Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-08-27
OUR CLERGY.

Cth tbEhVi a.
II is the pride and boast OF America
that while we have strictly enjoined
by the constitutional provision VII cen.
nection between church and State, no
other country can point TO clergy more
literally supported or more generally
esteemed. Their influence is unbound.
cd their opinions are received with
Difference their culture and erudtion
are conceded their failings, unless
they are Of very aggravated charac-
ter, are always charitably supposed
"to lean TO virtues side." The pastor
bears charmed life, and even the in.
: quisitive eye Of gossip is averted from
him. His wants or necessities are
carefully looked after, every incon.
. venienoe or discomfort becomes an OBJ
ject of sympathetic solicitude to mem.
bears OF his flock. Nor do they in re-
turn for such kindness and generosity
require unreasonable manifestations of
human conduct. They expect, and
surely have a right to expect in the
pastor, life of purity, Of active be.
ncvolence, and unaffected, unostenta-
tious piety. For these essential quail
ties in a Clergyman, no gift Of elo.
quence, no scholastic requirements, no
scientific acquisitions, no fascination OF
manners or person, can be accepted as
a substitute. The accomplishments
may accompany and adorn the religious
life, but never can have value in its
absence. But if a clergyman, instead
of living, "as ever in his great Task
masters eye, suffers his life to become
one of doubtful purity, Of such dubious
import that shadows, clouds and
darkness rest upon it, " il is not strange
that thousands point TO such man as
afiording 10 his career proof of the
hypocrisy that pervades the lights of
the church. To draw such conclusion
from the acts and conduct OF a few
who have fallen from an ill-deserved
elevation, is most illogical and unjust.
The eleven did not share the guilt Of
Judas.
The honorable, unostentatious pastor,
who breaches the gospel of his Maker
in all its inexpressible beauty and sim
plicity, walks unharmed by the poison
ed darts of calumny or dctraction.-It
is this Christian hero who is found at
the bed of the dying when pestilence
stalketh abroad and striketh at noon
day--it is at his presence and control,
despair and anguish flee the struggling
soul. Between this lowly servant OF
the Cross and the sensational preacher,
how immense is the distance Noap-
plauding crowds may throng the
churches when the former breaches,
the noiseless tenor of his way leads to
acts of true and undefiled religion, and
no appreciation is sought but that of
God and his own pure conscience.
The malignant shafts of the scoffer
and infdel find no flaw in the impenc-
trable mail of this humble Christian.
But the sensational preacher loves as
the misers their gold the incense of
popular applause or vulgar notoriety.
His taste is not fastidiops, and who
peppers the highest is surest to please.
His history may be briefly told.
A young man, with such learning as
youth usually carry from an obscure
college, appears before congregation
possessing even less learning than him
self, delivers his dreary platitudes and
stale commonplaces with fluent tongue,
quotes from his Greek Testament, a
Biblical dictionary and Calvin's Insti-
tutes, or tbunders out that baptise
means in Creek to immerse and in
a month or two his admiring alma
mater names him doctor of divinity.
His fame il established bv n oourse or
two on dead flies or dead heads tenn.
pests or bridges. Calls now come from
yarious quarters and the voupp mans
head becomes giddv. In spite of Gil
Blas's examnle he believes bimself the
eighth wonder of the world and his