The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-01-31
The Clergyman and the Priest.
New York Herald.

i , ss
The Clergyman and the Priest.
Meau York Herald.
Here are two very interesting questions
and veil suited to Sunday morning
like this:
IT was wandering aimleasly through
New York streets yesterday when an
| incident occurred which set me think
ing. First, met two Catholic priests,
and almost Immediately afterWard q
Protestant clergyman. The priests were
evidently we'll fed, we'll clothed and
veil cared for generally. On the other
hand, the clergyman had look ofanxie.
ty which not only excited my sympathy,
but started my thinking smaehine ago.
ing.
ri asAed myself.these two questions: :
Are priests as rule less,iharassed than
clergymen7 and, Why; is ithso, ifit be
true?
"WilI the Herald answer ?'
Yes, your observation is correct. The
priesthood as body show very much
less Of the wear and tear of life than the
clergy. This is notable fact. At fifty
| 1.-The priest has none Of those furrows ra-
dating from the outer corner Of the eye
known as crows feet, his forehead has
few wrinkles and his general appearance
| is that of man we'll preserved and
likely to live to green old age.
The clergyman, on the other hand,
shows by his face that he has had 8
good deal Of struggle and that it has
told on his vitality. The lines which
indicate both hard work and great re.
isponsibility are growing deeper, and
his bearing is that Of 8 man who has
wrestled with circumstances, and. not
always with entire success or satisfac-
|'tion.
Why.is this? Well, the cause is. to
be found in the two systems. A priest
is well cared for physically. He is the
property of the church to which he has
dedicated his life. He has no anxieties
as to rent or food, and no family whose
present welfare or future prospects excite
his concern. he is simply and only 8
spiritual agent in the hands Of a. great
organization. His home is assured, his
table is properly provided, his duties
are assigned, he is not called upon to look
out for the uncertainties of life, because
there are none, and when old age over
takes him he has roof over his head,
friendly hands to minister to his necessi.
ties and aplace for his body when the
tired heart has worn out its stock Of life.
Not so with the clergyman. He de.
pends on his own individual efforts and
on his natural gifts for his position and
income. he has family to support, boys
who must receive an education and be
prepared for business career, girls who
are to be carefully trained in the accom-
.plishments as we'll as the practical duties
of life.
Moreover, in too many instances his
tenure of Office and therefore of salary,
may be imperilled either by an actot
imprudence on his own part or caprice
on the part his congregation. A rash
sentiment, either in the pulpit or ont Of
it, or, worse than that; 8 strong express
sion of an honest conviction concerning
any subject theological, political or
moral-may give rise to an opposition
that will subject him to unendurable
harrassment, and lead at least to an i'm.
piled or direct notice to quit. His chief
business may be-and is said to be-to
please the Lord, but he frequently finds
himself in such predicament that he
must choose between pleasing the Lord
and pleasing the people. If he pleases
the people he loses his selfrespect, but
keeps bis income; if he pleases the Lord
he may gain the satisfaction of martyr
dom, but be lcses his salary and endan.
gers the prospects if not the happiness Of
his family.
When he gets to be old he finds that
churches are in search Of younger men.
He has laid up nothing-how could he?
The church to which he belongs
can't take care of him to any great
extent, and he sees only too Vividly that
it is an unpardonable crime to be sixty
years of age. The only thing left is to
become book agent or an under aecre.
tary in some religious organization, and
since he can't die he must wear out his
latter days as supernumerary who is in
the way Of everybody.
True, some denominations have care
for their aged poor, their worn and tired
servants, but you can't get rid of the fact
that the Protestant clergyman who is
foolish enough to grow old finds that
Jordan is rough road to travel.
The difference which our correspon.
dent has noted between the priest and
the clergyman is is difference in the two
religious systems. The priest never has
any care or anxiety-so far as physical
wants are concerned. The clergyman
always has great deal of both.
That, it seems to us, is fair answer to
the two questions.
A Wonderful Well.
One of the most remarkable of the
wonderful things Of which Pittsburg