New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-22
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THE PASTORATE.

THE Passionate.
Persons who join the Christian Church as
sumo in so doing new relations and in
creesed responsibilities. In addition 20 the
duties formerly due to their families and
society, they incur other and special duties
to the society with which they unite them
selves and the pastor who presides over
that society. In the Roman Catholic Church
the question of individual morality in all
matters not affecting the public is left be-
tween the individual conscience and God,
subject to the Judgment of the father con
fessor only, but not at al to the opinion of
other members of the church. Episco-
palians enjoy still larger liberty, for with
themeven among the very High Church, con-
fession is not practiced except at the point
OF death, and such thing as the church
taking member to task for violations of
Christian conduct is unheard Of, thigh the
right of either minister or members to do so
could not consistently be questioned
Among Christians of the so-called evangeli-
cal denominations however, the case is diff
ferent. They claim to have enjoyed certain
spiritual experiences totally incom, atible
with a desire for the ordinary pleasures of
worldlirgs. Any voluntary participation in
such pleasures on their part is scandal to
the church, as well as a spiritual detriment
to the person indulging in it. They also
bear q closer personal relation toward each
other than the members of the two churches
above named, calling each other "brother'
Christians, and pretending to exercise over
each other certain spiritual guardianship.
Especially in the case of the pastor is this
guardianship considered, not SO much a
right or privilege as duty, the neglect
of which would argue utter unftness for
his high Office.
These remarks have been suggested by
events which have recently taken place in
one of the most prominent evangelical asso-
Citations in our city, and which have given
rise to much coment, and to much unde-
served censure OF the pastors conduct. The
as We understand them,
were as follows:
The pastor alluded to, an earnest, straight
forward, Ged fearing man, and no res2ecter
of persons, learning that certain ,nembe rs
Of his flock had attended masked balls dur
ing the carnival, sent for them to visit him
at his study, and there chided them for their
conduct-a very simple and consistent pro-
ceeding, and, it seems to US. perfectly in
keeping with the relations OF the parties.
Surely the first duty of pastor its TO exer-
else spiritual supervision over the memb ers
Of his flock; and if he sees them stray
ing into paths which he deems dang ger-
ous, to try by gentle persuasion or sharp
remonstrance to bring them back 10 that
of duty. Whether as individuals they have
a right to indulge in worldly amnsemen,s or
not, is not at all in question; bu. whether
such anusements are consis:en: with the
relations they sustain toward the Chris tan
society which they have deliberately joined. |
Baptists, Aetthod;sts, Preshyte5sf1Ae4 ard |
Evangelical EpiscOpalians disapprove of |
hem; and they are certainly not in keeping
With the maintenance of "spiritual' lie. |
Everybody has right to choose for him |
self whether he will lead a religious life or |
! worldly one; but having chosen the
ormer, and publicly united himself with a
Christian society, he should remember that |
le represents, or is considered by others to
epresent, the opinions and views of that |!
ociety. If his conduct is such as to mis-
epresent them, he must expect to be called |
o account; and by whom more ftly than |
y the pastor who has its spiritual interests |
n his care.
A man may serve God or Mammon, but |
o claim the wages of God while wearing |
he livery OF Mammon is an inconsistency |
lot to be endured for any length of time.
In these remarks we would not be under
TODD as censuring balls, or indorsing the |
eculiar views on the subject of such |
held by evangelical Christians,
ut as simply asserting that the attendance |
t balls and the profession of evangelical |
Christianity are inconsistent with each
ther, and that pastor is bound in duty TO
oint out that inconsistency to members of
is flock
" AyDry