The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-27
MINISTER AND man
Former Preacher Sets Forth
Ideas That Gail for Most
Serious Consideration.

pears LtldL lHlSr lueHdCo W AiCCuOih 10
also felt elsewhere in other guises. A
Congregational minister writes to his
parishioners an account of his rea-
sons for quitting the ministry for the
profession OF law, which the Christian
Work (New York; publishes. His
father and grandfather, he tells us.
were Methodist preachers, and his
natural bent would have been toward
that fold, but he found. during his
seminary days, that the Methodist
organization hampered the freedom
which he sought and seemed to find
in the denomination he later Joined
But here also the system inter
yened. We read:
Some of the pastoral tasks came
natural to me. / was at my best in
them. Others were anything but
natural and made it my task to ex-
ercise these that l might be an all
around, good minister. Being unmar-
ried, I could live with my work. and
that I truly did, and no one ever
, guessed that many times I smiled with
false enjoyment. But i was learn
ing slowly. that there is traditional
system, as strong as stone wall,
and far more formidable than the
Methodist organism. which gradually
forces a minister into a certain rut.
Unconsciously 1t walls him in; his
vision. which was large, Is sti1ed, and
he will fight in vain. If he fights at all.
for freedom. And the very people
who condemn the minister for his
narrow life are the ones who perpet-
uate the system.
Il am not complaining about the
remuneration OF my profession. I
will leave that for others who have
felt the pinch of poverty more than /
have. You have done nobly in finan-
cling our church. and have paid me lib
orally. My complaint is against the
system which makes the minister,
when publicly spoken of, a superman;
when privately spoken Of a weakling.
have tried to believe that this isn't
SO, but it is, and even in this village
and in this church people by their
conception of the ministry have made
the minister a 81 all man. He has
beer banqueted and toasted, and peo-
pie have prayed that he might be
guided Alright. but seldom has he been
considered as the first creation of
God, man.
L didn't think of these things at
first. l thought that the trouble was
in the ministers themselves. and that
the comments which came to my boy
fish ears were justified. But have
come to see that many big ministers
have unconsciously fallen victims TO
the system. A minister owes his po-
sition to popularity, and popularity
with the average congregation can be
bought only at the price OF con-
science. We compromise our big
tasks with popularity and we prosti-
tute our manhood upon its altar.
These thoughts, came to me the more
forcibly when / contemplated matri-
interest to the whole church. meF-
chant has not got to choose mate
who knows his business; neither does
doctor have to choose wife who is
interested in the practice of medicine.
But minister must choose as a
wife one who is not only interested In
the work Of the church, but one who
is willing to make the sacrifice of a
home that the church may have first
place. Perhaps this Isn't unjust.
There may be women who are
equipped for such work and who
would willingly take it up, but the
sacrifice of personality demanded By
so great that l could not ask any
woman. particularly the one l have in
mind. to make It. All l have right
to ask of. any woman is 10 help me
to make a home
"The last reason suggest to you
for leaving your church is spiritual
one. The thought of these other
things mentioned have strangled the
spiritual freeness which used to en-
joy. To myself my sermons no long
er sound as sermons having author
ity. They are crowded and pinched
to please. and compromise rather
than condemn and inspire. l have
compromised Win 1lJS COASSiCuCO duU
! have compromised with my intel
lect. There is always wide chasm
between my genuine thoughts and
my words. The virtue of an elocu-
Zionist may deceive the congregation.
but it cannot deceive oneself.
81 believed that ] was called to
preach. Perhaps God called me to
preach for few years and then to go
elsewhere. Anyway. / am going. ]
want freer conscience and a freer
life. honestly believe that my life
will be efficient.
Il am writing at length that you
may see my attitude and that 1t may
be, as have all my acts in your COM
munity been, open and frank. From
she Literary Digest.