The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-09-08
y the Richmond Leader.

In St. Paul's church yesterday the
Rev. W. E. Evans, D. D., preached a
sermon to Richmond summer con-
gregaton which aroused the most
earnest attention and was the sub
pct of interested comment through
out the city. The general subject
of it was "the political parson."
DR.. Evans is rector of the Church
of the Advent, Birmingham, Ala.
He occupies the pulpit of st .Paul's,
which is Richmond's strongest Epis-
jonathan church and historic because
President Jefferson Davis and Gen.
R, E. Lee were members of it's con-
gregation, in the absence of the rec
tor, the Rev. Robert Forsyth. AS is
usual when Dr. Evans breaches there
strong representation from the
Monumental (Episcopalian) churcn,
of which he was rector before he ac-
cepted the call to Birmingham, was
present, and many persons crowded
to the chancel after the service to
offer him greetings and congratula-
tons
Dr. Evans sermon substantially
was as follows, the text being taken
from the second epistle of st. Paul
to the Corinthians, seventh chapter,
third verse: Giving no offense in
anything, that the ministry be not
planned
The ministry of Jesus Christ, in
my Judgment, is the highest of all
vOcatons. AS an English poet said
"TiS not cause of small import
The pastors care demands,
But what might fill an angels heart,
And fill an angels hands"
And yet this exalted Office may be-
come, as the text assumes, a sub
leCt of blame. The ministry Cor to
be more direct, the MINISTRY is
often unjustly blamed; and on the
other hand, is he sometimes right
eOusly blamed by the sheer logic of
facts Of the first, blame without
cause, the Apostle st. Paul seemed
10 have cared but little; but he ex-
ercSed the utmost care and faith
lulness lest anything that he did
Or said might become an offense, and
me minister be thereby blamed.
l think that blaming the ministry
lot thousand and odd petty things,
lor which the ministry is, indeed, not
responsible, concerns thoughtful min
lSters but little; but the man of sober
thought is profoundly impressed
"nen he hears blame pronounced
against the ministry, and has rea-
son TO believe that the language of
i.eproaCh actually springs out of the
FACTS In other words, it is a sad
tAlng to hear the ministry blamed
ana TO feel that it deserves blame.
Yet this is the case right here in
guf own Virginia and elsewhere. A
uSlnterested press, public speakers
anu private individuals have from
ume to time sounded forth against
Tue ministry words which, though
most respectful, were in their last
analysis words that blamed the min
iS'Iy Tor certain departures from the
functions of the ministerial office;
auu this, not by men opposed to the
ministry, but friends and members
VI The churches; not by men who had
PERSONAL grievances to resent, but
UlSinterested, thoughtful and good
Leh, who lamented that the ministry
T nSd brought blame upon itself
%nen such men speak it is time that
ne ministry pause, and that it be
"oI TOO exalted or elevated to hear
Quotes Judge Woods.
=, On the eleventh day of this month
we Virginia Bar Association held its
annual session, and a notable adj
uLeSS was delivered by the retiring
tm,eSldent. That gentleman is dis
ungulShed son of Virginia, a man
VI nigh social dignity, of fine culture,
man of unspotted character, and
%'rln, true friend of the ministry.
IN IN MS address the speaker said:
Unfortunately there has arisen
s"Shlon in many places and churches
.If the ministers no longer to teach
We pure and elevating gospel, but
W arrogate to themselves the right,
ana to assume it as their preroga-
i've to proclaim from their pulpits
uogmas on economic and political
subjects, which tend to poison the
u'nds of their innocent auditors, and
at the same time disgust all indie
pendent and right-thinking men.
!, This is the language of no cap
uous critic; it is the conviction of a
sober mind; and his deliberate judg-
lnent is that when the ministry at
'empts the role of politician it does