St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
The Relation of Pastor and PEOPLE

There is great deal said as to what q
pastor should do and should not do, some
OF the sayings are true and some are other
wise. one OF these sayings is that pas
tor should visit all the strangers that come
to the city that belong to his faith and
furthermore, it is his duty to visit the sick
of his congregation. The saving is true
While it is true, it appears to US that there
are some considerations due the pastor
Let US consider some of them:
L. 1t is his duty to visit strangers COM
ing to the city that are of his faith But
how is he to know that a stranger has
come to town? There are many of them
coming and going. Should he learn that
stranger has come, how is he to know be
is of his faith Now, it occurs to us that
1t is due the pastor that some member OF
the church, who is in possession of the
facts should inform their pastor of the new
conner; and, furthermore, it seems to US
that 1t is due the pastor, on the part of the
stranger to go to church and inform the
pastor that he is member of church of
same faith and order. Most people do.
but we have known it to be otherwise.
where the stranger would stay away from
church for months and say all sorts of
things about the pastor and the church,
except good things, all because they have
not been visited by pastor or people, when
neither had not been informed that they
were even believers, but had reasons to
think differently because of the little or
no interest they take in church affairs. 1t
appears to US that strangers, as well as
other Christians, should let their light
shine, and no Christian ever lets his light
shine by staying away from divine service
when it is possible to attend. Should we
grant that the pastor is culpable for not
being able to read it in the atmosphere
when one of his flock comes into the COM
munity, we will not agree that he is the
only one that should be censured, espe-
cially if that one is staying away from
service and does not make himself known.
We have heard of some being very mrc'l
offended because they imagined they had
not been t. eased right by the church, say
and did not intend to go, or. have any
thing to do with it. What a calamity to
that church Well, this pastor wishes to
serve notice on all strangers of our faith
that while he will not get offended, he
will feel aggrieved at them if they do not
come to church, seek US out, either befo-e
or after service, and make themselves
known and permit us to introduce them to
the members. Should this be ,e, we
guarantee that the church, both pas and
people, will take great intel est in them.
To say the list of ito this much is due tie
pastor.
2. 1t is his duty to visit the sick of his
congregation. But how is he to know of
their sickness? We have no daily papers
that chronicles the vital statistics of each
day. The pastor of church, be he ever
so talented, is not omnip 'esent, he can be
in but one place at tine, and some
days come when he cannot visit at all that
day, circumstances over which Re has no
control will not permit it. But he might
visit all day for several days and not learn
of your sickness. How is he to find it
out? How did the physicians find it QUIT
0 you say, | sent for him. Very true,
your pastor would thank you if in some
way you would send him word that you
are sick, or that you have sickness in your
family, instead of leaving him to find it
out as best he can, and you spend the
time in thinking, or saying hard things
about him.
Pres ing this view of the subject,
does it not appeal to our better judgment
that the pastor, in these things, has some
rights that should be respected? A pastor,
let him be ever so good, is not ipfallible,
neither is any other person on earth.
Therefore, do not expect everything of
him.
Now, closing injunction to all, let US
study two subjects instead of one, let us
study The Pastors Relation to his People,
but let US also study The Relation Of Peo-
pie to Pastor.-The Christian Visitor.