Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-04-26
TuE cHnisrIAN MINISTRY.

In this period OF jest and disoeiief al
inmuch that il sacred; while journals and
rsek from day to day with details that al
most make morality seem q sham and true
piety . myth; while . great leader In
the Geld Of Christian ministry In on
trial for an alleged seandalous crime;
and while the testimony shows . state
Of social ethics among the dock under
hin Manifestations. bsneful and corrupt
ing; We say. Will all these things ap-
pear. ID Is perhaps not strange that rev
srsnce for Christianity and ita minister
should wane. Yet these arc exceptions.
There Arc good men In all walks Of life.
We believe . larger proportion OF such
are found to day in humble following OF
ministerial duty than In any other
branch Of human toll. II IL not nsees-
sary 10 defend tho ministerial profss-
sion. To DO 80 would b supersrosa-
ton. Because . few have gone astray
there ID no valid reason Why all shouid
wear the ban OF ignominy. As well
might We say that because mon In other
professions have been found unfithful
70 their trusts, all members thereof
should be oondsmnsd. Al we'll say that
because divorces abound. tho 70
cred institution Of marriage should be
annullsd. There il no reason in such
argument. Worse than that; II Ia un-
Just and wicked. The American peo-
pie are apt to form opinions too
quickly; perhaps we should say
impressions. Yet judgment Ia OF
slower growth and once formed Ia
stable and enduring. In the minds Of
many. Who read this article, memory
traces the scenes Of earlier days. and
incidents Of youth grow clearly iimned
upon the. background Of the past.
Who OF M cannot remember some aged
clergyman, in whom our childish faith
was planted. and whose words OF kind
noss and wisdom have haunted Us .
thousand imss in years ensuingl In
all country towns. In nearly every place
outside OF great cities. tho clergymen
are intellectual leaders, - vol a. moral
teachers. They lead the a Of prog
res. And In these country towns
whore each In watched with far more
care and Ponpicuity than in the city.
how few have fallen by the waysids.
How many live a. they have lived for
years among their fiocks, respected and
rovered by whole communities. How
many with bent forms and lettering
footsteps still speak tho words OF wis
dom. faith and charity 70 this. our gen.
Grafton. while with patient resignation
they await tho final end Of all their Ia
bon. Al ! 1t is useless to inysish
against . grand profession. n whose
mission far transcsnds all human aims
or impulses. whose lAbors, almost wholly
unrswArdsl. take hold upon moro Of
benign prosperity. social progress and
intellectual advancement, than those OF
any other workers in the realm Of men,
tai and moral culture. No ! there Is no
need 70 defend the Christian ministry.
A lssdsr may b accused; another con-
viotsd and fall from his high estate. SO
has IL over been in history. but In tho
language Of another. and far ADLER writer
Than o~ursslf. '.it would require the guilt.
proved and damning. Of many leaders in
the church 10 throw discredit on the
work Of these unknown. patient, faith
full hosts. who are now giving their lives
70 thsir Masters service, or who. thor
labor done. havo passed over and
entered In 10 their reward"