The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-05-10
ALL CoNFEssoRs
That's What DR.. Charles NJ. Sheldon
Would Like to See,

Congregational church, author of I'm
His Steps," and several other widely
read books, believes that every pas
tor Of a Protestant church should
have a confessional, where the men,
bers Of his flock could go to his pas
tor and pour their troubles into a
willing ear and receive wholesome
advice. He does not intend that this
confession should be in the nature
Of that followed by the Catholic
church, where forgiveness OF sin is
given by the father confessor 1t
should be place where those heavily
laden with cares and trials and trib-
ulations could unload their burdens.
Doctor Sheldon discussed his pro-
posal briefly at conference of min
listers and Sunday school workers at
St Louis. He elaborated on his idea
in talk with reporter.
"The relations of the minister to
his congregation" Doctor Sheldon
said, Should be such that the men,
I bers would be free to go to him and
confess their troubles and receive
advice. do not in the least advo-
cate the doctrine of the forgiveness
of sins, but it seems to me that the
duty to the church and to his flock,
ought to make himself so useful that
the members would feel free to con-
fide in him about anything that con-
Germs them. The Baptist Emmanuel
church of Boston is CARRYING out this
idea now. l have been working along
this line for many years.
The confessional is not entirely a
\ Se
people can carry their troubles Of
whatever kind or nature. business.
spiritual and religious, family affairs
ana purely personal matters. 1t is
the working out of the plan to give
more help to the congregation. Some
ministers work with the idea that
their connection with the affairs of
the congregation ends with the
preaching of the sermons and the
calls and the perfunctory routine fol-
lowed by all. There is much other
good work that can be and ought to
be done.
"The Roman Catholic church has
understood human nature for centu-
rles. The Protestants have not had
this understanding. The Catholic
confessional contemplates the for
giveness Of sins, but its chief hold
has been in aiding the members of
the church to bear the burdens they
have to carry. Human endurance
will bear up under certain troubles
to certain extent and then it snaps.
If one is able to tell his troubles to
another in whom he has confidence
and who may be able to give advice
and aid the troubled one feels better
and stronger after the telling, al
though the trouble may not be solved
or lightened in the least That is
human nature.
ut is the duty of the minister to
Re the close friend of every member
of his flock. He should do a real
service and be a real help at all
times. Men and women come to me
for advice. They tell me of their
family affairs, their business pros
poets and reverses and almost every
thing imaginable. l give them the
best advice L cam counsel with
them. .condole with them, and I
try to help them solve the troubles
that come to them. 1t gives them
greater peace of mind. They do not
break down. After confiding in me
and talking over their worries they
go away stronger and better men and
women and children and become
more useful to themselves, their
friends and the world.
THAT is the idea l have in the con-
fessional for Protestant churches.
Every church should have one. Ev-
cry minister should have certain
hours when the members Of his con-
gregation could go to his study and
tell him their worries and be given as
good spiritual, business and social
advice as any minister should be able
to give; advice that no lawyer and
few other friends could give.''
UP on THURsDAY