It must be manly and independent.

But it must also be worldy-wise, not artificial, sympathetic, broad-minded and many-sided, equally ready to smite wrong in high places and to kneel by the bedside of the lowly and the poor.
I have so found most of the clergymen I have known, the exceptions too few to remember.

In spite of the opulence we see about us let us not take to ourselves too much conceit.

May every pastor emulate the virtues of that village preacher of whom it was written that: _Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray._ * * * * * _A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a year._ * * * * * _His house was known to all the vagrant train, He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain; The long-remembered beggar was his guest, Whose beard descending swept his aged breast; The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud, Claimed kindred there, and had his claims allowed; The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Sate by the fire, and talked the night away; Wept o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done, Shouldered his crutch, and showed how fields were won.
Pleased with his guests, the good man learned to glow, And quite forgot their vices in their woe; Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began._ IV I have lived a long life--rather a happy and a busy than a merry one--enjoying where I might, but, let me hope I may fairly claim, shirking no needful labor or duty.

The result is some accretions to my credit.