The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
PASTORS AND oHURcGEs.
why Clergyman Are Driven Ont and Into
Other Calings.

Other CnDtnKs.
To THE Ep1ToB OF TEE SuH-Sir: four
paper is noted for its readiness and ability In
pricking bubbles and tramplinR ON shams'
especially when they oppress or injure the pup
lie and when the wronRed are defenceless.
All this Is especially true OF your late articles
OH the clergy and their relations with their
parishes. THE Sun is throwing a deal OF light
on one OF the darkest spots in our civilization
on a black smirch In our public life. This letter
Is meant to help on that good work. MY Mt
ness for 1t is based ON fifty years service as q
rarson. partly in upper New York city.
As the question is a wide one. l conine my
self here to answering the question: why are
80 many OF the clergy, l mean. OF course. the
Protestant clergy. forsaking their parishes or
professions for other callings? Not because
they are tickle. worldly minded, unwilling to
sacrifice for man and God. as Christianity calls
for. Few clergymen ever forsake their calling.
except with great searchings and pangs OF
heart, but because they are unwilling Il to make
q useless sacrifice. to be foiled. as well as tor
tured. by the very men who were soiemnly
| and publicly pledged to assist them. This will
not sound strange to those who know the his
tory OF Christianity, when its Master was
| crucihed by churchmen-l mean the Pharisees
when ever since Christ has been put to an
! omen shame and His kingdom hindered by men
inside. not outside the Church.
know that the parson must feed the sheep
| OF his fold, but he Is also set TO convert the
world outside and to broaden the area OF
| Christ's kingdom. But how can he do bis best
work. or any work. In this peaceful but blessed
conquest with a hot fire roasting at his back.
kindled and replenished. even by q small gang
OF his parishioners. especially II the malefaotors
are rich / repeat that the sacrifice ofthe clergy
is rendered useless often by the men OF their
own household who pose before the public as
both honest and holy. The heart OF this nation
thrills deep and long when It sees our boys in
blue fling away their lives. as straw. in the
red flame OF war at Santiago and Manila.
and let no man say that our clergymen In
black, OF the same stock. bred to the same
bone and muscle. and endued with the same
highborn and free American temper. are afraid
or unwilling to sacrifice their very lives under
the banner Of the CROSS. whose unwasting light
GiIds into greater glory its child OF the Stars
and Stripes. Only. neither soldiers nor par
sons fight we'll or often when driven under the
lash. or when i'll fed or tortured. How. when
and where Is this thus? lam asked. I will have
no clotted ink at my pen point when I give
the answer
First OF all. let me take a concrete case-that
OF the late DR.. John Hall OF your city. Here
was a man renowned for his learning. ability.
fidelity to duty. for many years pastor OF a rich
parish. but In old age troubled by his flock. or
rather by a few rich men In II, not allowed to
finish his work. and dying. as commonly be-
licved, Of a broken heart. The parsons took
note OF this case from one end Of the land to
the other and they asked: III such virtue and
record cannot keep such a man from such a
fate what is our own chance In old age or with
our parishes2 2" A question like that shakes
parish relations. What drives parsons from their
calling is the conduct OF certain rich men
who want to step into the parsons shoes
and run the parish instead OF him and. OF
course. others kick against the arrangement.
for they have a part In the pastor. too. and there
is a pretty parish quarrel. The fault is laid on
the pastor. who is not to blame. and he feels aG-
i uncomfortable. Then the rich men and their
hackers neglect or even hinder the income and
there t ia a deficit mHh not The pastor s SoI Poor man "a rn is 10, 10,
ticc the Gospel. yet the deficit is laid on him.
going to the dogs; where they have done thell
@ 1sfE no seh' 60 e, to 9f theii rf h"ard Ssf in Wa Wall 3s stre est
Th her, fo tho tro an6fse Ti Efst tSe and psr. ylst,%' Some.
tines. but not often. Here re- Is a man who hs.
his career. dearer than life. his wife and chill,
isss ib nis a T mHn + hrf hs d ft s sot o. al H that ~G a ms b
man is to h9!d back part Of lis Gospel anf
fare. and leave his Master in the lurch.
Why do some rich men behave so? The pool
man in a rich parish never makes trouble, fol
he cannot. These men intend to paddock and
chain the pulpit. and do so. there Is any one
spot under heaven whore a voice and it's owner
under God. should be absolutely free 1t r. a pull
pit of the Lord, The fact is that ,shoddy,,tht
new riches-owns almost everything. and the
man who controls a dozen stock boards. be
cause he owns the. majority OF the shares
doesn't see why he shouldn't own a parish be
cause he pays the most money for its support
The wonder is. not that so many parson,
leave their parishes. but so few. It Ia an oper
secret to the open eyed that a hundred vii
leave in the future to one before. II they can fnt
anywhere to go and any way to earn a living
The pews may do their own preaching. b"ti
they can't or won't: they must cease being al
captains and let the ordained and equipped
pastor run his own ship in his own place anC
fashion. Too manv captains, like too man,
cooks. spoil the broth into the b~itterest AMI
BosTOS. March 40