236 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



and it is therefore, plain, either that the public must dis- 

 pense with a portion of their services, or that they must 

 be allowed to indulge in recreative exercises ; otherwise 

 they will inevitably sink under their mental labors, and 

 many of them at least, go down to premature graves. 



745. Former Condition of the Clergy. The condition 

 of the clergy in this country, is entirely different from what 

 it was within the memory of many of them, who are still 

 able to perform their clerical duties ; and who have lived 

 to see several generations of their younger brethren come 

 forward, and pass away, while they, themselves, have 

 continued their labors until the present day. 



746. A great proportion of our ministers, no longer than 

 fifty years since, were settled on farms, with salaries of 

 from two, to three, and seldom, four hundred dollars per 

 year. They were therefore under the necessity of labor- 

 ing with their hands, in order to maintain their families. 

 Besides, their flocks were often so scattered as to occupy 

 a considerable portion of time, and some bodily exercise, 

 in order to visit the several families even once a year. At 

 these visits, the minister always received presents of pro- 

 visions from his parishioners, but in case the visit was not 

 made, the present was not given ; a good old custom, 

 which always insured every family in the parish a personal 

 acquaintance with their minister. 



747. At that period, too, the mental labors of the clergy 

 were not more than about one third what they are at the 

 present day, especially in towns. They preached two <&H- 

 mons a week ; in addition to which, an extra sermon once 

 a month, or once in two months, preparatory to the com- 

 munion, made up their stated labors. 



748. Here it is obvious that the exertions of the mind 

 were not, disproportioned to those of the muscles, and hence 

 the clergy were then among the longest-lived individuals 

 of their parishes, as is proved by the living witnesses of 

 that body which here and there still remain. 



749. It is unnecessary further to contrast the parochial 

 labors of the clergy of the present day, w r ith those of their 

 fathers in the church. It is well known that the increase 

 of population, as well as a more advanced state of edu- 

 cation, have rendered it necessary to increase these la- 



