The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-08-12
Pastoral and Sermonic Habits.

begin work on my sermons on Tues
day and 1 am engaged, off and on.
until the end of the week. Mondays |
use for miscellaneous work. I never
wrote but one sermon in my life on Mon
day. l do not think 1 ever wrote one,
or prepared for one-that is, in the regu-
lar course OF my ministerial work-on
Saturday. While 1 am outside of an
insane asylum, never expect to do it.
When Saturday comes, I have made it
my rule to be clear for the Sabbath. I
begin early in the week, so as to be free
from any pressure and anxiety in the
matter, and in that way can make allow
ance for Interruptions.
The evening is a bad time in which to
work, and yet many clergymen prepare
their sermons at that time. All the ser.
monte work l have done at night in
thirty eight years would not amount, all
told, to two discourses.
lay aside memoranda to be used in
preparing sermons, but 1 have no par
ticular system about preserving it. 1
once tried the habit of iotting down
thoughts for future use, but did not find
that it worked successfully. But as to
keeping commonplace book, l think it
is an admirable idea; and 1 would advise
young clergymen to try the plan of
writing down their best thoughts and
pasting in such scraps as may be useful
at some future time.
| do not think have ever declined
half dozen requests coming from out
side my parish to attend funeral, and
then nnlu on he Js &c
engagements. Though my parish is
large, it has been my rule not to decline
to attend funeral, unless an imperative
engagement prevented my doing SO.
There are cases where it is unreasonable
to ask the pastor of large church to do
it; but, on the whole, I endeavor to be
as accommodating as possible to the out
side public. As to whether fee should
be received for such service, have ex-
pressed myself before on that subiet as
follows
If fee is offered, let it be received,
except from the very poor, and used for
a good object. To decline it, in most
cases, would give offence. A service for
those outside of the pastors congregation
often involves much extra labor; and a
Zee, under such circumstances, may often
be proper"
use as much of the FIVE afternoons
of the week as can for pastoral work.
Saturday 1 do not employ in that way.
To tell the truth, suppose, in proportion
to the size of my congregation, that I
have made more pastoral visits during
the last thirty-one years in New York
and Brooklyn than, maybe, any other
minister in those two cities. I have gone
to the extreme in that direction, and
some say l have spoiled my people.
This custom has cost me great sacrifice
of ministers ordinary recreations, es-
pecially in the way of literary recreations
and enJoyments; out have made that
sacrifice from pretty high ideal l have
had before me as to pastoral work. Per-
haps 1 have gone to the extreme in that
direction. cannot say that I would
recommend all young ministers to do as
l have done.
But my health is good, and I do not
care for physical recreations. I never
lost but two Sabbaths In my life on &C.
count of sickness. And l am a good
sleeper. 1 have found that the key to
mans success as minister lies in secur-
ing sleep. The word "sleep" covers
half the battle, because ministers break
down through the nervous system. The
one restorative for the nervous system,
and the only one, is sleep. As long as a
minister can sleep, he will keep his con-
gregation wide awake; the moment he
looses his sleep, they will fall to nodding.
DR.. T. L. Cuyler.