Year: 1861

parsonage garden most beautifully laid out
in beds, all sown and planted by the hand OF
the preacher who had just left. But Mr..
Pugh had no great fancy for hoeing up weeds,
much less for pulling them up and it be-
came a matter Of doubt whether the weeds
or vegetables would get the mastery But
one summer day he took his hoe and went to
work among the rows of corn which had
then grown quite tall. He had labored but
a short time, before he saw a young man
from another part OF the circuit passing by.
whom he tried to hire to hoe his corn, prom
ising to pay him in books or in preaching.-
The Brother told him he would prefer his
books to his preaching, but could not then
stop TO do his work The next Spring in
stead of preparing his garden as he found it,
be never lifted his finger towards doing it,
and worse than all, he sold off all the man
ure that belonged to the parsonage. Now,
it's my opinion that it don't hurt min
istsr to take care of small garden, for bod
lily exercise is necessary for health, though |
don't think a man ought to labor hard all
the week, and then be obliged to preach two
or three discourses on Sunday that is not
his calling. 1t is his duty to visit from house
to house especially the members OF his
Church. and congregation as much as to
preach and if he neglects to do this, his
preaching will be dreadful dry, his hearers


few, and salary small. That is my opinion.


| haven't any patience with these lazy crit


ters. They are curse to the Church, and a


dishonor to their calling aud | wish such


men might be obliged to live on quart OF


bean porridge a day, and earn it before they


had it,


Not a very bad wish, after all, uncle


Obed, though | am afraid some of them


would think you rather hard master, II


they were obliged to submit to your tuition


But you seem to be in croahiny mood 'hls


morniog, yet trust you think better OF min


listers generally.


Most certainly, those cases mentioned


are somewhat rare, though getting to be mo


common in some sections than | wish they


were


AS you have lived more years, and been


a member of the Church much longer than |


will you give me what you would call tal'


specimen of good Methodist preacher =


Well, I'll give you my opinion on the sub


ject, and have thought more or less abou


it these thirty years. In the first place h'


should be soundly converted, and in the mex
place he should possess good common sense


and have satisfactory evidence that he ha


been called to the work Of the ministry; an(


then void have him University scholar.


You astonish me thought you did no
believe in preacher having much cduca


ton.


Nonsense! It's my opinion he can


know too much, provided he makos gooo
use of his learning; but I'm not particula
s about his going to college all the best OF hi
days. That otren makes him dreadful st
G and dull especially if lie is lackldg a little


good sense and sound Judgment, because h
D apt to think everything must be said an
$ done in squaro-ruc order. But still it's m
. opinion he ought 10 know all that's propc
+ for him 10 know, and one thing onto the en-
p of that he should know, and that is, how
q apply this knowledge all for the advanccmel
q Of the cause of Christ. The cconomicalhu
h banoman collects the fruits of his labor, pei
4 haps from dozeu different fields, and sore
4 them away for use so wise minister OF tl
4 Gospel brings all his knowledge to bear
d the one great object Of his mission.
$ minister should have a good knowledge
e farming aud gardening [ once heard OF OF
h who thought his beans came up wrong cn
O foremost. and made his servant pull them u
( and transplant them with the tops downwar
!. But would not have them so ignorant
- that, Then he should know the difference b
: tween a good OK or COW, and poor one; al
:. he should especially understand all the pom
:, OF coed horse, so that IL he wan
II to trade he will not get cheated


,e WHY, l thought you did not approve
,s minister's trading horses don't belle
n he oueht to make business of it, and acqul
t. the name of jochey; but he may happen
,s have q horse not so we'll suited Tor him as +
"a farm horse, and some farmer may have o.
;s that would make more suitable horse ior
~ minister than farmer. Now, it's my OPP
Y, ion there's nothing wrong IN changing una
10 such circumstances, bu! ii Il mlnlster Is sWa
n. ping horses every time he has chance 1t
~ q bad mark A preacher should be q II
n chanic as we'll as farmer, for 1T frequent
~ bannons that there is Il box to make or SON
',H thino to mend, that he could do with, WI
ia yery little trouble, and save both time a
h. h. expense A preacher too, should understa
a something of the healing art, SO that he "
is not be Obliged to ran ''f doctor every ~, ~
nut any of his family hAppen 10 DO al'ine h''
,st He ought at least, to know how 10 prese'