New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-06

Tho orc1t difference between the NhGH'ah
couutrv narson If a hundred years ago ana 10
day is we'll brought ont in an article in "Nac-
millan's MAGAZINE" Everybody. Of course
knows that the character. status ana h'lnoS
phcrc Of the clerical profession have been raH-
ically modified even during the last hity years
and il is generally taken for granted IN all as
cussions Of the subject that the change mas
hocn ono for the better. In the opinion OF ms
writer. however. such m assumption Is open l."
ouosfion Great emphasis is laid on me ioN
hnnting six bottle parson of the eighteenth
century. as though ne were tho prevailing type
Of his day But i'm point Of fact the typical
eighteenth century country parsor neither was
.nor was expected 10 hc i'm any way different
from the smaller clas- of country gentlemen
among whom he lived and who were his prin-
"rin91 associates Their habits wcr" his habits
4 .'fhojr pursuits were his pursuits their virtues
.yoro his virtues and their faults were ms
"faults. n entered into the head of nobody 10
"counlain of this" He spent the morning over
scoing the work on his glcbc aud in fine AFTER
noon made the rounds Of his parish rehnknS
here or dropping word Of encouragement
there welcomed 10y everybody. altogether a
wholesome and CHEEKY personality. with no IN
Prospective rcleiosity. hut with plenty of good
common sense and healthy Anglo Saxon Ideals
Of morality such a man might he said TO rep
resent average humanity in surplice. hero
was no wall of professional caste between him
and his people.
Very different f. tho English country parson
Of to-day The movement OF modern life has
taken away from the Clergy many Of III"
cllin~ 10 special consideration that they once
cif,vod. and the tendency has been 10 max"
much Of their spiritual powers aud prcrosaiivr'
as an Offset 10 this iS the English country
narson has become less secular he ha, become
more professional He has become acu'cy ana
sometimes morbid. conscious Of The trcmcn-
dors spiritual authority which he believes him
self commissioned g. ovcr'is". The world II"
him is mot pleasant place to liv" i'm and -
make better I'm a robust checry way. hut q
sink of nanuy. in which hc stands almost
alone against tho powers # evil His llic Is
"full of cares and arXictcs unknown To thos"
/ "rho hourisncd in thr days Of Old His schools
"ard his sorriccs the agsrovcd pariShionrr and
"tho aggressive Dis.cntor. are ever on his mind
and cnaw M his very v'als. He runs mp AMI
down his parish from cottage 10 coti1g" I'D a
"rcrnctnal cndcayor 20 countcract tho machina
"tlor,s of his enemies The calm rcpoSc. the
"anriont peace induenoc If II must be SO.
"whch hroolcd 0vcr the English parsonage n
"hundrod years age : gone. never to return in
"ii- old shape at all events.
Thi, evolution Of tho clerical profession was
inevitable and f. would hc idle TO ignore o.
deny the improvements that have resulted from
IT, Put uo believer i'm tho religion which Jesus
Taught and no. student Of Apostolic Christianity.
can apurovc Of the tendency 10 make the mill
i~try sacrosan,t caste apart from the rcSi Of
the worl1 such q conception Is denial OF
Christian democracy. II crcrts wall between
the minister au1 the average man. and j in
ovifahlv makes tie ministry itself loss lovallc
and loss human and m,ro inclined 10 take nor
/ bid. gloomy or fantastic view of life. We do not
believe tlat such q conception of the ministry
will ultimately prevail i'm this country. VIVA
eyer may happen i'm ENGLAND. Looking broadly
at American christianity. d." tendency seems
In hc 10 ignore or remove nil The artificial bar
ricrs between The clergy anl the people that
have grown ont NJ the Theological conception Of
tho ministry as sacred casio. living life ON
y p,arc far above that Of average humanity.
There are. indeed clcrsymcn who hold This
view NJ their calling. and some Of thom ar"
men Of apostolic, zeal. But they arc moro and
moro losing tlo'r power 70 influence AMI hold
Nlc world