New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-11-28
! sclslng the Minister.

Rean anybody" is not aimed at by
~ one parish, but is rather the
-plt OF many years observation Of
e ways OF parishes with their min
ers,-Ways by no means peculiar
one denomination.
When the minister is first settled.
.erJfhing was heavenly, too
tavenly to last. Wherever two or
ree OF the parish meet together.
ucltatIons# are exchanged on their
BOD fortune, and the new minister's
'alses are loudly chanted.
The Dewminister introduces some
noyations to the service, the parish
"0a. DIRK, etc, whose novelty pleases;
nd everyone seconds all his ideas
it'll enthusiasm.
Le3SnTot the minister, however de-.
9lVehimself by dreaming that this
leal state of things will last. His
rial hour has not yet come. But it
VII Generally, in the second or
bird year of his passionate, the reac-
'ction sets in. The novelty has
Torn off; and his people, having be-
ONE accustomed to his special gifts
Ind graces, accept them as matter
ot course. The wave of enthusi-
tsmFSsas subsidized; and a wave ofcrit-
fism sets in, swelling as it rolls.
The time is always to be dreaded
Fhen, at the sewing society, Mrs.
Brown first ventures to remark that
Yrs. Robinson told her that Mrs.
Jol. Smith said shethinks Mr.. Blanks
sermons are too long and dry, or
that his gestures are so awkward or
what not. 1t seems a little thing
gut it is the beginning of the end,
hd
tHLittle rift within the lutte,
That by and by will make the music mute.''
Mrs. Browns remark invariably
calls forth corroborative testimony
from other ladies, who do not wish
to appear deficient in critical acumen.
Each adds her little drop of deprecia-
ton to help make the mighty
ocean" which will, perhaps eventu-
ally sweep the minister from the
pulpit. The wife goes home, and
9ntertains her husband with the
coBsnents of the sewing circle or the
gossip she had picked up in IL round
OF calls. And the next day, in store
or bank Or wherever male gossips
most congregate, the husband says:
'People don't seem to like Mr..
Blank as we'll as they did at first.
My wife says" etc.
Then each of the male gossips
plucks feather or two from the
plumage Of the minister's once adj
mmired virtues, until he is, so far as
character goes, literally picked to
pieces. --.... ..
People now go to church in q criti-
cal mood instead of an admiring
one, which makes deal of differences
hdfs a sermon sounds to one. 1t is
so much easier to criticize a sermon
than to write one! More often, how
" ever, it is not the minister's sermons
which give dissatisfaction. [ have
seen-every one has-able men of ex-
cellent character criticised out of
their pulpits for the most trivial
nothings. 1t might be some insig-
nlticant personal eCcentricity, some
popularity Of dress or bearing Or
: manner. 1t might be because he was
considered to slight his sermons, and
spend too much time running about
the parish calling, or in working in
outside charities and town matters.
Fit might be because he spent too
mach time in his study, writing in
deed most admirable sermons, but
cit is three months since he has
called on Mrs. JONES'
"A wise old physician of my &C
quaintance, used to say thatnothing
insured young doctors success so
certainly as "a good.how dye do"
This is pre-eminently true of the
minister. He may possess all the
virtues, be ST. Francis and a st.
Augustine blended inone; but if he
hasiDot good howsd'ye do woe
unto: him! If,however, he has the
social graces in Ia marked degree,
when the wave of criticism sets in,
H4 parish willilook askance upon his
suaYity, and wonder if he lis quite
sincere.
Whatever the special ground of
complaint, the period Of criticism is
certain to come, and the minister
may as well be mentally prepared to
undergo it. If, however hebe;a good
man and true, ''let nothing him dis
may" Let him go straight on, do
ing his duty conscaentiously as God
gives Kim to see it, and tenfto one he
7willscouae out like Christian of "Pil-
.grim's Progress when he espied
1.-TWO LIONS in the marrow way he
needs must go. And the period of
criticism once out-weathered, the
minister may consider himself well
( .Itled in the saddle for q long trip
L. l.,