Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-24
The Pastors ChrI.smas.

most of your readers when plans and
preparations for the enjoyment OF
Christmas will be discussed or in pro-
gress in numberless households.
In the southern States, and in Vir-
GINA especially, Christmas is to our
people what Thanksgiving-day is in New
England season Of family reunions,
of genial intercourse, of quickened graft
tude, when the happy heart opens the
hand and then fills it with generous
gifts Of remembrance and affection such
as brighten the links Of friendship and
strengthen the bonds Of love.
Among other pleasant customs of the
season is one which prevails in some of
our churches of making Christmas the
time for bestowiDg upon their pastors
some substantial token of their regard.
The lives allotted to ministers do not
always fall in places equally pleasant,
and some of them have more goodly
heritage than others. In our city
churches. for example, some pastors
receive salaries adequate to-. their sup
port, and they do not need the supple
ment Of. Christmas supplies, but in
many may | not say in most ?--of our
village and country churches the pas
tors income is barely sufficient to pro-
cure the necessaries Of life, and in be-
half of such ] desire to enter this timely
plea. Christmas might be made relicj-
day to many burdened and dishearten-
ed pastor.
|. 1t is practicable to make it such
day, for how easy it is when many
unite in sending their contributions to
one man, though they are not singly
munificent by any means, yet their sg-
gregate amounts to something that at
least seems munifcent to the poor par
son who has been trying to keep the
wolf from the door and make the two
ends meet by the most rigid economy.
Fifty, twenty, ten people can do good
deal for one man by their united gifts,
and not one Of them miss what is given.
.. 1t would have most happy ef-
feet on the mind and heart Of the pastor
to make it such a day. Such is the
delicate relation of minister to the
people of his charge, and so much does
his usefulness depend on his happiness
that he cannot be efficient in his labors
without some demonstration on their
part of their thoughtful consideration
Of his needs. lie must have some as
surance that they think of him, care for
him, sympathize with him, and are
anxious to help him. The return Of
Christmas gives the people just the op-
portunity Of showing the pastor the
very kind Of interest in him and regard
for him which will encourage and cheer
his often-discouragcd heart.
We pity the pastor who from Christ
mas to New-Year's day receives no
token that he has been once remem-
bered by the people for whom he has
been toiling; We pity the mean and
niggardly church which withholds such
expressions Of gratitude still more.
Is it not humiliating reflection that
there are elders, deacons, private MEM
bers Of churches, who live comfortably
themselves, some of them luXdT<ously,
and who never hesitate to call on their
pastor for any service in heat or cold,
by day or night, in trouble or sickness
or bereavement, yet who never made
him one spontaneous ofering-never
sent him barrel Of -four from their
larder, or an apple from their orchard,
or flower from their garden? Always
receiving, never returning always ex-
pectiDg favors, never showing any
always increasing their load of obliga-
ton, never manifesting a spark Of graft
tude in any helpful way to the man who
for so many years, perhaps, has visited
them in sickness, buried their dead,
and comforted them in their sorrOws.
| cannot wish such pastor a happy
Christmas, but if there be one such
faithful man whose church is contented
with paying him his meagre stipend
and that perhaps irregularly and tar
dily-and who during the coming
Christmas holidays does not get one
sourenir of remembrance or affection
from single member Of his flock, then
/ say such pastor is excusable for not
being very cheerful during the joyous
season, and though | cannot wish him
a happy Christmas, am tempted to
wish him happy deliyerance from
such a parish.