The Washington times., 1914-09-14
Peters
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IN
Matr1m0ny
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MJSJSTFP'S PLANT

4 MINISTER'S PLANT.
PHYSICIAN may have a pretty
~ hard time of il. with neighbor-
~ hood gossip always ready to
couple his name with some one
of his women patients. but I've 1e ':dei
that any man whose business is
y Eolly dependent upon the favor of
women can never be quite sure what
happens to him. Therefore. the minis
ters path is never a thornless one.
With his Ladies Aid Society and the
various pink teas in which he is the
! sole representative of the male Sex
| he must walk with exceeding care or
| there is a deal of fussing. And most
| congregations, ! notice. are composed
| largely of women. The men find the
weather too bad in winter and when
th- weather's nice they play golf.
do myself.
| The minister of our church is depart
| ine. | nearly said again" He IS not
! depa rting "again"-he is merely the
! third TO depart for one reason or an
Otfcr in the past eighteen months.
! Mary and ] entertained him at dinner
! Just before he left. for he was some
thing Of favorite with both Of US.
Are you sorry to go?" / asked him
We'll. yes. Peter" he admitted, II
think ] am I'm Ike a bit of ivy-just
beginning to take root and love the soil.
when | find Id better tear up the roots
and transplant them. or some vandal
hand will do it for me. That's just
about what is due to happen TO me. You
see. there is one very estimable lady
with a tart tongue who has told me
repeatedly that can't preach. There s
another who insists that | don't call on
the parishioners enough. and there s
still another who doesn't care much for
my delivery IT isn't easy to be min
ster. Peter"
quickly reviewed the history Of our
little suburban church.
.:Wfat was the trouble with Mr.
Ames?" ] asked. naming his immediate
predecessor.
..Wen.'' said our minister. slowly. he
was a bit too old, they said. He lacked
snap and Intimate touch with the world.
They thought he ought to travel and
broaden his m:nd-on six hundred a
year
Before that" suggested acrdly.
for I remembered the kindly. white
haired old man who lacked snap. they
declared NJ. Martin was to" young
and that hig salary ought tO he cut be-
cause he didn'r have a family depending
on him for support. 4 minister. Of
course. ought not he mNTCenary- They
sw ore. too. that hc fi!rtCd wildly with
Tia" girls in the oonGregat. on. though in
realty b" preserved an exceedingly sane
EaIan'e on tho subject.
! Il supTOsc." said Mr. Dalton. slowly.
| that ii h." was merely civil to a pretty
! girl. Peter. TN" tongues would wag.
''Thcv would and did said I. ''Thrn
there was Smith-he was a tremendous
! ly nice fellow
! Smith - said the minister refectiveIy.
! had number of children and the sal
! arV didn't PAY all of his bills. There
fore. Mrs. Smith began t. Substitute in
the public schools 10 earn a little extra
money AVID there Was a scandal immc-
datpIv. Some one Of tir" trustees tod
Them that the dignity Of rh" church was
! crioyolIslv imDcr!lcd by Mrs Smith :
iIInparaIIcled COnduct-and That they had
too many children anyway
Great heavens | exclaimed. What
, phenomenal nerve
slight g'eam of humor in his eyes. he
didn't attend the Ladies AID meetings
regularly. That's been a failing OF
mine, fear
/ "Yes?"
"im superintendent Of the SUNDAY
! scbooi" he explained and leader OF
the choir. preach two sermons ever"
sunday: attend the Chdr"h meetings
Through the week and review books f"'
the local paper; but Their seems to b" A
general feeling that have too mach
time on my hands and that | ought IL
utilize il in making a systematic series
of calls"
We'll" said I. "a man once told mr
, that II the Angel Gabriel "Hs sent iC
| preecE 10 an avera"" congregation
they'd find some fault with him. De-
/ lieved fl"
Women" said the minister with a
sigh. are hard to- suit