The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Ministers Wives as Critics.

Oar ministers wives are generally women
of good education and more than ordinary
mental culture. They are supposed to be as
competent to detect an ungrsmmatical ex-
preston, an improper pronunciation or emu
meration as any other class of persons. In
@,thetcs, if not ethics, they are perhaps bet
ter authority than their husbands. We
think we know some ministers wives who ex-
eel them in the former science, albeit they
are doctors of divinity.
Now we think there is field of usefulness
for some of these women of good judgment,
good taste and good manners in which they
might perform excellent service. Many of
us (miniSters) get into some little habits
some things very unpleasant in the pulpit
in our modes of expression, or in our ar
ticulation, which might be very readily cor
rected if our attention was called to them
but as it is q delicate matter, no one cares
Ito speak to us about it, But if the minis
ter's wife is woman of intelligence and good
taste, she ought certainly to be able to no
tice some of these little defects; and it is
presumed that no minister of the gospel
would object to his wife correcting his blum
ders, or criticisipg his matter or manners
She, indeed, is the only one who can feel en-
tirely free to speak to him about these
things. There are many good and able
ministers whose usefulness s much hindered
by some habit which they are perhaps not
conscious Of possessing, aud which a word
from an intelligent and observant wife might
correct.
For example, there are ministers whom We
have heard, who, in some way or other, have
formed the habit of putting in the article
CA" or the word "ah," between sentences,
and between the members of the same SEN
tence-thus "All we like-a-sheep have
gone astray-a-and the Lord hath laid on
him-a-the iniquity of US ala" Now
this is very unpleasant to 81 ears polite" 1t
is indeed, useless and disgusting habit. 1t
may be that it is acquired by an effort to
keep up sound when there is not sufficient
flow of words; but silence would be prefera-
Bile. We remember one of our theological
professors once told the class, when CRITICS.
ing one of the students who had made some
very long pauses in the delivery of his dis
course, not having the subject we'll ct com
mand, that we should never stop. Better to
say something, if it should be nonsense, as
the silence would confound us. But never
advise US to grunt to keep in the sound.
There are other faults which some public
speakers have, such as using unnecessarily
the handkerchief, leaning on the pull
pit, or pacing fdr:5sssrfy from Que end to the
other, stamping, looking at the ceiling instead
of the audience, etc. Now any wife of ordi-
nary common sense cannot fail to notice such
improprieties; why not, then, ask her hus-
band at the first opportunity to give them up
1t is very true that we cannot "see our
selves as others see U.S." and the parsiality
and affection of our wives may blind their
Judgment, SO that they too may not observe
our defects as others do; but it would doubt.
, less be advantageous if good wives, instead Of
, assuming that their husbands are almost per.
feet, would sometimes "view them with the
critics eye, and "stir up their pure minds
! by way of remembrance"
Some men there may be who, "vainlJ
= pulled up by their AeShly minds, are unwil
ling to be criticised or corrected by theil
. wives. But would it not be better for us tt
9 9 heed their criticisms and encourage then
!. than to have others laughing at our blum
ders !?
If your wife is what she ought to be-
"helpmate for you-yOu will do we'll t.
10 ask her advice in many things and yield de
% ference to it. You cannot elicit the view
of your people or encourage their criticiSma
Your wife is the only one usually who is il