The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-08-14
THE TEMPTATION OF MINISTER'S


An English religious paper published
some years ago striking article upon
the peculiar temptations of ciergymen.
The substance of it was that clergy
men were more seriously tempted than
other men, because they were thrown i'll
to the way of women of highly emotion
al states of mind, who look upon them
with perfect confidence.
A recent writer in opposition to spirit
ualism says that ''the religious and sex
ual instincts are very closely united. ~
closely united as to be inseparabie. y
''The lives of priests, ecStaticS, devOtees
and media are so many records OF sex
uaI arrangement" 1t Is the women
that crowd the churches of ChristendOnI,
and conversion usually occurs at pu-
berty.
A large class of women act very fool
ishly toward a favorite preacher. Read
the story of love letters received by Mr..
Beecher. and be assured that he Is not
an exceptiOnable case. Every clergy
man under middle life, especially if un-
married. is mere or less annoyed by the
attentions of the females of his flock,
and this is peculiarly true of the most
pious of them.
Somebody has said that women We're
more religious than men, but less moral.
This is not always a matter of sex, but
rather of temperament. Women do not
stop to reason. They take sides instinct
lively, and 90 with all their might for the
side they have taken. They are as ac-
tive in driving out minister they do not
like rs in sustaining n favorite.
4 man like Mr.. Beecher, with his
emotional and ferTent nature, his per-
sOnal magnetism, his liberality and char
ity, would naturally be adored by those
female parishiOners whose pious zeal
overeame their reasoning powers. The
world abOunds in illustrations of tempt
ed ministers, and many, alas. have fal-
len. A sneering correspondent, who
seems to have kept an account, reckons
a black list of one hundred and tifty-sey-
en- in the last six years.
The ministers danger is greater, Of
course. if he is mated with one who j.
cold and unsympathetic; but he can
never safely cease TO keep IL vigilant
guard over his own feelings and con
duct. That same fall is seized upon by
skeptics as an argument against reli-
gion, but it is rather an arguement for
more religion
What would be the conduct OF the
world, if human passions We're not. i'll q
great measure, controlled by laws and
customs based upon religion, and draw
ing thence nearly all their binding force.
THE MINISTER'S CHARACTER There
Is no profession, no effort. in which char
aeter is so absolutely essential 70 sue
cess, as the Christian ministry Men
will retain a tippling lawyer, if he have
power to sway iuries, running the risk
of finding him tipsy on the court day.
The physician, whose skill in the healing
art las made him famous, may be pro-
fame and licentiOus, and yet retain his
patronage. The rakish artist. if genius
moves his brush or chisel. finds a ready
and remunerative sale for his master
pieces: while the statesman or politician,
rather-alas for our times-fears the
falling of his majorities less, because Of
his moral delinquencies, than for the
mandates of his party. Not 20 with the
Gospel minister, His purity Of charac-
ter Is an indispensable cO-efficient Of his
success. This is because Christianity l.
not a science. only system of religious
truth. 1t is this, but it Is more. II l. a
lite. divine, Transforming power. IL
Is effectually preached when it. truths
are exemplified in the life of the preach
er, "a well as incalculated by his tongue.
He breaches in vain who cannot point
10 his moral rectitude. his own sanity
character, as a specimen Of the transiig-
uring power of the Gospel-Rso DdHiel
Steele.
lis my face dirty asked young lady
of her aunt, while at dinner AT a Hart
ford hotel the other day. DIRTY, No.
Why do you ask" Because that in
sulting waiter insists upon putting a
towel beside my plate. I've thrown three
under the table, and yet every time he
comes around he puts another one be
fore me-"