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
But now you are actively engaged from door to door. If you are a
new-comer, and particularly if it is also a district (in the great City
perhaps) where visitation has been an unwonted thing, you must be
prepared of course for very various sorts of reception. But assuredly in
most districts by far, and at most doors, the man who exercises common
tact and courtesy, and is plainly trying to do his duty in a loving and
earnest spirit, and is known already, or now introduces himself, as the
Clergyman, will be civilly and often gladly met.
*OUR ADVANTAGE AS MINISTERS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.
Let me pause for a moment to remind you of one great and valuable
advantage which is ours as the Ministers of the National Church and the
servants of the parochial system. All honour to devoted servants of God
in the Ministry of other denominations; in numberless instances they
have done in the past, and are doing now, work which the National Church
has either neglected, or has been unable to overtake; and the power of
the Lord has been and is present with them to bless. But nevertheless I
for one thank God for a National Church, and recognize in that Church's
historical and practical position a unique opportunity and an immense
advantage, so it be used faithfully and in loyalty to the Lord and His
Word. And one feature of that position of opportunity is this, that it
is the popularly (and rightly) recognized _duty_ of the Church of
England Clergyman to ask admission at every door, so far as he can go to
every door, within his portion of the national vineyard. To a large
degree this is understood to be our duty, our business, as it is not
understood to be that of other Ministers of religion; and this is a fact
which for the man who will use it with good sense and unobtrusive
diligence is an invaluable introduction. A "younger Brother" of my own,
whose work began in a Liverpool Curacy, told me of his experience in
this matter. His district contained a very miscellaneous population;
almost all the great dissenting Churches were represented, and there
were many Roman Catholics, and not a few Jews. But the Curate went to
every door, as in duty bound; as a friend, a neighbour, a Christian, but
distinctly as one of the Clergy of the parish. And with one solitary
exception, an instance in which a Jew repulsed him, he was not only
admitted but welcomed everywhere in his character as the Clergyman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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