The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09
THE COUNTRY PARSONS.
They Need Vacations Quite ~ Much
as Their City Brethren.

Baltimore American.
The season has arrived when many Of the
city clergy abandon their pulpits for a vaca-
ton, and large numbers Of the sheep follow
the shepherds. There Is sound sense In this.
II is quite customary for the cynic to make
sneering illusions to this annual migration
of the ministers. but sneers are not argu-
They Cue taRs tine Ct
less, and lead to false conceptions or men
and things. One will say: Imagine st.
Paul or r. ST LUKE taking sna sis
to shift for itself" This Is caught up by
others as wonderfully shrewd saying. and
not reflect. nor do they examine religious
history for confirmation As a fact. Paul
took many vacations He was Obliged to
frequent rests. Few men at any period OF
the worlds history worked harder than they
did, and they were often exhausted they
lived from hand to mouth. q wretchsd way
to live when one is working. and II hap.
pened sometimes that their bodies were not
sufficiently nourished to support their mental
labors.
Rest was q blessed one 70 them They
rested the muscles Of the body and the cells
of the mind as best they could, and II "
reasonable to suppose that they studied for
the accumulated work which would confront
them when their brief vacation was over
day are not unlike the apostles. Their work
is almost az hard. The majority OF them
live from hand to mouth. The salaries
OF first-class laborer, and by dint Of hard
work and persuasion they manage to collect
about two-thirds Of what Is due them. Their
lot has frequently been compared to that OF
a man who travelled by canal and drove the
mules on the towpath. And yet a large ma
} tiemssn VI wbese nose infiusnce eI IN eommnntx 4.
of a beneficial and elevating character.
Yet they do not repine. They go through
II PG not with the same aeai. At least a. fsth:
fully as did the early fathers To three
fourths of them vacation has no signincance-
where to go-that is. In the sense given to
vacation by the city clergy. Their money II
barely sufficient to prevent actual want. and
IL would not, In some cases, do that were
1t not supplemented by occasional gifts from
parishioners. These clergymen need q vaca-
ton as much as their brethren IN the cities.
much more monotonous and wearing. The
American has for several years suggested IN
this has been done. IT provides all the adj
vantages OF q vacation The city clergy
man will not, or course, have the kalei-
doscopic pictures at the seashore. the lazy
elegance OF the springs the wonders OF
the old world. but he will have q most de-
lightful experience of rural life, with Its
destinations, which are quite as real and
pleasing, when once the mind is made up
to enjoy them. as the delights Of the FASH
To the country clergyman q few weeks
spent In the city, with the noval allure
copIous libraries for study and investigation.
would be q revelation. All the purposes OF
vacation would be more than accom-
plished. New ideas and trains OF thought
would be set In motion. and rest given 70
both brain and body where most needed.
Rest does not necessarily mean a cessation
OF work. Few need that kind OF rest. In
It's ordinary sense II means a change. and
the exchange of pulpits would be a complete
change TO both the city and country clergy.
II would also be on the part OF the former
an exercise OF the most gracious charity.
II would be giving health and pleasure TO
those who are thoroughly deserving-who. in
fact, spend their whole lives In doing good
to others. II is difficult 10 imagine a more
exemplary or more self-sacrtficing life
than that OF faithful country parson-