CLERGYMEN AND THEIR "TRADE."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 6

CLERGYMEN AND THEIR "TRADE."

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—Under tho heading of " Separation of Church and State" a-n anonymous correspondent, signing himself "St. David," refers with disapproval to the election of two clergymen as members of a Licensing Committee, believes in the old maxim " Every man to his own trade," and applauds Mr Hastie's story ot the conunittce which waited on its joung minister, "and told Irim plump and plain, as only Americans can do: 'Business.'is business, Mr So-and-so, You have received a oall here to preach. not to lecture on i drink, gambling, or dancing.- \Ve want you to carry out what you have come for, and for which you are going to be paid. Preach Christ and Him crucified."' One would think that "St. David" could not bo a frequoat worshipper in a Christian congregation, or else he has learnt very little from the preaching h© has heard. What docs lie suppose "preaching Christ and Him crucified" means? If Christ's tScfciPg? the dsductigjta

from tltotn nro not to lie carried into every pbaso of ]if(>, of what, value are thoy? "Proatliini; Christ," clc., moans preaching Him as Iho Son of God, Who died to overthrow- sin in every form, preaching His (livino authority to regulate our ontiro lives, preaching His principles, His doctrine n( life, conduct, nn'd action, and set-, ting the example by doing; Hie tilings which He nays, without which it is hypocrisy lo call Him " Lord "! Christ's principles aro for tlie Kovernmpnt of businoss of every kind, " Whatsoever yo do, in word or deed, do all in the name of tho Lord Jesus;" mid the false aphorism, "Jksiness is business," is a lie of tho devil if m ado to mean that any bushier oiifhl to bo outside the I.wtrids of obedience lo God.

The aim of Ohripfianily is the establishment of Christ's kingdom over every deportment of human life, to bring nil things into obedience with the perfect will of that Saviour, Who is also our Creator; and-a clergyman is not goinir outfido his own " trade" in heiulintr every strenuous attempt to jive bis message a concrete form. He is not. the servant of his contributing congregation to do as they toll him ami to preach as they bid, but' tho servant, of Jesus Obrisl tho T,ord to deliver Hi<s message-" the whole counsel of ttod,"— whether they will hoar or whether thev will forbear: and tho contributions of Christians are merelv a partaking in this work hv financial aid by those not- othorwiscablfl lo preach 'he message themselves. When such contributions are looked upon as a wai?e givon lo a. elororyman for preachinsr smooth fl'ines lo tho ronscieneos of sinning molt, it is time Hint the true servant of Chrisl fluntr it back to tlmm'as a delected bribe to pervert Clod's right ways. —I am, otc. Eo. Towreit Ten-sent. Port Chalmers. March 17.