Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-22
THE ALaxHoUsE MINISTER.
Little sisters of tho Poor Not Secta
rian-Winisters SHOULD BE Paid.


To tho Editor Of the Dispatch:
In reading the very interesting and
able letter of the Rev. W. w. Iandrnm
on the chaplaincy of the almshouso and
sectarian appropriations, / find the fol-
lowing: "Ihey are in origin, history,
aim, and purpose sect0rian. Who can
think otherwise The Baptist Home
for Aged Women for example, is OF
Baptists, by Baptists, for Baptists. In a
word, it is sectarian. SO are the other
homes and the asylum OF the Little
Sisters OF the Poor"
The reverend gentlemen in this para
graph seems 10 put the Baptist Home
for Aged Women and the Little
Sisters of tho Poor on the same foot
ing rs regards sectarianism, which he
has defined as "of, by. and for. D" This
is certainly a mistake There is nothing
sectarian about the institution OF the
Little Sisters" Ii they have a vacant
bed. no matter who the applicant is, pro-
vided he DO properly recommended, be
is welcome 10 the Little Sisters.
They care not for your mode Of worship
they care not for your doctrinal belief
they only see that you are old and fee
bic, desolate, without home, and the
halls OF their asylum are open 90 you,
/ and you ore welcome therein.
In the same issue Of your valuable
paper I notice another letter on the
same subject over the name OF c. ii.
( Ryland. Mr.. Ryland seems to be very
much pleased with The stand taken by
Mr.. jackson Guy on the chaplaincy
question, and most of us cannot but
agree with Mr.. Glly that to put a clergy
man of any particular denomination to
minister to the varied beliefs of the in
mates of the almshouso would be un-
christian and unconstitutional. Mr..
Ryland. in the course OF his letter, re
marks: "The City Council has nothing
whatever to do with either the Christian
instruction or Christian burial of the
inmates of the almsbouse. Let us see.
The inmates OF the almshouse are those
upon whom the world has turned its
back, who. for some reason or other.
have become unable b. get for them
selves the necessarles of life, and the
duty of the corporation towards those
people is to see that they DO not die
from want OF the necessaries OF life, but
that thev are fed. clothed. and shell
tered. If this be Il duty incumbent on
cOrpOratiOn-yiZ., 10 supply the tenn
poral needs of It's paupers then it must
be far higher and more imperative
duty on Christian corporation To have
the spiritual cravings of these people at
tended to. IL is all very well to talk of
boosted churches and institutions and
bewail the fact that even proposition
70 pay 500 for the burial of our paupers
has been made in our midst. This appears
TO me q rather high-strung sentimental
view of this question. Clcrgymcn have
10 live by the exercise of their profession
Just as doctors and lawyers. You pay
the phvsician who attends 10 bodily Ills
OF your paupers. Wbyn pay the ply
sician Who ministers TO the mind and soul
diseased, aud who can do far more 20
comfort the lot OF the unfortunate aims
takcr than can our medical doctors? If
the 500 is to he appropriated simply to
supply UrjSiidH bui0i, then / think
with Mr.. Ryland it would be- reckless
extrayaQance. But surely the paupor
needs more than Christian burial and
were this all 1t would not be necessary to
have an appointed minister in order to
supply it.
You canno. get any one 10 work in
your almshouse for nothing your SUI
perintondcnt your matron, your ser
wants, your porter, all must he paid, aud
Your physician. too. Why. then, should
/ it be 80 repugnlut 10 the mind 10 pay
the clergyman who gees to administer
the consultations OF his religion 10 the
pauper inmate? The writer does not
favor the appropriation OF 800 for any
particular clergyman, but rs some ar
rangemcnt is made with the physician
in attendance, some simllararmngemcut
might be madeto pay the clergyman who
comes at the request of the inmate. He
who soothes the pain OF our body must
be compensated but n wall of horror
must 90 up when We talk Of compen-
satng the minister who points ont the
Way, the Truth, aud the Life and
whose ministrations may have won Tor
the pAuper Il glorious immortality.
Az OBSERVER.
Richmond, Ta, February 20, 1885.