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

The Clergyman and the Priest.
Nesu York Herald.
Here arc two very interesting question:
and veil suited to a Sunday morning
like this:
IT was wandering aimleasly through
New York streets yesterday when ar
incident occurred which set me think
ing. First, I met two Catholic priests
and almost Immediately afterVard {
Protestant clergyman. The priests were
evidently well fed, we'll clothed and
veil cared for generally. On the othel
hand, the clergyman had alook of ankle
ty which not only excited my sympathy
but started my thinking emachine ago.
ing.
IT asAed myselfthese tMo questions
Are priests as q rule less3harassed than
clergymen9 and, Why; is ithao, 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 a notable fact. At fifty
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
ia 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 9
good deal of struggle and that it has
told on his vitality. The lines which
indicate both hard work and great re.
'sponsibility are growing deeper, and
his bearing is that of man who has
wrestled with circumstances, and not
always with entire success or, satisfac.
ition.
WHY'S this7 Well, the cause ia. to
be found in the two systems. A priest
is we'll 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 q
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 necesai.
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 aud
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 act OF
imprudence on his own part or o caprice
on the part of his congregation. A rash
sentiment, either in the pulpit or out of
it, or, worse than that; a 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 a predicament tat he
must choose between pleasing the Lord
and pleasing the people. If he pleases
the people he loses his self-respect. but
keeps bis income; if he pleases the Lord
he may gain the satisfaction of martyr.
dom, but he loses his salary and endan-
gers the prospects ifnot the happiness Of
his family.
When he gets to be old he finds that
churches are in search Of younger men.
BE 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
il is an objectionable crime to be sixty
years Of age. The only thing left is to
become book agent or an under seere-
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 a rough road to travel.
The difference which our correspon.
dent has noted between the priest and
the clergyman is is differencein 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
boasts, is the combination well that has