The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-20
Mr.. Moody ON Ministers.

At farewell service in Dublin, where
Mr.. Moody, as almost everywhere else,
had great success, he made the follow
ing remarks: 81 wish to address few
words to the young converts about the
Importance of their identifying themselves
with Gods people, and the quicker Young
converts here do that the better. 1 have
heard some people say, why can't we
have meetings oftener like the meetings
that have been held here of late-why
don't we have such meetings in our
churches, and we would always like to go
to them Meetings of the class we have
had here, do great deal of good, have
no doubt, but then it is not that sort of
thing, good as it is, that we need, so much
as regular work; and if our meetings
here would unsettle the people, or have
the effect of keeping them from attending
their houses of worship, rather than con-
tinue to take part in them, would go
back to Chicago and settle down there at
business of some kind or other. I have
heard it said that ministers have an easy
time of it, and that while they preach
work continually. Well, can say in
answer to such statements, that l was
settled at one period of my life for two
years in one place, and worked harder
when was then preaching two sermons
in the week than have done since, all
the time l have been going up and down
through the country. Clergymen have
many things to do in addition to preach
ing. They have their people to look after,
and they have the sick to visit. would
rather preach five sermons than go to the
house of mourning. 1t takes more SYM
pathy and strength from me than preach
ing. Then minister has to make calls,
receive visitors, and be social; and after
all that he has to prepare his sermons.
But it has been said, preparing two ser.
mons is easy work. If you think so, just
try it, and see how you will get on. II
you think your minister has an easy time
of it, try his work, and see how long you
will continue at it. Ministers are the
only people, might say, who don't gel
rest. | remember when, during period
of some five years, l tried often to gel
rest, and l never knew what it was. There
were cases of sickness, there were funerals
and there was always something turning
up to occupy the whole of my time. Min
listers should have, like other men, ont
day of rest. Don't let young converts ge
it into their heads that the minister O
pastor is not an important man. l con
slider that there is no man in the worlt
more important than a good pastor. ant
if you have got one, thank God and pra,
for him constantly that God may bles
him. Let me urge young converts to JON
the minister in his work, and not to b
unsettled as regards their duty. / be
lieve the dearest thing to the heart of tn
Son of God, on this earth, is the church
and we ought to pray earnestly for it
welfare. We ought also to pray earnestl
, for the man of God who breaches, and d
: nothing that would cool or kill his Unfit
, ence or efforts. You talk about the SUE
, cess of our meetings here. What woul
they have been, if your pastors had nc
3 been sowing the seed here for years ? An
t when the seed is once sown, you may rei
i satisfied, reaping time is sure to come
l / have visited towns where our meeting
t were not attended with as much success
a as could have wished. Why? Becauf
!, the ministers were not 80 much in syn
o pathy with the work. If you have an
t regard for the truth that has been bles
8 ing to you, stand right by the church {
!. God, and pray for those that are intereste
q in her welfare"