Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-10-30
COMMUNICATION.
(TO the E<7ff0rl


allow me, in few words to magnify mine
office.
The preacher and pastor must be man
OF work. The manual laborer who per-
forms but little brain work, may not re-
alize the exclusive truth of the above
statement, but all classes of professional
people will know that the following
named items of ministerial labor involve
great and constant expenditure OF
strength.
l. Preaching.-Them minister addresses
the same audience Sabbath after Sabbath
and on the same general subject. '.This'
says John Bright, the renowned English
Orator and Statesman, ''is intolerable to
think of, no other professional man is call
ed to do such exactory work." To give
satisfaction the preacher must be full.
fresh, entertaining, instructive, earnest
and devOut. He must rebukc, commend
and exhort. He must oppose wrong. yet
not offend. He must condemn sin, vet
please the sinner. A lawyer may argue
points" over barrel of merchandise for
three hours and be we'll paid for his labor,
the minister must not exceed thirty min
utes in the discussion of subjects that are
of the profoundest importance to individ.
uals and society. Preparation for the
pulpit is a mental claim that ceases not
to cry day-or night.
2. Pastoral wOrk.-The massive ma
chinery of large establishments is oiled
while in motion. The complicated and
delicate machinery of civilized societylis
ever working. Its parts must be oiled by
the pastor to whom is assigned the work
of moving among the people, doing what
he may to minister to bodily, social and
spiritual need. He is supposed to keep
up more or less intimate acquaintance
with every family in the community and
do the best that he can, many feel iustifi-
ed in regarding themselves as sighted
and unintentionally the minister may give
cause for such feeling.
8. Care of the Sick.-Where the body
is sick the mind is equally affected, medi-
cal attendance usually ministers to phys
ical want only, mental and spiritual need
must be ministered unto by the pastor.
And how much of wisdom and sympsthy
is here needed, none but those who have
tried it can tell. The minister must also
be ready, usually at short notice, to
preach on funeral occasions, and even the
bitterest opponents of religion expect his
offices at such an hour.
A. Looking after Strangers and the
poOr.-This is very busy and many say,
very selfish world. The fact remains
that very few have the spirit Of self-sac-
rifice, and a much larger number think
they have not the time and strength ne
cessary to the caring for strangers and
for the poor. The community which en-
tirely omits this is essentially heather in
its practice and spirit, and the church
which fails to do this work forfeits all
claim to the possession of pure and unde-
fled religion. No pastor can be true to
his Office and continually neglect this
work, yet if he is burdened with financial
care and perplexity, he can do little eff
cient work among the sick the strangers
and the poor.
5. Sunday School Work.-Too often it
is almost entirely left to the pastor to de-
wise, plan and execute i'm Sunday School
work. With the best of Superintendent
and Teachers, he must still be an active
force for the Sunday School is theol ETH
,ally the nursery of the Church and
where the Church is dead to the interests
IF its school no burden presses heavier
upon the pastor. The Sunday School is
to be the panacea for parental
neglect at home, yet it must pinch and
starve along with few pennies when it
ought to have dollars for its work. Even
4 minister cannot kindle enthusiasm
under such circumstances, but the bur-
len he must feel.
6. General WOrk-This includes a
greater number of items than already
mentioned. The minister must be Gull
tured and we'll informed. He must be
posted on all events and topics of the day.
He must be friendly and helpful to mat
ters of local interest. His general duties
call for large expenditures of time,
strength and money, in the way of tray
cling, correspondence &c,
Conclusion.-The work of the ministry
IS absolutely necessary to the welfare and
good order of society. Men who are sue
,eeding in business, would not do so with
put the safeguards which the minister
strengthens and preserves. The COM
munity that literally supports and en-
its ministers will vastly exceed
m business and morals, the community
where the pastor is held at distance and
,arclessly and meagerly supported.
j. L. n.
EDITORIAL NOTES.