Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-09-26
Pastoral Institutions = Something IN
Favor of them.


10 ne Euit0f or me COhlmefctdt
In your issue OF the 23d inst, Twas interested
in reading the extract from the Inter- Ocean, re-
lating to the subject of pastoral visitation.
There is an appearance of candor in the article,
which commends it, at first sight, to the good
sense of the reader but as it contains a sweep
ing assertion regarding the state of feeling to
which pastors are subjected while visiting their
female parishionera, l deem tho writer's pre-
sentation as harmful in tendency, and hence,
ask indulgence for few structures. IL in to
tho following sentence / would call atten-
ton Thousands discharge this duty (thc
pastoraD conscientiously, without falling
into sin, yet we hazard nothing in saying
that not ten in the thousand but arc terribly
tempted at times, and by good conscientious,
pure-minded Christian women, who treat their
pastor as though he could not thrill with nat
ural desire and were already beyond the posi-
bity of SIM"
Now while the writer of the article undoubted-
ly speaks from his own personal standpoint, he
himself being pastor, AZ he claims, it il unwise
il not cruel in him, to pass evil judgment upon
the great mass of his clerical brethren. l take
issue at this point, and fatty deny tho truth OF
such statement M is here made. Pastors in
deed are mon of like passions with others-the
arc indeed men but then they arc holy men--
they are sanetiiied or set apart for a pure life,
and pure work, and to this end they have re-
nounced the world and lustH thereof and nc not
able are they for real piety and good
works, that when single fall
occurs in the ranks of the ministry, there is a
greater pother about it than if n dozen other
men were convicted az guilty of tho same sin.
And this serves to show how deeply imbedded
in the public mind il tho belief OF their gener-
al purity of thought and life. And the belief il
well founded, as the facts will show
That there arc women in the churches who are
unwise and indiscreet in their personal inter
views with their pastor may be admitted, but
these arc exceptional. The great majority of
Christian women do not pursue course that is
inimical to a pastors virtue but OIL tho contra
ry, one that is calculated to uphold him, and
make him bravo and strong for every good pur-
| pose.
From the postulate / havo above cited, the
writer goes on to argue the inutility of pastoral
| visitation and the importance of giving more at
| tention to other demands that are made upon
him. Aud so, because Judas, having the bag OF
money, betrayed his Lord, is it to be said that
| every other disciple who is intrusted with the
funds of the church, will go and do likewise
| And because pastor now and then falls from
| his high place, must tho whole fraternity DO nc
| cused of danger from sensual tendencies, while
engaged in the performance of their duties to-
| ward woman? And for this cause must a minis
ter absent himself from families who need hi
presence-families with which he needs contact
in order to understand their wants, and imparl
instruction publicly, or otherwise, as then
cases may determine? 1 grant that prudence
is acknowledgement prudence ON tho par
of Clergyman, III all his inteic with til
people. But there arc multitudes of women a
we'll az men, who are wonderfully helped by sym
pathy and Christian counsel and sometimes
they can nowhere be helped no well, AZ at thei
| own homes. These are hard times indeed. 70
many. There are people all about us, VIII
scarcely know how they shall live. There ar
thousands of crushed spirits-women as well a
men, who are dying of trouble. There is man
an aching heart, many a weary watcher Q
at the bedside of some who arc soon TO pas
Y away from earth. Must the pous sympathetl
christian friend, the beloved pastor, be exclude
from these scenes of care and trouble, becaus
a forsooth some men have betrayed their trui
9 and done wickedy? A church fair, or sociabl
q which the article in question recommends as
+ substitute may be well enough in its way but
i il poor place to sit down and talk over u
:, griefs to which We are subject, and point out IL
4. virtue of endurance, and the blessedness
- faith, as the panacea for human ills.
" might say more but l forbear am not
C pastor but it seems to mo, that it is neithI
i wise nor good, to encourage distrust of IL
IL purity of minister ordained of God for Il
" highest interests of humanity, and whose fnn
@ ton, like as was that of the Master, is to Wis
: the fathorless and widows in their afcton All
4 keep itself unspotted from the world.
kITNE.