FROM A PARSON’S DIARY

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 5

FROM A PARSON’S DIARY

ALL IN THE DAY’S ACTIVITIES PATHOS OF HUMAN WRECKAGE. TURN OF LIFE’S KALEIDOSCOPE. The minister must be a man of many parts. Whether it be a baptism or a marriage, the disposal of one’s estate, one of the illimitable other problems of life or the advent of the inexorable hour when the spark of life flickers and dies, it is as often as 'not the minister who is called upon for comfort or advice. It was an interesting page from a parson’s diary that the Rev. J. D. Wilson, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, New Plymouth, disclosed in an address at the weekly luncheon of the New Plymouth Rotary Club yesterday. In the course of his work the minister came into contact with all sorts and conditions of life, said the speaker, and ’the questions and the confessions, the vicissitudes and the pathos of prominent members of the community who had somehow crashed into the great heap that was the human wreckage of life, was a strangely moving kaleidoscope. He could recall people’from every walk of life—lawyers, doctors and business men, women who were once leaders of society, a grandson of Collingwood who fought with Nelson and a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson —people who had passed through the most extraordinary vicissitudes. He thought especially of a quartette he once knew. One was a most cultured man—a wonderful player of the violin who was remarkable for the excellence of his execution; the second was a charming fellow, now living on remittances, who once had a big business in Britain. The third was once a doctor. At least he had completed his full course except that he disap-' peared on the eve of the final examination... The fourth was a lady. She was known at “The Black Angel.” She would come staggering across to the store and, gathering together the children loitering round the place, would repeat to them the Lord’s prayer. He remembered calling at the home of a woman who disclosed to him within her modest house treasures of rare value—? magnificent works of art including originals by Rembrandt, and a fine collection of silver. The treasures had since been sent back to England, whence her husband had come. ■ She was formerly his housekeeper. VARIETY OF PEOPLE. The variety of the people who came to a minister for information was endless. Sometimes it was a 'girl who was not sure whether she should marry the young man who was courting her; sometimes it was a lady who wished to know how best to make a dispensation of her property; again it might be a man prepared to give the intimate details of his business and ask the minister’s advice. On one’ 1 occasion the speaker received an urgent call from a man to attend his mother, who was about to die. When he arrived he found that her anxiety to see him did not arise from any fears about leaving the mortal world, but rather because of her anxiety regarding the disposition of her estate. He thought that should be a simple matter, as she was not likely to have much property, but he found to his surprise that she had amongst a number of things a half share in a farm and ten houses in an Adjoining town. . The position was complicated by the fact that not only had she and her husband children, but she had other children from' a previous marriage, and the husband also had other children from a previous marriage. She wished to make, an equitable distribution, and the speaker was able to assist her to reach a satisfactory solution. It might interest representatives of the legal profession present, added Mr. Wilson, to know that probate of the will had been granted. He at any rate realised that there were two outstanding requirements in connection with a will—that the intention should be made clear and that the will should be properly signed. In passing the speaker paid'a tribute to the assistance frequently, given him by legal friends. NOT ALWAYS PROFITABLE. , It was sometimes thought, continued Mr. Wilson, that marriages were an interesting and profitable side-line in a minister’s life; but this was .by no means always so. In fact ministers often regarded marriages with, a great deal of regret. The speaker gave an instance of a marriage in the South Island at which he had been called in, and had had to drive 28 miles there and back. “What do I owe you for the job?” inquired the young fellow, after the ceremony. After an explanation of the position the young fellow inquired again: “Well what’s it worth anyhow?” “It all depends on what you think of the bride,” suggested the minister. And after considering for a long while the young man eventually dived into his pockets and produced 14s 3d. The speaker did know of one occasion when a minister had been given a cheque for £250 for his services at a wedding, but that was the largest amount he had heard of. One of the most romantic and charming marriages the speaker- had ever bwn present at took place in New Plymouth, continued Mr. Wilson. The couple to 'be married did not even have any witnesses with them, and asked the minister to- supply them. When the time came for the ceremony—it was an evening wedding—the bridegroom arrived most immaculately attired in evening dress, and the bride also arrayed in an evening gown. They were married and. away they drove together, Waving goodbye to the minister and witnesses they had never seen before. It seemed such a fine compliment to each other that they should have attired themselves so perfectly for the simple ceremony. “I don’t think we realise that the church is one of the unique institutions in the world,” said Mr. Wilson in conclusion. “It depends wholly on the goodwill of the people. Try .to imagine the Navy or any other great national institution being maintained in the same way!” It was a wonderful tribute to the church that it had not only been maintained, but had progressed, on the goodwill of the pepole, and unquestion-, ably stood for the spiritual realities and ethical standards and values that lay at the base of the national civilisation. Most men were not embarrassing in their attention to the church. He was prompted-to ask whether people gave to the church, the backing, in the form of 1 their presence, their sympathy and their active support that they should.