The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09
THE MINISTER'S WIFE.

THE MINISTER'S WIFE.
The people of New Jersey church
are almost up in arms against their
pastor, SO much SO that he has offered
to resign. But this solution is not
satisfactory. He is a good pastor and
his people love him. They do not
wish to get rid OF their minister, but
to get minister's wife more to their
taste. They say in the first place that
the lady is too young and not digni-
fled enough. They want a person
better fitted to conduct the Ladies'
Aid Society, capable of playing the
organ and teaching Bible class, and
SO experienced with bread, pies and
cake that the church sociables will
always be success. Naturally this is
too much to expect of girl of eigh-
teen. Moreover, she has been brought
up outside of the parish, and the
mothers of the church have no guar
antee that her taste in raised biscuit
is such as to make her an agreeable
tea-table companion. 1t would have
been a great deal better if the pastor
had chosen bride in his own parish.
There were several maids of ripe ex-
perience fitted for all the duties
which the church pays the minister
salary to have his wife do. Or, if
he did not like these experienced la
dies, there were many pretty young
girls right there in church, whose
habits were we'll known and whose
inheritance in the matter of piecrust
could be guaranteed, even if their do
nestle training had not reached ma
turity. Moreover it was only right
that the minister should patronize
home industry. 1t is not thought
proper for citizens to buy their gro
ceries out of town instead of suppo t.
ing the local grocer, and it is equally
improper for the clergyman to seek
an out of-town girl when there are
girls to spare at home and fathers
who have to support them at great
expense. Various members of the
congregation raise objections to the
proposed wife. One says she is too
young and adds: There are plenty
of nice girls in the church." Another
makes different complaint and ends
up: "He should have selected one
of the desirable young women in the
church" They are all agreed that
he should have selected wife in the
church. That seems to be the prin-
cipal ground for complaint.
Now this clergyman's experience
raises an interesting point. Is it he
or the church who is going to get
married? Assuming that it is the
pastor, then what claim has the
church on his heart or on his wife af-
ter he gets her. If it was stipulated
In the bond that the clergyman gave
not only his ministerial services but
his domestic affections to be disposed
of by the congregation, then it must
be admitted he does wrong in seek
ing wife at his own pleasure. If he
hired out not only himself but his
family in future. and agreed to
preach and pray himself and preside
at meetings, play the organ and make
cake vicariously, then the church has
right to be critical of the instru-
ment he offers for doing that work as
it had right to be critical in select
ing him to preach. If he agreed to
furnish, so far as the law allowed, hus-
bands as we'll as spiritual truth to the
ladies of the church, there is reason
able ground for complaint at his 60
ing away for wife. If he has the
same liberty as other men in affairs
of the heart, then the position of his
congregation is not plain. 1t would
be interesting to have more light on
the nature of the ministerial contract
with relation to ministers wives
NeaU York Tribune.