The Way to Discourage Your Pastor
A wry, moralizing piece reprinted from the Southern Methodist listing the ways church members unwittingly demoralize their preachers, aimed at ball-going, theater-attending congregants.
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Southern Christian Advocate · September 14, 1878 · Page 2
1 min read“The way to discourage your pastor” is the name of a suggestive communication in the Southern Methodist. Among other ways the writer mentions the following:
Another way to discourage your preacher is, to show him by your daily walk that his preaching has made no impression upon you for good. This can be done in various ways. But the most effectual way is, to attend every ball, and dance, and circus, and theatre, that occurs during the year, and then argue with him and everybody else that there is no harm in it. Tell him that these things are innocent amusements, and the people are bound to have some recreation. He will understand this kind of talk, and it will discourage him no little. Besides, such conduct will hedge up his access to sinners, as they will see that they are just as good as you are, prevent a revival in your church, and greatly improve your chances to secure a successor at the end of the year. If you will pursue this course your point is gained—all creation could not keep your preacher from being discouraged.
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