The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-09
A CLHRqYMAN's DUTY


Because minister of the gospel in New
York last Sunday, while preaching fun
eral sermon over the remains Of race
track starter chose to speak plainly to the
living and draw lesson from the un-
godly life Of the deceased, in many Of the
metropolitan newspapers he is held up TO
ridicule and censure. This is not right.
The minister, as far as we can see from the
printed report, said nothing which was
out OF place. He would have been faithless
to the solemn vows he took at his ordina-
tion to the ministry had he said less than
he did,
The world at large has a msconception
of the duty of a clergyman under circum
stances like those mentioned. Many are
of the opinion that it is in poor taste to
refer to aught but the good traits of the
dead. II the deceased has led an ungodly
life and died in his sins, and If at his fun
eral are gathered class of people " ho
but seldom hear of God, an eternity and
life's solemn obligations, that is the time
when the truth should be impressed,
with Kindness, tits true, but forcibly and
without the minclng of works. ..
The man who at such a time as this
says such words as the following deserves
Draise FATHER than hlame.
81 would say to the living, You may
be the next 1t is highly probable that
the monster Death has already received
his commission to pass down the aisle Of
this church and to mark his next victim.
Are you prepared to go II not, God help
you. 1t has been whispered to me that
while the deceased was on his dying bed
he cried for mercy. Let us hope he did.
Torment is too miserable, hell is too hot.
God, in his mercy, may have snatched
MIN to Him. But do not depend upon
any such salvation. PerpRre to meet
y0ur God. Turn from your wickedness
and seek the God Of your fathers now"
Such words as the above we believe
would have been uttered by the founder
Of Christianity had he been called to
administer at such time.
1t mistaken notion of society, both
high and low, that clergyman must
speak and preach TO tickle the ears OF
his hearers. When he is called upon to
preside at funeral. unless he breaches
she deceased fairly into heaven, he is re-
Eiled and treated with contumely.
If Christianity teaches anything 1t Is
shat life is most serious thing-that
this present state is probationary where
men fixes his own destiny for happiness
Or woe. How foolish then is it to expect
minister of that Christianity to juggle
with words at time when the pale face
Of Death looks up from the coffin mutely
declaring in one case at least this destiny
has been fixed forever.
But in the case under discussion it was
the duty OF the clergyman TO use word,
which could not be mistaken. He had be
fore him an audience Of gamblers anC
and crooks, many of whom in all proba
Aility had never been within sacred
sanctuary. These people lived where
crime was rampant and blasphemy theil
constant language They never con
tributed penny toward the support Of {
Ihurch and ridiculed the attempt of an!
Of their number to follow the teaching
Of the meek and lowly Nazarine, On the
death of one Of their number they feel tha
Death is too serious a thing to joke ovel
aud that it would be eminently respect
able and proper to have him buried from
a church. They then call for the service
Of man whom they have derided al
their lives, and are astonished that h
speaks TO Il sm of a hell which await
abe ungodly.
Auwe have already said, we believe