The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-09-04
Preachers vacations.

Hebrew Leader.
1t has become more and moro tho fashion
for prenChors TO take n vacation OF from one TO
three months every summer, and some OF out
fashionable churches aro closed for that longtn
OF timo every season, by n curious coincl'
donco tho doors OF the church aro closed about
the same time as the doors OF tho theatres. IL
is supposed that tho congregations 60 out oil
town, but this OF course is not true or all tno
members OF any pivcn congregation, and the
remnant who cannot got out OF town are LETT TO
their own devices and tho temptations OF the
world.
II the truths OF religion are such rs tho
preachers expound from the pulpit from sun
day TO sunday through tho year, then this
habit OF taking vacations is one that cannot bo
defended on any religious ground, and would
puzzle tho preachers themselves 10 account for
IL. The church is supposed TO be place
where people go for public worship, and rs
such 1t ought to be as continually open as the
old temple at Jerusalem whose portals woro
never closed. II It is n nero lecture.room-it
religion Is only morality and ron mot w9r or
closed any time. But tho preachers
must come down from tho pedestal on
which they have placed themselves, and con-
sent TO pose before, the public as lecturers
only. AS 1t Is, they have stood up as priests.
ofTcring sacrifice OF prayer rs the priests OF
the old temple offered tho sacrifice OF flcsh and
blood and grain and harvest first fruits-and
have been considered as standing In the shape
OF interccesors between sinners and tho AL
mighty, and bearing 10 man n peculiar and
special message from God. In tho latter capn-
city they have no right TO vacations and laxity
OF discipline; II only lecturers, they can do as
they please or as their congregations allow
them to do.
There is no physical need OF n vacation for
clcrgymen. They work only one day In soyen
and have an easy time OF 1t. Compared with
doctors, and lawyers, with merchants or mo
chnnics, their labor is mere play II is re-
markable TO note, In this connection, that the
high-salarled preachers take the most frequent
and the longest vacations. Ministers with
email salaries stay at their posts. Sometimes
the clergy get together and mourn over the
progress OF Indifference and wonder why
IL ls THAT the world seems TO grow
Goddess. If thay Will look TO themselves and
their ways, they will learn some OF the rea-
sons why men pay so little heed to what thoy
say, They do not act or live as IL there were
any real danger for anybody III the future.
They take their easo-preach as little as they
can while earning their salaries-and act as II
they did everything for hire and nothing for
principle and zeal for mems souls. When tho
outside world sees n preacher turn the koy Of
his church or temple, pack his carpet bag
and take trip to Europe, the seaside
or the springs, 1t winks at Its neighbor
and Gays that "the minister knows which side
OF his bread is butterod." Then tho world goes
on It's way, made moro Indifferent by the In
difference OF the minister, to whom with great
aptitude the question OF David's brethren to
the youth who one day was to be Israel's king
might be applied; "With whom hast thou left
these few sheep in the wilderness 2"