The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-05

When Adirondack Murray was a brilliant
light of Boston Congregationalism he did
not enjoy the pastoral work of his parish,
but preferred 10 employ his time and ener-
gies writing stud books and herd books,
running q large stock farm, mannfactur-
ing buckboards, chasing deer in the Adj
Yondaegs one summer and writing the
story of his adventures the mex, Of
course preacher might do all these things
and not be other than good man, but
man who brought his whole heart to the
work of his pulpit and his parish could
not possibly find time to do all these
things. Wesley. Charming Parker, Moody
or Phillips Brooks never found any time
for the variegated labors tina. employed
the versatile talents of Adirondack MUIR
ray Very likely II they had been less in
lore with their ministerial calling they
would have lived good many years
longer. but they would probably have done
vastly less good in the world.
Adirondack Murray expired like a
bright exhalation not because he lacked
talent. he was both a strong and eloquent
writer, an impressive pulpit orator but
he insulted the instructive popular per-
eepiion OF the incongruty between spirit
ual tastes. purposes and pursuits of q
man who enters the pulpit because he
feels within his bosom glow the apostolic
TIRE ana fervor, lat by no mere skill Of
schools. and a man whose tastes are OF the
sort that tempt him to be an eager leader
In trade or on the turf. 1t is a vicious
theory that there is no moral foundation
for the barrier that ordinarily separates
ministers and men Of the world in bust
ness, in sport and in the general order of
their everyday life. for this theory, If
practically enforced. Is that any intel
iectua! layman, not disyeputable in his
personal habits, may leap from the turf to
the pulpit and from the pulpit 10 the turf
iast as the old race of fox-hunting parsons
did in England during the last century
This theory OF the preacher calling may
possibly work no harm 10 the preacher.
but rs n matter of effect on his influence
for spiritual good over his cor gregation 1t
may work an infinite deal of harm. The
world Is not yet ready to surrender its be-
lief that the very junction Of minister is
higher than ali other human pursuits; the
world is not vet ready To bring down the
holy calling of clergyman 10 the level Of
profession, on the same plane in ali worldly
affairs with all men of business out Of the
pulpit. Murray, honestly enough for
aught We know, acted on this false theory
and successfully exerted himself to lower
the spiritual dignity OF bis high calling by
insisting that man can he a h,gh-souled
evangelist and all enthusiastic horse
man" on a large scale q: the same time.
without parting with particle of the
spiritual influence OF his pulpit But
II can't be done, and Murray's very
brilliant talents did not save HIM from
failure. from spiritual failure. as minis
ter of the Gospel. Mr.. Murray vas. for
aught We know, sincere man, but did not
see the difference between = loss OF clerical
DAINTY. for which the late Phillips Brooks
cared nothing, and the loss OF spiritual DIG
u;,v. for which the late Phillips Brooks
cared so much that he never parted with
Il. Murray finally found out his mistake
and promptly and manfully stepped down
and out of his pulpit and went - work a.
what he loved best. and Is today happy.
eonteuted. fairly prosperous snd respected
man of the world. And all this is TAR bet
.se than If he had attempted to stay in the
nulnit when his heart vas no, with his full
duty to his pulpit and has parish.
No man can serve two masters and no
mao can be true evangelist in the pulpit
and fox-hunting. trout-ktAing. game-de-
stroylng parson 81 the same time. The
preacher Who finds tine 20 be sn "alI
round" athlete and sportsman will never
be an evangelist of the Phillips Brooks
xypa. Even Beecher never rose 10 the
h.eh Level eff Phillips Brooks As a true
evangelist In spite OF his great talent.
lie was failure because his soul was not
in his spiritual and ethical work; he could
coD.,ruc. g vssy powerful, impressive and