New-York tribune., 1896-12-13
THE NTNTSTERS WIFE.

We used TO see iravcrsing the poeiical col
umns Of tho newspapers "A ballad. Wanted
a Minister'S Wife" which rcctcd the plans OF
n church for its own welfare as concerned IN
the domestic affairs of its young clergyman
We read the poem and forgot II. or. If We ever
did recall IT, remembered II as an illustration
of the Spirit of some very old fashioned ni
very small community wher" everybody :
business was cverybodys else. and where tn"
barhers sweetheart was as much u matter
of public concern rs the ministers wife W."
never though, that IN this MODERN npiodni"
world a congregation was believed 10 have
proprictary rights in the minister's affections
Such however. seems 10 be the case Judging
from the experience OF a New w-Iersey pastor in
town near enough to the metropolis o reflect
the latest ideas of pastoral duty and congrcga-
tonal etiquette.
According TO newspaper accounts This clergy
man is engaged to b" married 10 young
woman in ncighboring ely He j. much
older than his fancec. but looks young, and If
he were a banker or n lawyef the difference in
age would not be thought anything rcmarkabl >.
70 apy business man the right 10 marry a
Young wife would be- freely conceded. But lin"
people Of the New-Jersey church are almost up
in arms against their pastor 80 much 50 that
he has offered 10 resign But this solution il
NOT satisfactory He is n good pastor and his
| pcoplc love him. They do not wish 10 get rid
of their minister. but TO get ministers wife
| more to their taste They say in the first place
| that the lady Is too young and not digniti"d
| enough They want a person better fitted 10
cond,c, the Ladies' Aid Society, capable Of
| playing the organ and teaching Bible class. and
| SO experienced with bread. pies and cake that
| the church socablcs will always be Il success
| Naturally this Is too much 10 expect Of a girl
of eighteen Moreover. she has been brought
up outside OF The parish. and the mothers Of
the church have no guarantee that her taste
| In raised biscuit is such as TO make her an
| agreeable tca-table companion. 1t would have
been grea, deal better if the pastor had
chosen a bride in his own parish. There were
! several maids Of ripe experience fitted for all
the duties which the church pays the minister
Il salary to have his wife do. Or if he did
| nor like these experienced ladies. there We're
| many pretty young girls right there in church.
| whose habits were well known and whose in
| hertance in the matter of piecrust could be
| guaranteed. even if their domestic training
| had not reached maturity. Moreover II was
| only right that the minister should palronizc
home industry II Is not thought proper for
| citizens to buy their groceries ont of town in
| stead OF supporting the local grocer and il
| Is equally improper for the clergyman 10 seek
| an out town girl when there are girls TO
| spare at home and fathers who have tU sup
| port them at great expense. Various members
| Of the congregation raise objections to the pro-
posed wife One says she Is too young and
| adds: There are plenty Of nice girls in the
church." Another makes different com
plant and ends up: "IIe should have selected
zone OF the desirable young women in the
Church" They are all agreed that he should
seems to be the principal ground for complaint.
| Now this clergyman's experience raises an in
| tercsting point Is it he or the church who is
| going to get married? Assuming that II Is the
pastor then what claim has the church OH his
heart or on his wife after he gets her? II II
was stipulated In the bond that the clergyman
| gave not only his ministerial services but lis
| domestic affections to be disposed Of by the
| congregation. then il must be admitted he .locs
wrong in seeking wife N his own pleasure
| If he hired out not only himself. but his family
| In futuro and agreed 10 preach and pray him
self and preside mt meetings. play the organ
| and make cake vicarously. then the church
| has a right TO he critical Of the instrument he
| offers for doing that work as II had a right to
| be critical In selecting him to preach. If he
agreed to furnish. so far as the law allowed,
husbands as well as spiritual truth to the la