The Dolores star., 1913-06-13

NSsV0s w bO99s
Some Of the pastoral tasks came
natural to me. I was at my best In
them. Others were anything but
natural. and ! made Il my task to ex.
srciss these that might be m all
around. good minister. Being unmar'
risd. could live with my work. and
that ! truly did. and no one ever
guessed that many times smiled with
. false enjoyment. But I was learn.
ing slowly that there 10 traditional
system. - strong % . stone wall.
and far more formidable than the
Methodist organism. which gradually
forces Q minister into . certain rut
Unconscioasly II walls him In: his
vision. which was large. II stined. and
be will fight In vain. II he lights At all,
for freedom. And the very people
who condemn the minister for his
narrow life are the ones who perpet-
uats the system.
Il Am not complaining about the
rsmunsrauon Of NJ profession. l
will leave that for others who have
felt the pinch Of poverty more than I
have You have done nobly In hnan'
cling our church. and have paid me lib
orally. Ny complaint 10 against the
system which makes the minister.
whsn publicly spoken Of. superman;
when privately spoken Of. Q weakling
have tried to believe that this isn't
%, but II ID. and even In this village
and In this church people BY their
conception Of the ministry have made
the minister . small man. He has
been banQustsd and toasted. and peo-
pie have prayed that he might be
guided Alright, but seldom has he been
considered - the 6rst creation Of
God. Q man.
Il didn't think Of these things at
6rst ] thought that the troubls was
In The Minister themselves. and that
the conmsats which came to my boy.
isA ears vsrs justinsd. But have
cone 70 - that many big ministers
Aavs unconsciously fA1DsH victims to
he system. 4 minister owes his 20
sitioa to popularity. and popularity
With the average congregation can Be-
bought oaly At the price Of con.
science. We compromise our big
tasks with popularity and We prostL
tuts our manhood upon IT. altar.
These thoughts came TO me the more
forcibly when ] contemplated matri.
mony. A ministers wife b usually Of
interest to the whole church. A mers
chant has not got to choose . mate
Who knows his business; neither does
q Doctor have to choose . wife who 10
interested In the practice Of medicine.
wife one Who 10 not only interested In
the work OF the church. but one who
10 willing to make the sacrifice OF 4
home that the church may have first
place. Perhaps this isn't unjust
There may b women who are
equipped for such work and who
would willingly take Il up, but the
sacrifice Of personality demanded By
the system Of the ministers wife 10
20 great that ] could mot ask any
woman. particularly the one I have In
mind, to make H. All ! have . right
10 ask Of any woman 10 10 help me
10 make . home.
The last reason I suggest 10 you
for leaving your church 10 . spiritual
one. The thought Of these other
things mentioned have strangied the
spiritual freeness which ! used to en-.
10y. To myself ny sermons no Ions.
Or sound % sermons having author.
ity. They are crowded and pinched
10 please. and compromise rather
than condemn and inspire. ! have
compromised with my conscience and
have compromised with my intel.
lsct. There 10 always . wide chasm
between ny genuine thoughts and
ny words. Tue virtue Of an elocu.
tioaist may deceive the congregation.
but h cannot deceive oneself
r believed that ! was called TO
preach. Perhaps God called me 10
Drsach Tor . few years and then TO 20
ELSEWHERE. Anyway. Am going !
want . frsss conscience and . freer
life. I honestly believe that ny Me
viii b s0lcisat. !.
Il a. writing at length that you
nay - NJ attitu1s and that Il may
-. q have ell ~ scts 10 your con.
nsaity bssa. opsa end fraak."-vrom
ths Literary Digest.
oeoWeh IN ossee.
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