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Untitled Article
that be might ( contrary to the established custom ) read from his notes , as he would not have time to commit his sermon to memory . This , in some degree , spoiled the effect ; but the discourse itself was written in an easy , flowing style , and in the delivery there was much of the spirit and animation of
one who has been accustomed to preach without book . The little action which M . Thouron used was graceful and noble , and the full , rich quality of his voice , and the dignity of his person , rendered the effect still more impressive . This gentleman is deservedly esteemed one of the first preachers at Geneva .
13 th . This day there was an election for the office of pastor of the parish of San Gervais . M . Vaucher was the successful candidate ; but he had six or seven competitors , though the place is worth only one hundred louis d ' or , or £ 96 a year . Although this would probably go as far there as ^ 150 would in England , it is certainly very poor pay , considering that there are no extra fees whatever , and that the receiver has to preach three Sundays out of four , to give instruction in the Catechism to those of the young
peopie who desire it , to perform baptisms , marriages and funerals , to visit the sick when sent for , to call at every house in his district at least once a year , and to assist at the deliberations of the ecclesiastical council of the canton . The town of Geneva is divided into twenty-three sections , called dizaines ; and for these there are fifteen pastors , eight of whom undertake a double charge of two sections , and the other seven have single charges of one section—the former preaching three Sundays out of four , and receiving ( from
the state ) 100 louis d * or per annum , the latter three Sundays out of eight , and receiving forty-nine . * Besides these , there are two chaplains , one for the hospital , and the other for the prisons ; and there are also six catechists , three for the boys and three for the girls . These latter give instruction , for two hours at a time , four days in the week , during nine months in the year ; and they receive for their trouble twenty-eight louis per annum . The
pastors also have classes for those young people of the richer class who do not like to receive instruction along with the rest , and who request to have it in private . None are admitted to the communion unless they can answer certain questions addressed to them by the pastor ; nine months are , therefore , devoted chiefly to religious instruction , about the age of fourteen , although the children have been taught religion , more or less , at the College or in private schools , at an earlier age .
The supreme ecclesiastical court in the Geneva church is the Consistory , which is composed of the actual pastors , together with fourteen lay-elders , of whom three are magistrates . This court is held every Thursday , and judges of grave offences , such as would incur excommunication ; it regulates the order of public worship , receives proselytes , hears disputes between man and
wife , &c . ; but its powers are falling into desuetude . The election of the pastors and all that relates to the detail of preaching is in the hands of the V 6 n 6 rable Compagnie , which meets every Friday , and consists of all the pastors , whether actual or retired , fanciertSyJ whether of the town or the country , as well as of some honorary members who reside in foreign parts . Exclusive
* The preacher repeats the same discourse at three different churches on three successive Sundays ; and as this is an understood thing , and a list is published every Friday of all the preachers at the several churches for the following Sunday , no inconvenience ia felt . It is expected that the sermon should be given without notes ; and they who have so few to produce in the course of the year , have no excuse for neglecting to commit them to memory .
Untitled Article
Journal of a Tour on the Continent , 309
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1829, page 309, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2572/page/13/
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