St. Paul daily globe., 1893-08-27

in the majority. Priests do not live
long. The average life of the priest is
shorter than that of the lawyer or the
physician or the professor. Several
theories have been advanced by way of
explanation of this sad fact The late
Henry Ward Beeeher said that the
cause of their short lives is to be found
in this, that they are hard workers and
hard drinkers. But the famous word
painters explanation does not hold
good here, for you will look in vain for
red nose among the clergy of Mime
sofa lhe real cause Is mental worry.
combined with hard work. The priest
has to please the people on the one
hand and he must not displease the
bishop on the other. He needs Drotec-
ton, rather than correction. The most
OF bis weeks work is compressed into
two days-Saturday and Sunday. Often
times ne has to spend his Sundays from
Go'elock in the morning till 2 in the
afternoon. shivering. saying mass.
preaching, baptising, presiding. etc.,
and all that without having eaten his
breakfast. Necessity has not made this
consideration of work universal rule,
but 1t is sufficiently general to account
Ior aohcfinai mortality among the clergy.
Different Types.
What a variety in unity, or. as Her
bert Spencer WOuid call 1t, what heter-
Ogenous homogeneity one sees in gath
erlng OF clcrgymen. There goes the
priest from the rural district with a
wreath of smiles upon his face and a
&low OF rude health upon his cheeks.
f2ie Is happy, for his wants are supplied
and he is ambitious only for the welfare
of his people. He is ambitious for the
temporal well being, as well as for the
spiritual evolution of his people. because
Se has been learning of late years that
Snforced poverty is really not productive
Of high spirituality. The gospel praises
voluntary poverty and poverty of spirit.
That is all. See the city pastor. whose
thin cheeks and haggard looks i'll be-
come one so young. His tremendous
responsibility does not set lightly upon
him. lie has to see to the temporall-
ties, as well as to the spiritualities
of his parish. He must heal the souls
of his people, and he must provide ways
and means for the maintenance of his
church and house and schools. Failure
IN either department means his ruin.
NO wonder that silVery hairs make a
premature appearance, or that unhered-
ltary badness appears before its time.
tie may wear crown, but his head is
weary. Who is that enthusiast with
aSeetIc face and semitransparent body?
evidently he has mission, some would
call 1t hobby, for lie is always button
nollng Ills brethren and forcing them to
listen. lie is very praYerful and very
Tep0Seful when not aroused, but on ce in
action his eyes flash fire like Peter
the HermitS. and his methods
are iconoclastic like Savouarola's.
The problem is solved. He is
a .prohibitionist, and he sticks to his
idea. Look again. This time your eyes
rest upon man OF middle life, whose
expression of face varies with the
changing thought within. His face is a
good one. 1t is usually benign, but at
times 1t wears most ferOciouS mien.
IhlS is when there rambleS a burning
Thought that society is very nearly out
of Jolnt,0r that some ecclesiastical abuse
is soreiy in need of correction. He
breaches strong sermons. gives good
lectures, and is always ready and will
ing TO read paper at congress of
social reform. Then there is the pro.
feSsor. His air is not quite professional
just at present, for he has lately re-
turned from his friends in the country,
OF from his holiday in tile mountains, oI
from his trip to the sea coast. The pale
caste OF thought Las partly disappeared
under the influence of Gods sun.
light, but it Will soon come and
become get more deepened. His
mildly languid look does not arise
from lack of the active fires. but he has
learned the art of repression, and he is
outstanding his enthusiasm for the
young men whom he will teach. dc
knows the worth of enthusiasm upor
youth, and he takes good care that none