The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-02-18
LOCAL PASTORS
NOT ACHING FOR
'CONFESSIONALS
And Judge Leigh Is Sure
Preachers Would Be Selling
Indulgencies Next

pastors refuse to get excited
one way or another over DR..
Harry Emerson Fosdick's ad-
vocacv of a confessional in
protestant churches. A can
vass Of Elizabeth City ministers
reveals however a generally
friendly attitude toward the
idea. Two stand for it, not as
Il compulsory feature Of course,
but as a department Of the
church TO be made use Of if
needed, and two arc out and
out against it.
Rev. Geo. +. Hill, Rector Of
Christ Episcopal Church, doesn't
hesitate TO commend the "ConfeS-
sional" as one great opportunity
for service that the church has been
ncslectinS. II am heartily in favor
Of the idea" says Mr.. Hill. "Of
course / don't believe people should
be required TO visit the confessional,
but think if it was recognized as q
department of the church, hundreds
of people would make use of it to
unburden their hearts and ask
spiritual advice
81 can very we'll see how the cOu-
fessiUnal would render great ser
vice TO the people Of the Church, y
SAYS Rev. II. I. Glass, VI. f.. Pre-
siding Elder for The Elizabeth City
district. AS II matter of fact, the
confessional, in a modified form,
might be said TO exist In the church
cS, and has existed for years. Hun
dreds Of people come to us for
spiritual counsel and guidance, but
it seems to ms that the church could
render great service II the member
ship understood at all times they
were free 10 call on the pastor for
advice. i think the church would
find here, a real opportunity to
reach more people; aud l think
there would be less restraint on The
part of the members who now feel
some hcSiiancy in cOnSr'lins their
pastors fully and freely.
On the other hand, Rev. +. =.
Love. pastor Of the First NJ. Il.
Church of Elizabeth City, scouts the
idea of the confessional in its strict
cst sense, declaring: Il do not be-
licyr ID would work with our Meth
odist folk; they are too individual
iStic. and they wouldn't surrender
TO the idea. Iadmit however, that
the confessional has long existed for
all preachers who hold the conf
dcncc of their congregations, and
every preacher has listened to
troubles as great as ever Cath
) ollie priest heard from members of
his flock, who were burdcncd NEIL
tally and spiritually, and wanted
advice"
None of the pastors decline To dis
cuSS the subject. They either OK
press themselves for it. or declare
| they doubt its feasibility. Rev.
( Frank Scattergood, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church, thinks a
preacher who hears the confessions
of his lady members ought to have
his wife nearby TO avoid the pos
sibility of scandal.
"If the preacher was a single man
the scandal mongers would be down
behind him. and IL he was married,
the wives might be troubled at
heart" he says. But TO be serious
about it. | do not believe the con.
fcssional in its stricter sense would
he of any good"
"No confessional for me- lie
rlares Rev. A.. J. Parker of City
Road NJ. T.. Church. Brother Park
or doesn't want to he bothered with
other peoples troubles. II couldn't
stand to have all the folks who
would do so. come TO me with thell
troubles. and pour out string OF
gloomy things day after day for me
to listen To. Il had n case of that
not long ago. A woman came to see
me for advice, and for two hours
she told mo how her husband was
ncglccting her for another woman
was failing to provide for herself
and her children, and killing her
gradually with his Indifference.
can see where lot of trouble IN
a family can he caused by giving
advice i'm cases Of that kind, but
think 1 disposed Of the problem
right satisfactorily by telling the
woman to bring i'll to play. all the
arts and attractions she used to vii
him the first time. and she left
seemingly well satisfied with tht
advice
"We don't need the confessional.
declares Judge J. B. Leigh, promi
Inent Methodist lay leader. 81
wouldn't be % years before th'
preachers would be selling indul