by Fenton Johnson (1888 - 1958)
The Minister
Language: English
I mastered pastoral theology, the Greek of the Apostles, and all the difficult subjects in a minister's carriculum. I was as learned as any in this country when the Bishop ordained me. And I went to preside over Mount Moriah, largest flock in the Conference. I preached the word as I felt it, I visited the sick and dying and comforted the afflicted in spirit. I loved my work because I loved my God. But I lost my charge to Sam Jenkins, who has not been to school four years in his life. I lost my charge because I could not make my congregation shout. And my dollar money was small, very small. Sam Jenkins can tear the Bible to tatters and his congregation destroys the pews with their shouting and stamping. Sam Jenkins leads in the gift of raising dollar money. Such is religion.
Authorship:
- by Fenton Johnson (1888 - 1958) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert F. Baksa (b. 1938), "The Minister", from Three Portraits, no. 3. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Robert Baksa
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 146