New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-28
FLOR the New Orleans Republican
CHARACTERS IN LlFE.o

"CHARACTERS IN LIFE.''
As l sit alone in my room tonight watch
ing the fire as it burns low in the CRATE
memories of the past are thronglng me anC
bringing to mind some OF the characters II
life with whom | have ass ociated. Owing
to various circumstances, my lot has beer
cast among the different classes of society
thus atfordng me although but hall
through my teens) considerable experience
and as q natural consequence / have be
come close observer of my fellow-crea
lures. Nor have l found the study of hu.
man nature altogether uninteresting. Often
do ponder upon the ways of man and the
motives by which he is sometimes intu-
enced. have come to the conclusion that
we are all not only responsible for our own
actions, but also for the actions of others.
Every station in life has it's own peculiar
duties, trials and pleasures, but the most
responsible of all positions are those OF the
parent, teacher and minister, since to them
are more particularly committed the care
and training of the young, and upon the
manner in which they perform their duty
depends the future happiness and welfare
of those over whom they exert an influence.
Alas few of our elders realize the fearful
responsibility resting upon them, or they
would surely refrain from using certain ex-
pressions upon serious subjects in the pres
ence of young persons. Allow me, my
senior friends, with due respect for your
age, to inform you that children are natural
imitators, and that, although many of you
appear oblivious OF the fact that they pos
sess the faculties of sight and hearing, they
often employ those senses in watching
your actions when you assume "a
manner not your own" nor do
they lose a single expression, but
carefully stow them away for future use
Thew sometimes even consider the motives
by which you are actuated upon certain
occasions in contact with people, You
should re feet that you are sowing the seeds
of good or evil, and that a child naturally
adopts the ideas and principles of older per-
sons. The character claiming my attention
upon this particular occasion is that of the
fashionable minister" l wonder if the
Deity does not frown when he contemplates
the presumption of those calling themselves
His disciples upon earth. What mockery
to hear holy precepts issue from the lips Of
. man whose very reading of the Claw di-
vine" must be in certain measured accents
exactly in accordance with the ideas of the
vestry; whose eloquence is exerted with
view OF attracting the attention of some
distant and more desirable congregation
than that over which he at present presides,
hoping thereby to receive q call from the
same, accompanied by an offer of additional
salary. If so fortunate as to gain the
object of his ambition, behold how suddenly
our disciple becomes impressed with the
belief that he can more fully perform
his Lord and Makers will in a new
field, and how gracefully he puts off
the old, and takes up the new! Bestowing
much time and thought upon the first dis,
course to be delivered before his new flock,
he enters the pulpit with fear and anxiety,
well knowing that his every word and ges-
ture will be criticised. Perhaps ere he
leaves the church he Overhears some care
lessly expressed remarks. His voice may
be just trifle too low or too harsh; then
again his manner may not exactly accord
with their ideas Of ministerial perfection.
Poor man! might pity him if my sense of
Justice did not forbid, for does he not, after
all, merit severe criticism Has he not
traded for the position he assumes, even
presuming to bring the holy name of re-
igion in contact with his bargain, endeav
-oring to hide under the cloak OF Christian
ity his worldly nature, little dreaming that
many know him to be of the earth" de-
Cidedly "earthyT Is not the example of
such man dangerous in the extreme, tend
ing a. it does to make mankind think
lightly and speak irreverently of holy
thingsi How often are these characters
made the subjects of contempt and ridicule
by authors believe the best of our tai.
ents and abilities should be devoted to
Gods service, and that the wealthy and
fashionable butterflies of society should be
preached to and prayed for. Most surely
do they need have all the hsllowing influ-
ences of religion thrown about them, to
soften their hard hearts and guide their
vain heads in the straight and marrow
path" but would have them led by q
firm yet gentle hand and taught by one
who dared to teach them by the power of
On unselash life their duty to God, them
selves and their neighbor-such Q one as is |
70 beautifully described by the poet:
: At church with meek End unaffected grace,
Bis looks adorned the venerable place.
Unahillful he to fAwn or seek for power,
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour;
For other aims his heart had learned to prize,
More bent to raise tine wretched than 70 rise."
Many bear the name of Christian who
ave not the faintest conception Of how
aaeh that word embraces, contenting them
etves with the name alone, newer exorcis