The Washington herald., 1910-01-23
A SABBATH FOR THE CLERGY OF WASHINGTON

:.
THE whole subject which sou suggest
for consideration is a very much larger
one than comprised in the words, one
day Of rest for the minister The de-
mand upon the ministry for service is
not different than the demand which is
being made upon other men who are put
in similar positions Of leadership in our
age. For example, see how many OF the
brilliant college presidents of our country
are breaking down after a few years Of
service
Il do not believe that any man can
control these matters except the man
directly concerned Agreements made by
congregations not 10 disturb ministers on
one day of the week will accomplish
something undoubtedly. 1t is. however,
the man himself who must decide as to
the disposition of his time. If he lacks
self-contTol or perspective If he cannot
choose between the important and unim-
EOrtant things OF MS work. no congrega-
ton VIII be able TO help him very much
Personally. have always had a dream
Of a little log cabin III the woods some
where within two hours OF Washington,
to which telephone lines cannot be ex-
tended nor visitors penetrate. The only
way | can ever expect 10 have one day
n seven is 10 go to such a log cabin on
Sunday night after my work is finished
and stay until Tuesday morning I need
such a cabin. and as soon as I can afford
i, propose 10 have one. You are en-
tirely right in assuming that as ministers
now organize their work they toll seven
days in the week"
Notwithstanding the courageous tone
Of the letter. there is probably pressing
need for that little cabin; The Washing
ton Herald representative CHANGED to
overhear a comment on its writer The
/ reverend gentleman was passing. when
lady said. That gentleman has just
| finished his tenth year as pastor Of one
Of our big churches; HIS people love the
ground he walks on Her companion
replied. We'll. to Judge by his pallor
! should say they were loving him to
death"
Rabbi SimOn's Views.
| In similar tone the vigorous, clear
| thinking young leader OF the Washing
| ton Hebrew Congregation. the Rabbi
| Abram Simon. Ph. D.. writes. The ad-
| justment musta come from the clergy
mans own independence and leadership.
The public expects the minister 10 exer-
else two rights. one Of common sense
and one Of courage and conviction. He
should use common sense in seeing and
knowing when hts physical energies are
/ burning low and rest UP for a time He
should have the courage OF conviction
in publicly announcing that the exer-
else Of the pastoral duties are imperil-
ing his health
I'VE have right TO feel that no class
Of communicates understanding the true
situation will be unreasonable or selfish.
| II IS a rarity to find a minister who is
| both a successful pastor and an Inspiring
preacher at one and the same time. WhHr
! p. stOTal duties cannot be sighted, yet
| the educational demands and the ever
J higher standards for clergymen dare not
| be ignored. The pulpit is not on the de-
cline. nor are the days Of eloquence be-
hind us and modernly condemned. The
| preachers message has changed. The
pew IS enjoying the wealth OF the edu-
cational opportunities The average
| laborer has also an enhanced standpoint
which the pulpit must respect. and he
will not stand for drivel and ehan.
! THE tremendous stress now upon the
clergy is TO train itself into the accepted
! leadership OF society in its spiritual and
ethical values and aspirations. And the
minister who keeps in touch with the
! problems Of life, who keeps abreast with
the waves 81 modern education. who pre-
pares a substantial sermon or two IN one
week. and who attends the stated SER
vices. and supervises his Sabbath school.
who pays his occasional coincidence and
] eongratulatory calls. and tries TO repre-
] sent his people before the community.
/ has enough to keep him busy seven days
/ IN the wees
/ The rabbi does not think the question Of
la Sabbath for the clergy need be digni-
| fed into the proportions of "a problem
! II the ministers have the courage tt call
/ a halt on the exactions OF the people in
requiring social pastoral calls; that part
4 Of the minister's duty takes most time
and strength. He very prettily said
something about the leaders Of the other
! congregations in their zeal for the cause.
burning the candle at both ends, and be-
ing consumed by their own fires, that
/ the more brilliant a blaze the more
warmth it diffused. but the more rapid
the destruction Of the material causing
the fire.
Makes But Few Changes.
DR.. Ulysses 6. b. Pierce, Of All Souls,
affecuonately called by his people Chap
lain" feels for himself no need of rest.
because, as is the case with Rabbi Simon,
he does not attempt any extensive pas
toral visiting He thinks there IS much
overstraiR- in the social visits on the
part of the pastor.
IN affiiction or for necessary routine
work of the church, certain duties can
be performed by no one but the pastor
in charge, but there is no practical rea-
son why. because man is at the head
of a congregation. he should be expect
cd to make visits having only Z. social
value If this never-ending requirement
was removed there would be no need
for a Sabbath for the man Of God; he
could plan his routine work, meet the
extraordinary calls. and have enough
time over TO rest and develop his own
spiritual nature between times.
Rev. Samuel II. Greene, d. D.. OF Calvary
Il Baptist Church, expressed much interest
i1NAle suggestion that the ministers are
guilty of violating a commandment He
warmly declared that his people were
splendidly kind to him, giving all the
practical and loving help that he could
ask; that he was well provided for by
them; allowed, even urged, to go out
of town when he felt need of rest; that
he had the help Of much voluntary orga-
niZed aid the best aid a pastor could
\ y.,ss ,.,TTvv a.