The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-08

Is the ministry a vocation? Il once
seemed to bc,-a sacred and lofty yoca.
ton. He who preached to us was in many
instances an apostle. As severe in his
simplicity Us beRtted disciple Of the
NaIarene, his modest home and his plain
attire wcrc at once representative and
suggcstive. One felt in watching the pas.
tors daily life, "llere Is a man whose
heart Is set on higher things than worldly
v1nitiCs, Ills mind Is with his studies and
MS poor. lie does not waste thought on
the petty amusements and desires OF 40.
Ciety and the world" 1t was a pleasant
exercise ol the Imagination to follow This
serene and pious guide on his way among
the poor and into his hours Of study and
meditation.
In a small country parish among thu
bills Of New York still lives man. yen.
cradle and beloved, who recalls to his
younger admirers what tradition tells
them Of the good old times" On a
smRll salary, and eontentCd Herewith, he
lived and reared family OF five children,
When not busted with parish duties and
sermon writing, he worked upon bis
small farm. NTo do oil that he believed
God required OF him, he rose early and
labored pcrsistently. A faithful preacher,
he reprOved, eXhortel and prayed with
quaint and moving eloquence. His
knowledge OF the Bible was heart
knowledge, and the words OF sacred
prophesY and direction came with sIngu.
lar force and adaptation from his lips. No
fear Of man ever kept him silent, no weak.
ness OF man escaped his censure. Yet
this tiery heart was 4 loving one and In
every JOY and SORROW OF his people he
bel ped and sympathiEed. Ills native wit
and genial talk made him the most vel.
come OF guests, and he was always hos.
pitable and friendly host. The same hills
which witnessed the consecratiou OF his
youth are before him in his old age. Ills
later days have been made easier and his
home more comfortable by the bounty Of
his friends aud relatives. But he never
sought aid nor tore apart the ties OF years
to find an easier field OF labor.
Compare with him certain sort OF man
who now graduates from our Theological
schools. do not advance him as a repre-.
sentative Of all, but type Of u large class.
He has chosen tho ministry, in nine caspa
out ot ten, because he ''dOes not think
himself suited 10 the legal profession, and
medicine Is 10 tiresome.n Perhaps, us he
tells bis classmates, with IN amusing can
dor, he really can make more OF living
at preaching than at anything clSe." He il
petted, as soon as his pious inCllnatlons
are nude known, by the kind.hearted and
beneyolcnily.inClined in our churches,
Does lie wish TO take tour for the benefit
ot his health2 A paper is quietly passed
around among the usual subscribers and
he;is sent TO watcring.plaCe, with sui.
table Quilt, and he pursuea his studies OF
human nature undisturbed by anxiety
about his appearance, Is hG obliged 10
stop Tor business, clerical or otherwise, in
large city? lie stops at the best hotel
and wealthy deacon pays Ills bill. Is he
in need OF new books for his library?
They are furnished him. DO you look ior
him In some small and quiet boarding.
house? You will not find him there, but
established in handsome apartments In
the best part Of the city, or in well.fur.
nislled room in new divinity building"
Do you expect this pctted hedgling 10
have any liking for hardships when he
leaves his study for work in the wOrldP
Is this the disciple who would take will.
ingly 70 locusts and wild honey? Not at
all. lie Is invited to take a useful and
honorable part in missionary work. But
no shrinks with horror from the idea Of
mingling with the heathen, and support
ing existence where there may be only
two civilized families, no society and no
physician within fifty miles. After n time
he begins "candidating." In a thriving
tnwn hia nhilitInu ,unOI Toror,n;,to,, huI ~
decides that hG cannot 90 10 "such u
small place, among manufacturing people,
and with no society" A quiet village IL
the next place for the display OF his tai.
ents. 1t is n small center OF a farming
population. lie does not "see his way
clear 10 accept the call, for "the people
are not live, energetic or intelligent, and
there Is no cOngGnial society, you know"
After month Of anxious wanderings, he
is Obliged to settle" not with the $500
salary OF his aspirations, but n much
smaller sum, and Il limited "ileld." But
here he bGmoans his fate, and thinks II
hard 10 be compelled 10 live where mon
do not appreciate him, and where "there
Is no cOngcnAl society"
OF what value then Is lis education and
his religion, II not TO help and teach 9th.
ersP What found the divine Master among
ignorant fishermen, selt.sullicient Phari.
sees and brutal pubIicans? Men, for
whom 10 suffer, souls 10 win, hearts to soft.
en-, sinners to reclaim and the sorrowing
to console.
Let us hope that while this modern apos.
te pursues his way from one parish 10 u
pleasanter one, from one salary to anOth.
er R few hundreds laFVhr In 1OIue nnInanI
Of selt-torgetiulncss and spiritual humili.
y the true nature oil his profession may
be revealed 10 his soul.