Principles and observations on many and various subjects, for the health of nations and individuals / by John Moodie.

  • Moodie, John.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles and observations on many and various subjects, for the health of nations and individuals / by John Moodie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ruin and decay, and if it does so, they do not care about being at the expense or trouble of repairing it, or looking after it, and if they wish a supply again, they cannot find it, and are left without spiritual comfort, and consolation, or religious instruction. It is different with the endowed Church : it is always there, ever pure and flowing. If the other is not in ruins, it is in an imperfect state, and the contents are tainted and noxious, being mixed up with all kinds of extreme and hurtful opinions. Voluntary Voluntary ministers are apt to be too subservient, and to be too a*??? be sub mucn un(^er tne control of their flocks, and are too apt to allow the servient and evn ways and practices, and the backslidings, and the religious too much failings and inattention of their flock, and especially the wealthier under the _ portion of them, to escape without checking, reproving, correcting, flocks °f 0r a^momsmng> or speaking, or preaching to them with freedom and openly such doctrines as are requisite and necessary, and which their religious position as pastors, teachers, and guides, and ex- pounders of the word, require them to do ; they cannot do all his, as their stipends depend on the good-will of their flocks, and the amount also depends on their satisfaction; and it is not easy for a clergyman with a large family to be so bold, and upright, as not to be to a certain extent, deficient and lax in his duty, when he and they depend on the congregation for support. Some may say they would, and could do it, but they never did it; no doubt there are some who can, but they are few, and we do not wonder at it. In some of the Voluntary congregations the church is frequently governed, by what may be termed a clique of the most wealthy, and influential members of congregations, and the rest of the flock, and the poorer portion follow heedlessly their directions, as they are the great means of supporting, and keeping the congregation together, as it is termed; or they might disperse and leave the clergyman on nothing, as a large portion of his stipend is derived from the rent of the seats. And when a great portion of the poorer class of the congregation, headed by a wealthy supporter of the congregation, leaves the church, the loss is felt very much, and the minister is so under the control of his congregation, on whom he depends for his support, that his usefulness is very frequently very much spoilt. The stipends are frequently very scanty in remote and little peopled dis- tricts, on account of the people being poor and few; and for want of a permanent endowment, they are not able to get an efficient pastor who will undertake the charge of them, as the stipend is not suffi- cient to support him ; and if he is a good and fit person, as is natural, he stays as short a time as he can,- and only till he gets the oppor- tunity of finding another and a better. The stipends of the Volun- tary churches are generally a great deal too small in amount, and they are not to be depended on ; to be kept at the stated sum, they are told the congregation will try to make out a certain sum, and perhaps the congregation may increase, and it is probable it will, and it is likely then to be increased. Many frequently change from a country situation to a town congregation with a worse stipend, in the expectation that their popularity may attract persons to their church, and thus increase their stipends ; but this often fails, as towns have too many congregations, and the people who attend