The Cecil Whig., 1881-01-29
Criticigrn of MiEilters.

| From the ~ nature of their Office,
ministers Of tn gospel are, as class.
| subject to general and too frequently un-
! >paring criticism. While they are not.
| by virtue OF their orders, above whole
some. or. at least, Christian, criticism.
vet the tendency is too general to con
| trast, to his disadvantage, the minister
ing hrother-subiect to all the weak
ncsses of mortality-with some idea
standard of clerical excellence, existing
only in the imagination OF the devont
One of the numerous phases of criticism
we think very sensibly treated in the toi-
lowing article, cut from the ChHrchmHn.
and which contains good Christian coun
sci, wholesome in application at either
end of L ktou:
There is a form of criticism which the
clergy largely encounter. and which gives
them much embarrassment. 1t is the
criticism OF their predecessors in office
1t may be Il perfectly natural thing on
the part o. the people. because 4 clergy
man very naturally suggests his predr-
ccssor: aud As the freshest part of the
| history of Il parish is of course intimately
connected with the last rector, that per
Sonage is easily introduced into converSa-
! tion about parish life. The conversation
| may be Il perfectly proper one. and i'll
view of that fact u predecessor should
not he by any means Il forbidden subject.
| But when. after an Introduction. he Is
/ viewed with critical eye. it becomes. |
repeat. embarrassing. The subject is
one which, if we handle at all. We must
! handle with Il delicacv that we csunot
alwavs command. We cannot unite in
the criticism That would be to the last
degree ungenerous. if nothing more. 1t
might be wholly nm Just. because onr
Judgment would be based upon partial
representation of the case. We cannot
he silent, because silence is like consent.
I We cannot always rebuke the speakers
without offending or wonnding those
whom it would cause us sincere regret
either to offend or wound. | submit.
therefore. to the consideration of Chris
tiau people that the criticism of one
pastor to another is out OF taste.
But it may be something more than
out of taste, 1t may represent differ
enccS that were serious. 1t may repre-
sent contests which. though not of the
nature of open war, We're necessarily
pointed. if not sharp. In such cases 1t
rcvives bitterness that had better be left
in permanent rcpose. 1t may represent
simple differences of opinion or of
practice. and in that case it may appear
small. If it relates to mere individuali-
| ties. it may be tri;iing. When it touches
upon physical inlirmites. it is certainly
cruel. And i'll any case OF difference it
may represent, unintcntionally. the for
mer pastor as clearly i'll the right, and
instead of exhibiting his faults, it dis
PLAYS those of his critics. which is. Of
course. unfortunate. submit. therefore.
to the consideration Of Christian people
the proprety of abstinence from those
personalities which air the impericctions
of past rectors and sometimes indicate
their own.
/ Let it not he supposed that your writer
! regards the clergy as above criticiSm.-
Far from it. The grace of orders has
not vet effected a radical change i'll their
mental Or moral constitutions. and un-
I fortunately. they carry the faults of hu-
! man nature with them into the ministry.
| Trey are perfectly aware that they arc
all in turn the subjects OF the criticisms
/ described. They all know that even
where malice is not intended. the ten
| dency of the human mind is TO depre-
/ ciate what is permanently gone: but, un-
fortunately. they do not hear criticisms
! about themselves. bat about their breth-
ren. and these they find distressing to
hear and difficult To utilize.
I Ii they We're rare there would be little
! occasion to write about them. But they
are not rare. The experience Of the un-
! lersigncd in hearing them is by no means
! exceptional. And here it is simple jus
! tice to say that he does not forward this
article because of any animadvers!nnS on
/ his immediate predecessor in this locality.
! He has long had it in contemplation. be
cause, after conference with others of the
clergy. he believes the evil to be general.
| There is scarce a man i'll orders. however
correct in Judgment and noble i'll life,
/ that is not the subject of depreciation III
the place he has left. And because it is
/ unfair to an absent one. inconsiderlte o.!
| of his follower. useless in 4 respects.
and wanting in charity, Il voice is raised
! against it.
Ii man must be criticised, let it be
I done to his face. for the loving purpose
of doing him good, and not behind his
back. where it is idle and vain.