Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. PASTORAL VISITATION. CONCLUSION. There is a decided ambiguity about the phrase "pastoral visitation," and the popular apprehension as to what that phrase imports is even more indefinite and vague than the ambiguity itself would warrant. The words thus connected as adjective and noun may mean visitation of his parishioners by a pastor in the strict discharge of his pastoral functions, i.e. for the sake of spiritual service and supervision; or the same words may be understood as meaning the customary call from house to house "in a friendly way," as the saying is, which one who is a pastor may pay to the members of his flock, not in his official character, but as any neighbour might spend his leisure time in benevolent inquiries after the health and families, the business and general welfare of those with whom he is acquainted. Now this last, or something like it, is what the great majority of thoughtless and ignorant people understand and intend when they talk about "pastoral visitation." They have a vague idea that it is proper for their minister to go about in his parish either in a desultory or a systematic way, making himself agreeable, talking about anything and everything, "dropping in" to tea or to supper, and interesting himself generally in all the secular affairs that may be occupying the thoughts of the folk whom he thus takes "as he finds them," and whom he is supposed to leave all the better for their having found in him a sympathetic listener, a correct remembrancer of genealogies and ages, a merry joker, a discreet retailer of gossip, a lively conversationalist, or a handy assistant in the amusements of the circle, as the particular circumstances of each household may require. Of such spurious "pastoral visitation" I have nothing ...
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