society
should be worth more to her heart and
her self-respect than the miserable years
Of her bondage to a cruel master-is also
entirely natural. He cannot help 1t, nor
can ne find temptation in IT, unless he
chooses TO do SO. Women under these
circumstances, do not 20 to their
pastors either to tempt or to be tempted.
There Is another class of women who
are thrown. or who throw themselves.
into what may be called an intimate as
ISOLATION with the clergy. 1t is a class
that have nothing else to do SO pleasant
as 70 be petting some nice man, TO who's e
presence and society circumstances give
them admission They are very harm
less set-gushing maiden ladies. aged
and discreet widows with nice houses.
sentimental married woman who with 10
brains TO lend. are fond of borrowing
them for the ornamentation of all posi-
Die social occasions. A popular minister
receives great deal of worship from
this class, al which. when it is not too
| irksome, We doubt he quietly laughs.
The good old female parishioner who de-
ciared that her pastors cup Of tea would
be none TO good if it were al molassess. .
was fair type Of these sentimental
creatures. to whom every minister pos.
sesslng the grace Of courtesy is fair
game. To suppose that pastor, sufh-
GENTLY putty headed to be pleased with
this sort OfwOrship. or sufficiently manly
to be bored by it. is in field Of temp.
tatiOn 70 unchastity, Is simply absurd
One is too feminine for such temptation
] and the other altogether tso masculine.
When these two classes are set aside
/ what have We left? Virtuous and con.
f tented mothers Of virtuOus daughters
e daughters whom he baptizes In their In
$ fancy. trains in his SUNDAY School. mar
I ries when they are married, and burie
Il with sympathetic tears when they die
!. In such families as these his presence i
j benedictlOn /; and 70 suppose that h i
d tempted here. is to suppose him brut
D and 20 deny the facts Of human nature
: We verify believe there is no class In I'd
le community so little tempted as the clerg
y and there certainly is no class surround
r ed on every side with such dissuasi;ve
Sc from unchaste conduct To clergyman
5 influence and q good name are inestim.
n bic treasures To stand before conf6in
Ii audiences. Sunday after Sunday. an
a preach that which he knows condemn
Is himself in the eyes Of . single menbe
Dy OF ms nOck, must be . crucifxion fro,
x whose fortunes the brzvest man woul
x shrink There are bad men in the pu
10 pat without doubt There is low an
AZ then woman who would not sbrr
i: from an intrigue with such, but woms