Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-05

on almost every occasion abused their privi- leges in a most mortifying manner. They were so reluctant to pay for any accommoda- ton that they were requested to leave suc- cessively nearly every hotel at which they ap- piled for food and lodging; their constant quarrels with tradesmen made them objects of dsrision they involved themselves in paItry lawsuits and made their names synony- nous for reproach and ridicule. The Times says the incidents of their final voyage from Japan produced the climax of what should have been humiliation to themselves, and was certainly to their countrymen. What these incidents were the Times declines to state, but says they were so degrading that hereaf- ter the value of written recommendations from the same source will be so impaired that the holders of such will prefer concealing them to allowing their existence to be sus- pected. It is stated that those who thus shocked and i'll treated the polite Japanese are private individuals and in no way con- nected with the United States Government.
 At the last weekly meeting of the Baptist ministers of New York city Dr. Armitage had something to say concerning pastoral calls that will bear thinking of. He said that there was false clamor for this sort of pastoral visitation on the part of parishion- CTS, and that too often it degenerated into the indulgence of ingrained laziness and the propensity to gossip. Clergymen who idled business places of their parishioners were sac rificing the most precious opportunities. And F'in nine cases out of ten," added Dr. Armi- tage, with emphasis, ''the shame and scandal which have lain at the doors of ministers of late years have had their origin in this system of pastoral visitation" He denounced in wig orous language the conduct of "those 1oung
 ing shepherds" whose gossipings and conf, dences, and familiarities, indulged in under the cloak afforded by the sauctity of the pas toral relation, too often ended in downright immortality. minister was but man, and as such had mans weaknesses and in what situation WAS he more likely to exhibit them than in intercourse of this kind? The sooner that churches and pastors hustled this sort of pastoral visitation out of existence the better it would bo for the honor of the ministry.
 w AcA we mAhS 4I4oAu1S dGuEo SAC NOS- tor, let us call them friendly calls and not something which they ara not. The true sort of pastoral calls that the conscientious pastor should aim to make were to the old or to the inirm, who could not get to church, CT to those in deep trouble, and, therefore, in special need of consolation. These were vastly differ ent from that degrading system of regulated laziness-of going from house to house to listen to family gossip, the tattle of the neigh borhood, &c. All true pastoral influence took it's rise in the overshadowing powers of pastoral preaching, and it was to this, and not to mere rounds of social visits, that the conscientious and honorable minister should look for the maintenance of his influence. The speaker also argued against the practice on the ground that it took up too m1eh of the pastors time and placed him practically at the beck and call of each one of his congregation. Because he is a minister he has not, therefore, fore
 gone all the rights of his manhood you have no right to deprive him of rest or social en- ioyment or the society of friends" The Doctors remarks met with much approval from the ministers present, as they will from many laymen who read the report of them.