Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1877 — "He is My Minister." [ARTICLE]

"He is My Minister."

Some of the people didn’t like him. They were free to express their dislikes. Nor were they careful where they did it, and to whom. Some did it in the sewingcircle. As one young lady did! so to another, and asked her opinion, her reply was: “He umy minitUr." She did not regard him as perfect. A better minister would have pleased her. But he was her minister, and she did not feel at liberty to set herself against him and to join with others, and members of the church, too, in backbiting him. It had been written: “ Thou shaft not speak evil of the ruler of thy people;" and would it be any less sinful to speak evil of the minister who had been set over her in the Lord ? Ministers are but men. They have theis failings. None of them are perfect. They are not above the need of charity. And if we would not impair their influence, and stand in the way of their usefulness, we must be canaful how we handle their, reputation. When that is gone, all is gone with a minister. His capital for doing good is lost. Whether he be a bad man or not, when ; his people come to think him so, or to suspect that he is so, whatever his other qualifications may be, he can accomplish but little for their spiritual benefit. Like Casar’s wife, he must be above suspicion. And, chat he may be so, he must guard well his own reputation; and all who would desire and seek his well-being and usefulness, must consider well what they may say concerning him.— H. /. Otaarrer.