Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.

Name: Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.
Author: Abbott, Lyman

Abbott, Lyman

Christian fiction; New York (State) -- Fiction; Parishes -- Fiction

--Gentlemen I am not very much acquainted with church affairs and I
don't think I understand this business very well. What do you mean
by preaching as a candidate? I thought a candidate was a man who
applied for an office. Am I to understand that whenever a pulpit is
vacant the church expects different ministers to apply for it, and
puts them on trial, and picks out the one it likes the best?

Mr. Hardcap.:

--That's it exactly.

Mr. Gear.:

--You don't really mean to say that any decent ministers apply for
the place on those terms.

Deacon Goodsole,: [(warmly).]

--Indeed they do Mr. Gear. There is never any lack of candidates for
a favorable parish. I have got half a dozen letters in my pocket
now. One man writes and sends me copies of two or three letters of
recommendation. Another gives me a glowing account of the revival
that has followed his labors in other fields. Then there's a letter
from a daughter that really moved me a good deal. She pleads hard
for her father who is poor and is getting old, and needs the salary
sadly-poor man.

Mr. Gear.:

--Well, all I have got to say, is that when any of those candidates
come to preach I hope you'll notify me, and I'll stay away.

Mr. Hardcap.:

--I have no patience with these new fangled notions of these young
up-start preachers. I reckon the ways our fathers got their
preachers are good enough for us.

Mr. Gear.:

--And what do you say as to that point he makes about Paul's
preaching as a candidate, Mr. Hardcap?

Mr. Hardcap.:

--Oh! that's different, altogether-very different. The apostle was
inspired, Mr. Gear.

I notice that this is a very popular style of argument with Mr.
Hardcap. Whenever he is posed in argument his never failing
rejoinder is "Oh! that's different, altogether different." And I
think I have observed that the Hardcap logic is not confined to Mr.
Hardcap, but is in high regard in other quarters, where I should
least look for it.

Mr. Gear.:

--Well I don't think much of apostolic authority myself. But I
supposed the rest of you thought you were bound by any precedents
Paul had set.

Mr. Hardcap.:

--It's mighty high seems to me for a young man to be making of
himself out as good as the apostle Paul.

Mr. Wheaton.:

--I like that young Mapleson, and I like his letter. I wish we could
get him. Is there any chance of persuading him to come, Mr. Laicus?
not as a candidate you know, but just to preach, in good faith like
any other man.

Mr. Gear shrugs his shoulders.

Laicus,: [(decidedly).]

--No! and I should not want to be the one to try.

Mr. Wheaton.:

--Well then who stands next on our list?

Mr. Gear.:

--Excuse me gentlemen, but if he can't come to us why shouldn't we go
to him. Why not try him as we would try any other man.

Deacon Goodsole.:

--How do you mean Mr. Gear?

Mr. Gear.:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.Abbott, Lyman

Religion

Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.

Abbott, Lyman

Christian fiction; New York (State) -- Fiction; Parishes -- Fiction

--Gentlemen I am not very much acquainted with church affairs and I
don't think I understand this business very well. What do you mean
by preaching as a candidate? I thought a candidate was a man who
applied for an office. Am I to understand that whenever a pulpit is
vacant the church expects different ministers to apply for it, and
puts them on trial, and picks out the one it likes the best?

Mr. Hardcap.:

--That's it exactly.

Mr. Gear.:

--You don't really mean to say that any decent ministers apply for
the place on those terms.

Deacon Goodsole,: [(warmly).]

--Indeed they do Mr. Gear. There is never any lack of candidates for
a favorable parish. I have got half a dozen letters in my pocket
now. One man writes and sends me copies of two or three letters of
recommendation. Another gives me a glowing account of the revival
that has followed his labors in other fields. Then there's a letter
from a daughter that really moved me a good deal. She pleads hard
for her father who is poor and is getting old, and needs the salary
sadly-poor man.

Mr. Gear.:

--Well, all I have got to say, is that when any of those candidates
come to preach I hope you'll notify me, and I'll stay away.

Mr. Hardcap.:

--I have no patience with these new fangled notions of these young
up-start preachers. I reckon the ways our fathers got their
preachers are good enough for us.

Mr. Gear.:

--And what do you say as to that point he makes about Paul's
preaching as a candidate, Mr. Hardcap?

Mr. Hardcap.:

--Oh! that's different, altogether-very different. The apostle was
inspired, Mr. Gear.

I notice that this is a very popular style of argument with Mr.
Hardcap. Whenever he is posed in argument his never failing
rejoinder is "Oh! that's different, altogether different." And I
think I have observed that the Hardcap logic is not confined to Mr.
Hardcap, but is in high regard in other quarters, where I should
least look for it.

Mr. Gear.:

--Well I don't think much of apostolic authority myself. But I
supposed the rest of you thought you were bound by any precedents
Paul had set.

Mr. Hardcap.:

--It's mighty high seems to me for a young man to be making of
himself out as good as the apostle Paul.

Mr. Wheaton.:

--I like that young Mapleson, and I like his letter. I wish we could
get him. Is there any chance of persuading him to come, Mr. Laicus?
not as a candidate you know, but just to preach, in good faith like
any other man.

Mr. Gear shrugs his shoulders.

Laicus,: [(decidedly).]

--No! and I should not want to be the one to try.

Mr. Wheaton.:

--Well then who stands next on our list?

Mr. Gear.:

--Excuse me gentlemen, but if he can't come to us why shouldn't we go
to him. Why not try him as we would try any other man.

Deacon Goodsole.:

--How do you mean Mr. Gear?

Mr. Gear.:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.

Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.

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