Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-06-29
PULPIT BRONCHITIS,

hocks, and look well to thy herds.-PRovERBs
XVII: %. -.-
: The days have about arrived wherein the
city clergyman ID attacked with general de-
bility and indisposition, frequently accom-
panied with a malignant form of bronchitis,
rendering a cessation from labor and a
journ of month or two at some fashionable
watering place absolutely indispensable.
Perhaps he has already felt the premonitory
symptoms, and has given hint of the fact
to his congregation but if he has not done
SO he will not long delay it, for the attacks
are as certain to come around as death and
the tax collector, and can only be cured by
the rem edies referred to, supplemented by
a handsome purse with which to defray ex-
penses. The prevalence of these attacks is
source of great deal of uneasiness to the
congregation at large, but are not to be Won
dered at when We consider the arduous lobors
the clergy have to perform. Some may af-
feet to sheer at this assertion, and say
that no great labor is involved in the selec-
ton of two sermons week from a trunk
full slowed away in garrett, but they under
stand very little the prodigious swear and
tear on the intellect" as Silas Wegg would
say, that the effort requires. It is pros
trating both to the physical and mental sys-
tenn, and when we add the strain on the vocal
organs which the reading of these sermons
involves it will be seen that it is no easy task
10 fill the average pulpit and to fill it &C.
ceptably.
Pulpit bronchitis is modern disease. It
originated with high salaries and fashionable
preachers. Twenty years ago it was I'M
known in America, but ever since then it has
been raging with the virulence of an cpl
demic. 1t commences about the middle of
June, and if it does not carry off the victim
to Newport, Long Branch or the mountains
with we'll lined pocket-book within a month
six weeks, is liable to produce a resig-
nation, or coll to some more inviting field
OF labor. There is but one way to cure it,
and that is complete rest from mental labor,
preceded by a we'll attended and literally
patronized donation visit, and trip to some
summer resort by the seaside, or to the
White Mountains or Pacific slope. The
duration OF the rest and the completeness
of the cure will depend very much upon the
ability and disposition of the congregation
to foot the bills. To be sure. the mechanic
will have to stick q little closer to his lathe,
the lawyer to his brief and the merchant to
his counter during the sultry summer months
in order to furnish their pastor with needed
recreation and pay his supply but they
are not troubled with either bronchitis or
general debility superinduced by great men,
tai and physical exertion, and it is duty
they owe to their spirit ual shepherd.
But, by the way, is this the style of the
ancient preachers to whose exertions. the
growth of the church is due Did Christ,
during his ministry, go eff to the seashore
except to preach to the, multitude =? Did
Peter, or John, or james, or Paul spend the
warm weather each summer in lettering in
some secluded place, neglectful of those who
looked to them for spiritual comfort and in
struction Or did any of the more modern
reformers-Calvin, Luther, Knox, Roger
Williams or Cotton Mather- stop their Ia
bors for couple of months that they might
loll in luxurious ease We apprehends that
the course of religion would not be in ite
present advanced state if they did so. "All
work and no play makes Jack dull boy is
true saying, but in minister's life there
! is 80 little that can be called labor and SC
much of pleasure that, except on rare occa
sions, prolonged rest is unnecessary. The11
work is easier than that of any other profes
sional man. The doctor is summoned to at
tend his patients at all hours of the day ana
night. and when not at their bedside, ii
busy perfecting himself by study in his art
The lawyer is busy from morning to nigh
in preparing his briefs, giving counsel, o
studying up the latest legal decisions that al
ways bring out some new or interesting lega
point. The work of the editoris never done
ceaseless grind from morning till night an
from night to morning-one days wor
never done before the next days common es
The clergyman can take two or three day
in every week for visit to some quiet reso1
near at hand without interfering with hi
7 duties the doctor, the lawyer or the edito
can seldom spare an hour to take fres
. breath of air outside of his beaten path.
It is safe to say that at no time during tn