Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-04-22

for less money than any other work
RS in the land" The American High
way Association, unfortunately, can
not raise their wages" so to say,
but it can tell them, not only the
Episcopal brethren but all who work
in the same field, how, by the exercise
of their admittedly great influence,
they can help particularly to improve
',e condition OF the preachers employ
ID in the rural districts.
Preaching one or two sermons on
Sunday, however important, is not
by any means all that the country
parson is expected and required to
dO-his pastoral work is as impor-
tant as his preaching service. His
parish generally covers a grea,
stretch Of country and his congrega-
tlon is widely scattered He must
keep in close touch with them if he
is to exercise the duties Of the min
istry with which he has been charg-
ed. In the order and really better
time in New England and throughout
the country, the country parson was
the guide, counselor and friend of all
his people. Being the most learned
man in the community, he was con-
suited by his parishioners on all ques
tions Of public and domestic concern
and welded a tremendous influence
!1 society and upon the body politics
He was the oracle of his parish, KEEP
fully advised upon public question
ard their relation to the public NOR
ais. and where he led the people 70,
owed. In spite Of the gene1 dis
semination Of knowledge and the dis
position Of the crowd to do as il
please, he still is, or ought to be,
the most influential man in his neigh
borhood-and he would be If he would
only in his secular moments manifest
an active interest in the practical af
fairs Of his parish.
One Of the most practical affairs
with which the people have to deal
is the building Of good roads, roads
which would tie the country and
town together, which would make
neighbors Of those who dwell miles
apart, which would afford the means
OF easy communication between the
country doctor and his patients and
between the country parson and the
members OF his church. The country
Darson finds it possible only at the
expense Of great nervous energy and
physical exhaustion at certain times
q the year to keep in touch with
the members of his flock. H knows
by hard experience the difficulty of
riding or walking over muddy roads
and through oceans Of slush to those
longing for his comforting presence
IL time OF sickness and death, and
how hard it is to convey to those VIII.
are Ill the material things necessary
to their recovery 1t would be a great
thing If the country parsons all over
the land would agree among them
selves to preach on a certain Sunday
a sermon on the subject Of good roads.
The Bible Is full Of appropriate texts.
Sermons are preached every Sunday
on all sorts Of social ethical and DO
Gtical questions not one Of which is
81 more immediate Importance to the
welfare Of the community than the
Improvement OF the public highways.
The country parson who has not for
gotten his "Pilgrim's Progress" will
recollect what trouble Christian had
on his way to the Celestial Country
by the condition Of the roads and how
terribly he suffered when he took
the wrong turn instead Of holding
straightforward in the appointed way.
There was one point, the Slough Of
Despond,' which the surveyors had
been working above sixteen hundred
years and into which they had dump
ed twenty thousand cart-loads, yea
millions Of wholesome instructions"
aud yet cit is the Slough of Despond
STILL although Certain good and