Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-08-30
Rev. James Z. Poindexter.

!; A little less than two years ago u
clerical friend whose name | have ju
written resigned his parish at Port Roya
Caroline county, Va, and took charge
the parish at Port Tobacco, Charles cour
~. Md. His migration was the theme
loud lament He was ssch a man as WI
ginia could i'll spare, have letters fros
both the Bishops of that diocese express
ing this sentiment in strong terms Thei
regret was echoed in full-vOiced choru
by the Rappahannock ConvOcation, Q
which Mr.. Poindexter, when first me
him, was the dean. Most Of all, bis par
ishiOners, orphaned by his departure, fell
their great loss. Many months passed
before the void created by his removal
was filled by the Rev. Mr.. Ware, from
Loudoun. The large circle of Mr. and
Mrs. POindexter's kinsfolk and friend:
IN his native State will, | am sure, be
interested in some account of him and hts
work since their separation.
When he left his old home and came
Either it was not because there was not
work enough to do where he was The
territorial extent of bis parish was equal
to that Of one of the little principalitles
which Bismarck swallowed up when be
unified Germany and made an emperor
out eff the King of Prussia. Nor was
the removal to Maryland Influenced by
the hope or wish to find smaller and
easier field of labor. Just contrariwise.
His new field was quite as large as that
he left. and in one respect more difficult.
Charles county is more thickly peoplcd
than Caroline. The number of souls in
his present cure is fourfold greater than
In the former. His pricstly and pastoral
work being hence largely increased; his
regular Sunday services not at all d.
creased; his visitations to the sick and
dying; his calls to baptize in private
houses, to bury the dead in the dead Of
winter in distant points of the parish; to
go from Dan to Beersheba to solelnnize
a marriage, getting back over a muddy
road on moonless night to the rectory4
such is true, uncolored account of the
manner of life since he came
to Charles county. In the memorable
words of Gen. John Pope when he took
command of the Army of the Potomac,
1T is hardly hypcrbole to say that our
good Christian soldiers "headquqrters
have been in the saddle" OF the series
of able and accomplished ministers in
this parish before Mr.. Poindexter no one
exceeded, or could exceed, his zeal, his
devotion, the spirit of self-sacrifce he has
ever shown. In these, the palmary vir-
.ues OF Christian minister, it is safe to
predict that he will be excelled by no one
't his successors. For one complaint of
llm there is color of justice. He is
charged with partiality toward one class
u his parlshloners, giving to that class a
iIsproportionate share of his time AMI at
entlon From that charge | cannot &C.
end him. A minister should not dis
rimiuate; he should not rob Peter to pay
'aul. Rather should his friends be able
0 say of him
"A9quopulsat pede paurerum tabernas.
legumque -
To that ethical rule he does not strict
conform. lie makes what many deem
u unwise and unjust distinction. His
'ot strikes oftener the doorstep Of his
iany poor cottugers than that Of any az
re beautiful suburban villas around III
ectory. where his own richer parishionS
RS dwell He is not seldom seen in I
Uncle Toms Cabin" ministering Ia
&c ianates as lie would to the wealthis; I
{ the white aristocracy with whom he
! connected. The standard of chrrcls-
,nashjp being little lower on the h;fher
ran on the htttcr side of the Potomac,
may be considered one Of his ccccn-
'ici les that he breaches sometimes to a
cgro congregation in their own Meth9-
list meeting house There are Chursh-
zen of type now rarely seen who would
e quite lutole.ant Of such breaches Of
rider. dccorum, the dignity of the pulpit,
&c. This species of ecclesiastical mar.
nets is fast dying out, and will soon be
xtinct If in this thing there is any
'ult, it is at worst but peccadillo-not
he awful sin which hath never forgive
ess. In spite of it, it may well be hoped
ur friend, in the great day of the Lord,
I'LL be found in the company to whom
shall be said "Inasmuch as We did il
INTO one of these"
Having thus family sketched the pas
' tide, SO true to the sSls. s ;ss... /.
i'm by the Great Shepherd, | superadd
few words about the prea cher. In some
ections ofour church preaching has come
0 be regarded as an affair of very sccon-
airy i'll Importance. Such sentiment is
My one of the fashionable follies of the
ay. GO ye," said JESUS, Unto all
he world and preach the gospel" This
5 the prime function of the Christian
ministry, as at first. GAS it was in the
it is now and ever shall be"
lie knows nothing Of church history, or
as read it to little pur pose, who would
ispute this point. 1t is enough to name
he names of Chrysostom, Savanarola,
.acordaire, Wesley, Whitfield, or to
ONE down to our own times, Spurgeon,
Seecher, Phillips, Brooks, Tying,
hawks, to dispel the idea that pulpit
over is thing of small price. The
oet's estimate is subject to no challenge:
he pulpit IN the sober use
It its legitimate peculiar powers)
lust stand acknowledged, while the world |
shall stand,
he most important and effectual guard,
Import and ornament of virtues cause
\ superlative pastor is seldom a SUI
erlative preacher The two talents are
OF often united in one man. mon ON
"a possun.us onlnes" Our friend is a
gnal exception to this rule. lie is not
hat is called star preacher; but so far
the legitimate aim Of sermon is con-
,rned his abilities are far above the COM
ION. Said an inteligent gentleman of
altimore as we walked horae together
st Sunday after the service, THAT was
a adj mira hia diSoaurso H. .o....,.. - |