The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-10-02
RELIGIOUS WORLD.
Six Months of Christianity.

Six Months of Christianity.
BY the division of the year into the sum
mer and winter seasons we have reached a
social expression of life which restricts the
working period of the year for religious pur'
poses In the great towns aud cities to the
months between October and May, practicaI-
ly six months Of the year. 1t takes month
or more to gather up congregation and put
It Into working shape In the fall, and about
the same length of time Is required for Its
final winding before the season ends. Prac'
tically the work of the Christian year has
now to be done, so far as the vital energy OF
the clergy and Christian people is concerned,
IN about one.half the time III which 1t was
formerly done. So far as work concerns
charitable and other institutions, the funds
contributed and the personal assistance given
can be adjusted to the whole year; but when
YOU look for the personal Influence over In
dividuals, the uplifting of society, the regen'
Grafton of the people. you find that within
quarter of q century new social regulation
has come into existence which practically
limits the period of Religious work In our
great centres to six months. La one sense the
clergy have an easier time by this change, and
| II they get the same pay for the diminished
work, many would think they ought TO be
thankful for 1t. But II they are conscientious |
men, and are endeavOring to exert sheir full
strength In the service of God, they must
feel that, In attempting to 90 Twelve months
work in six, they are unable to 90 that WORK
satisfactorily. In religious influence much
depends upon continuity. and In labortng
with the congregation for six months, and
then practically losing control OF It 10r SIX
months. the personal influence OF the Chris
tian ministry is greatly interlered WIN.
clergyman can make only half as strong an
impression upon the community as ne used
to. In this light the present custom Is an
immense drawback TO Christianity:
Looked at In broader light, this interrupt.
ion of religious work, however necessary 1t
may seem to be, Is a very serious matter. II,
as seems evident, the Christian church has a
decreasing influence upon society. or, al
least, is greatly modified IN the form through
which this influence Is eXerted, the question
may be pertinently asked whether 1t Is not /
due largely to to the interruption OF work. 9
which now forms part of our social arrange
ments. The clergy and the schoolmasters
are the only professional classes who cannot
take long vacations, unless we include among .
them the physicians who practice Is confined :
to society circles. However beneficial the !
short seasons Of vacation are, the long spell .
l.,
ing from three to six months, Is usually ,
season of religious dissipation or Indifference.
The healthy and strong moral grip upon life
which Is fOstered by the influence OF the par.
sh church Is dissipated, and the word OF our [
clergy Is largely confined to the effort to v
,ring their parishioners In the autumn back to
he religious devotion which they had when n
hey went away In the early summer. There a
nay be some gains to Offset this interruption 81
Jlergy, as well as people are taking broader !,
Jews of religious opinions and duty than 10
hey used to. They are more cosmopolitan. al
hey take religion more as an integral part c,
+ life, and not as limitation to energy and a,
haracter. But unless religious teaching Is =.
one very thoroughly, the effect Is to mingle oil
nth 1t great degree of worldliness, and to vi
Inmate a censecrated religious purpose. m
he tendency with our forefathers was to tn
from actual life, but the present tendency ri,
to introduce so much wordliness that 1t oh
IN with difficulty be distinguished as posi- "a
We element Of character. This Is what the 20
ergy have to contend with In their six IN
onths of personal contact with their con- m,
reat weakening of the spiritual forces that hi,
,ntrol society. los
What shall be done? This question ad- o .es
resses Itself to every conscientious clergy fo
ian aud layman In the community. 1t Is u,i
lain that, If the work of year Is to be done Nh
its Spiritual forces ought to be made of the o.
81 Importance. To do their work effective.
The clergy need much larger corps of lay rr'
lpers than they once required. There should ..,,
very definite purpose In The social, as III
III as the spiritual, activities of the church. -,
clergyman should be not simply good De'
eacher, but one who knows how to choose r
e righ: sort of persons. and to give them i
)rk they are best able to do. The rector or pee
st0r of city parish holds no sinecure. II cul
Is master of the situation,h he must develop rel
plans quickly and thoroughly. He cannot zen
Up to make experiments. Every bit of work pra
at he undertakes must be engaged In as II lit II
ire now or never. Once we could allow for dru
. slow oneratjon Of line nnon line and nre, ma
pit upon precept, but now the demand Is lm
1t action shall be quick and decided. Never In
Is the church called upon to do more for WI
ciety. Never were the calls SO numerous yea
engage In work that Is partly social and
rtly religious. Never were the opportunities q
IRE inviting, and never was the demand so OF !
ong that clergymen should be well fitted for 7
eachiDg andipastoTa ministration. One who Law
ks at the Christian church from the point has
the modern man sees In 1t highest spiritual n
thority In life, and what men expect of 1t 80
day Is a positive influence In society, its NJ
ger and larger Identification with our en- 10 ~
e social experiences. All the higher con. nn
BUSINESS of our time looks to the Christian Din ain
lrch as whole for the superior ordering DIV
life, and:this demand for moral uplifting A
to be met at the time when socia! Gus serI
n has deprived the church of nearly half tain
time In which 1t was once allowed to do sub
work. The wider bearings of this subject wht
lite the thoughtful consideration of all T
ristian pe0ple.-[BO Boston Herald. sOci
ours
nl,~1y had of De- ID w