New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
PARSONS AND WOMEN.

From The Church Gazette.
IL is an ascertained fact that no man has ;"
mitch to put up with from his relatives AS ,he
pars0n and especially from those OF the fair
sex For some occult reason many women seem
convinced that they are born theoogi ans ana
the women relatives Of the parson thnk tney
know his privileges, liabilities and the WISHES sn
of the people and the Bishop far better than
he does Mothers who are the wives of parsons,
and sisters accustomed to clerical society; IN
tcrfcre but rarely they take the relatives
duties nerhapa a little too much a business.
much in the same way that a barristers girls
do his attendance at chambers, or nifrchahl y
daughters their fathers hours spent az nus OF
flee. IL is the parson who is drawn from the
classes among which ii is considered ass
tinction to have a relative in the Church VINO
has to bear the full brunt OF this Wel-nedht
torture. l have known men who nave gone
abroad to escape their women relatives. nave
even heard of man who accepted coionla.
hishopric to get rid of his wifes sisters. ana
who regretted in tone of represSed glee. that
they were bad sailors. The curate's sisters are
outrageously ohurchy in their conversation to
all their brothers friends and then, discovering
they are not popular. lay the blame on him ana
recount to themselves all his miSdeeds. me
greater torture begins when Jack gets PARISH
Then. if he be not married one or more SISTERS
insist upon keeping house for him.
They seem to have some idea that residence
in the parsonage gives them a sort of quasi-legal
status. They expect their words 70 be receive"
as authoritative and woe be to the poor pa
rishioner who does not so accept them my
! brother is away" said one woman to PARISH
Toner q retired civilian. who came to nave MS
pension paper authenticated but my signature
! will do as we'll" Before the poor man could OBJ
! iect the paper was taken from him and signed
Naturally the PaymaSter General refused to &C
! cept the signature, and much trouble ehsueu
! Naturally the woman regards herself inSulted,
| and will barely acknowledge the Unlucky civil
! an'S bows.
| I know of one case which Is really comic
! At Dorcas and other meetings whereat her
| brother is not present she gives the apOSt0iio
| benedctOn in most approved style. Admire her
! humility in confessing she Is only equal to
"minOr orders" Her explanation is that In the
absence Of her brother she IS his delegate MY
dear" remarked the sister of a very great
dgnitary, II should very much like to come 10
your church. but you see the people naturally
| consider il my duty to occupy my own stall. .
! She does There is a story that she nttmated
| that il was the vergerS duty to conduct her to
it, AS he grins whenever her name is mem
TONED I am inclined to think it Is true. With
one rector have profound sympathy. He has
a mother and two sisters who live with him.
Their fixed idea is that he is studying his SER
mons and must not be disturbed. My private
belief is that when in his room he studies nght
literature. One day saw him at the window, and
| he beckoned. on the door being opened | was
met by his mother and both sisters. Harold
is in his room getting up his sermons. they
exclaimed in chorus. 1t evidently an agreed
formula. But he beckOned me-" gasped. ON.
II he did il is another matter" But they have
never been friendly since. / really do not won-
der Harold is said to be severe with his curatea