To My Younger Brethren: Chapters on Pastoral Life and WorkMoule, H. C. G. (Handley Carr Glyn)
Religion
To My Younger Brethren: Chapters on Pastoral Life and Work
Moule, H. C. G. (Handley Carr Glyn)
Pastoral theology
Some cases happily in point are present to my own mind. I once knew of a
parish in which the truly devoted Vicar was, however, not popular; he
had sadly felt the weight of depression and disappointment, and this had
had a weakening reflex influence on his ministry. He was joined by a
Curate, a man in the prime of youth and vigour, well qualified to
attract confidence and affection, and particularly gifted as a preacher.
Very soon many parishioners showed a preference for the young man's
ministrations in public, and for his company in private; it was a golden
opportunity for the almost spontaneous formation of a Curate's party. By
the grace of God, the young Clergyman was enabled both to see the
position at once and, by most decisive and manly speech and act, in the
right quarters, to show, without a chance of mistake, that he considered
his work as altogether identical with his Vicar's, never to be carried
on for an hour outside a faithful subordination. Another instance may be
given. Some years ago it was my duty to explain at a meeting the objects
and work of the Divinity Hall with which I am connected. Quite
incidentally, while describing our course of teaching, I mentioned my
earnest desire always to caution my student-friends against giving the
slightest encouragement to the rise of Curates' parties.
*AN EXAMPLE.
At the close of the occasion, a Clergyman rose at the back of the
parish-room where we met, and said a few words, as gladdening as they
were unexpected. He had come to the meeting-place with no knowledge of
the meeting; merely to keep an appointment. But he happened to be the
Vicar of a large town parish, and there to have had a friend of mine as
his Curate; and he told us how this same Curate had come to him at a
time when the parish, under circumstances inherited from past years, was
ripe and ready for partizanship and division. Nothing would have been
needed but the Curate's passive allowance of such tendencies to
embarrass and spoil the difficult work of the Vicar. But my dear young
friend was "found in Christ"; he knew his Lord's will in the matter, and
he strove to do it. By active discouragement he precluded the mischief
completely, and thus greatly strengthened his leader's hands for the
work of God before him.
"THE LOST GRACE, HUMILITY."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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