CONTENTS OF NO. XIX. ART. I.-THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FREQUENT By Rev. GEORGE CARRINGTON, Hadlyme, Conn, THE frequent changes in the pastoral relation, which are, at present, and for some time have been taking place, demand the attentive and prayerful consideration of the churches generally. Once, and within the recollection of many, it was otherwise. The thing is a departure from usage, ancient and well established. It is incumbent on the churches, to examine this innovation, as to its origin, its character, and its tendency. I. AS TO ITS ORIGIN. This has reference to its introduction into churches, established, and uniform in their practice, like those in NewEngland. Churches in new settlements, weak and not fully organized, or not well compacted, are, for obvious reasons, liable to frequent changes in their ministry. But, even among these, if they are in a sound state, the tendency of things, in this respect, always is, to permanency. In Connecticut, so perfect was the harmony between the ecclesiastical and the civil influences of the community, from the very first, that the settlement and incorporation of a town, was the beginning of a ministry as permanent as ever exVOL. V. 45 isted. The causes which have changed such a state of things to that which we now consider, are various. Among them are: 1. The condition of the country at large. This has had its influence in rendering the pastoral relation mutable. The ecclesiastical relations of Christians, are generally affected by their secular relations. In no country is this more true than in the United States, where the popular principle prevails so extensively. Since the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the principle of rotation in office, in political affairs, has been gaining ground, and may now be considered as thoroughly established, both in theory and in practice. As our pastors are elected like our civil officers, it is not improbable that a principle which has entire sway over men when electing civil rulers, has had more or less influence over them and others, in contemplating the relation which their pastor sustains to his flock. The state of the country, in respect to its business affairs, has had an influence not unlike that just mentioned. Scarcely any thing is fixed. The hope of bettering their temporal condition, leads many to forsake their native spot for the Great Valley of the West, others to traffic in the cities; others to engage in manufactures, and other branches of business, formerly unknown. The breaking up of so many from their farms, or from agricultural employments, has a vast effect in rendering the habits and general mind of the people unsteady. Where this effect is produced, it is not wonderful, if the churches feel its influence. 2. The want of adequate support has been a cause of rendering the pastoral relation changeable. The changes which have resulted from the enterprising, versatile, and migratory disposition of our countrymen, have frequently had the effect of weakening the pecuniary strength of existing parishes. Other causes, doubtless, have reduced their strength, in many instances; but this has left the pastor destitute of adequate support, and, in many cases, has rendered his removal necessary. We refer not to the deficiency of support, which, in the case of the full and punctual payment of a salary originally supposed to be sufficient, arises from the necessity of increased expenditure; since this cause, though effectual, has always existed, and probably has not been a leading cause of the change which we are now considering. As another cause, working the same effect, we refer 3. To the increase of offices, which are generally filled by clergymen, and, in most of these cases, by pastors. It was always thought desirable, that the presidencies and divinity professorships of our colleges, should be filled by ministers, and, if possible, by pastors. But, before the revolution, these offices were few in number, and the supply required for them, made no large draft on the pastorship. But now they are increased tenfold; and the demand for pastors to fill them is proportionate to their increase. If we consider that in addition to this, these offices have themselves become nearly as variable, in regard to their incumbents, as the pastoral office, and that the vacancies which so often occur in them, are still supplied from the same source as formerly, an important addition to the number of pastoral changes will be manifest. This item ought to be increased by the addition of those professorships in Theological Seminaries, which are filled by men taken from the settled ministry; and nearly all of them are thus filled. These are wholly the growth of modern times, and are subject to the same changes with college professorships and churches. They add, so far, to the changes in the pas toral relation. The benevolent societies, also, which have grown up with the present generation, have contributed greatly to make the relation between pastor and people unsteady. We speak of them here, simply in relation to the pastors whom they have called from their flocks. The efficient agents and officers of these institutions, have been, with few exceptions, pastors dismissed from their churches for the specific purposes of these societies. Like colleges and theological seminaries, they were, at first, few in number; but have, of late, become very numerous; nor does there appear, in the principle of them, any limit to their multiplication. If not, there is no limit to the demand which they may make for pastors to accomplish their objects. That demand is now considerable; it has, in almost every instance, been yielded to; and the change which it has made in the permanency of the pastoral relation, has been considerable. For other employments of a religious bearing, such as the conducting of religious periodicals, or the promotion of objects of supposed public utility, ministers have been dismissed. The amount of change thus made, and the influ |