The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-06-04
Tuesday, June 4, 1913.
THE PREACHERS o

1t turns up now that somebc
put out a false report on the sons
of preachers, and that the report
has been believed all these years
when, in fact, there never was any
foundation for it. The people have
believed it, we presume, from the
~perversity of human nature. We have
all heard from the time we were
able to hear anything that the
preachers boys were the bad boys
in every community. All the good
women in Abbeville, and other
places, have taken pains to e that
Tommie and Willie and Sammie did
not play with the bad boys the
preachers were rearing.
And now comes "Life" with the
figures to show that we have been
accusing the preachers wrongfully
all these years. The figures show
that in proportion tor their numbers
about three times the number Of
preachers sons make good to every
one of the man of the next nearest
calling, which is that of the lawyer.
In the proportion Of numbers about
eighteen sons of preachers have
made good to every five som of
lawyers and every three of physi-
clans, which callings rank in the or
1s4der, stated.
There has never been any good
reason why the preachers boys
should be bad. Too much, perhaps,
has been expected of them on ac-
count of the position of the father,
and then again sometimes, maybe,
the old gentleman has held the
reins SO tightly at home that when
abroad the boys have been forced
to relieve the pressure for a little
while. But when you come to think
Of it, there are not many sons of
preachers whom you are able to
name who have proved unworthy or
undesirable citizens. +.
And there are good reasons why
the sons of preachers should sue
coed, the reasons applying in lesser
degree perhaps to the other two of
learned professions. The boys are
always reared by men. of education
and refinement. The preacher must
be above the level ofthe congrega-
ton or he will not long be the
preacher. Hence it is that the
preachers boys have educated men
to train them. Then again the edu,
Gated man knows full well the ad.
vantages and necessities Of a train
ed mind. He desires this above all
things for the son. While he does
not receive and never has received
a salary commensurate with his
learning, he has always received
enough to enable him to educate hi:
children. Then again he is at home
with the family. The sons r more
directly under his tutelage thar
are the sons of other fathers. He
has more time to give to the train
ing of the boys, or he is able tx
give more than other parents.
Again we might say that thu
preachers, on account of their no
receiving as much salary as som'
professions, are themselves school
ed in economy and need also tt
school their sons in the same prin
ciples. The result is that. thes
boys are reared to know the wort
of every dollar they handle, : an
that each dollar is supposed to d
a dollars duty.
But whatever the reasons it
worth while to know that an untrut
has been exposed, and that the as
sertion that righteousness beget
unrighteousness has been proved
be a fabrication. 1t should not b
to the discredit of a boy that h
father is a preacher. He should nc
be discounted in the communit
when the figures place him aboV
par.