The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-10-17
PREACHERS AND WOMEN.
ARE rHEY REALLY TOO POND OF EACH OTHER.
REFLECTION BIZ PREACHER.

REFLECTION BIZ A PREACHER.
A celebrated French writer. who lived sew
eral centuries ago. discussed in the gravest
and most elaborate manner the "lnhumanity
Of Monks" as biological phenomenon. Per-
haps some equally acute observer, of the pres
ent day. would confer favor on society BY in
vesticating the alleged peculiar susceptibility
of ministers of religion Ia the charms Of wO-
men. For. whether well founded or not, the
world OF to day seems resolved to bring the
charge OF sexu-l impurity against every man
who dares TO stand up in pulpit aud advocate
the cause of Christianity. BY way of break
ing the ground for such writer, perhaps the
following observations from one who, as some
think, has had extensive opportunities to inves-
tigate this subject, may prove interesting.
Everyone must have asked himself thous-
and times in his life. and, il never before, GER
tainly very often within the last few months.
why it is that so many ministers, justly or un-
justly, are charged with impurity.
Now, il may just as well be admitted that
there are a priori grounds for suspecting the
chastity of a Christian pastor. For he leads
a sedentary and often a luxurious life: his en-
ployments are distinctly and intensely social:
as woman is more religious than man. the WI
fare of his church. the success at his work.
and his popularity as preacher. literally con-
pei him Ia be- her intimate associate, his duties
as an ADVISER and consider carry him perf"rce
into relations of confidence and affection with
females: he is the superior Of the majority Of
his people in respect OF talents. education, ac-
compshments and social position. and very Of
ten the only such superior with whom some
Of his people are privileged to associate oa
terms Of familiarity; and finally. there is. or
at any rate there is said 10 be. subtle connec
ton existing between the cruder and fanatical
types OF religious emotion and animal passion,
so that n transition from one to the other Is
much easier than is generally supposed These
conditions exist in a greater or less degree IN
the case of every minister, and In some IN
stances they are. indeed, alarming. for some
men in the profession have SD much personal
magnetism, sa much genius and popular
ity. and such plainly disc"verable amor
Gus t-ndencies-qualities which are general
" found together-thut the hazards to which
thev are exposed are indeed very great Bnt
in tn. case Of all ministers alike. these condi-
,iens seem tn exist in sufficient degree tn gen-
crate in the minds of people the most delicious
curiosity and suspicion as In the exact shade
of sensuait, tina. probably exists in conjunction
with certain observed amount Of piety.
For reasons like these manv persons think
that for a minister In lead licentlons lite is
the easiest thing in the world. There are
thousand safeguards tn his virtue OF which the
world is ignorant and which he need not be a
bad man in order 10 discover. For instance.
every minister knows that if even the most
,ttanu ated shadow Of an approaching impure
Thought falls upon his mind. he instantly loses
the mower of working in his profession until II Is
gone The composition and delivery OF ser
mons. and, still more pastoral visitation. are
utterly impossible under such. circumstances
The Almighty has so constructed the human
soul that il never can. at the same moment. en-
tartain thoughts of Him and certain other
thoughts. To he habitually impure in thought
ia. with pastor. tn sacrifice all fert'I'tv' all
unction. all eloquence. all personal influence
| all power, all enjoyment OF his work: aii pro-
| fessional SUCCESS Some men regard the SIN.
fulness Of unchastity as simply conventional
and imaginary: the pastor and preacher un-
derstapds that it is inherent and absolute. tor
the reason that "feshly lusts war against the
soul- IF the world understood well even this
one fact it would at once grow less suspicious
Of ministers.
| Rut even il the character Of pastor could
bs hlendid with that of lbertine. and even II
the man who lived in these two characters
could carry himself like good man IN the pnl'
n;t and preach with the boldness and JUNCTION
of a saint. h. would still, in almost every case,
be deferred from SHINING by the absolute Ger.
ta;ntv there is Of detection and consequent
ruin. People who think it such an easy mat
tor for pastor to corrupt his flock overlook
.ltooether one Of the most obvious facts oi
human nature. and that is female Jeaicsy
Every man who has been pastor tor Twelve
months knows that women are, IN matters per.
tanning to their sex. natural detectives, ana
verv observant. The women in church keep
mental record of the frequency OF their pas
tor,s visits to each Of the sisterhood. the exact
length Of his stay. the precise object OF MS
| cali And when he is present with nnmoer
4 of them. Omniscience does not observe more
constantly or more intellgently that pastors
hands and eyes than they do. ANY woman
,rho can see her pastor in company with twen.
i tv of his par,shioners for halt an hour. ana nc'
j discover which one Of the twenty ne prefers
# he prefer any, is unsexed. In all matters o.
love and license, women are, by virtue ot tne',
very sex and their intuitions. infallloIe ano
merciless investigators; and this for the sim,
nIe reason that they are inspired ana urgeo
Il forward by the strongest motive OF wnicn an.
woman is sceptible-jealousy. On the rum
qua results of discovery, or even susP'cicn y,
that their pastor, in conducting an amour WIZ
.ome womau-of the instant and furious as.
s.nlt thew will make on the guilty sister, snc
tha alarming ferment they viii! excite WITH
- :a' ons - week in the church and in the com
rnnr;tv. Il 10 superhous TO speak. Indeed. II
i;c;t 1--we Il not needed to produce such an up
...-. the most yirtuous and decent attachment
|, .Sst. na.tor can form for 4 woman will ordi
-;tv ANGER All the female members OF M
L - hAa ANN