Numerous, however, as the visits indicated by these figures must
necessarily be, they afford but a very moderate criterion for estimating
those actually paid. It is to the habitual intercourse established
between the Visitor and the Visited, an intercourse honourable and useful
to both parties, that all the higher results of the system are to be
traced. This enables either to judge more truly of the other; disabuses
the poor of the prejudice that those above them in station are
universally proud, unfeeling, and isolated from their hopes, wants and
sympathies; and the rich of the impression that their humbler brethren
are envious, discontented, and ungrateful. Mistakes are indeed committed
by inexperience, but gradually become rectified by longer acquaintance
and better knowledge. Mutual understandings are established. The
Christian Visitor is soon distinguished from the patronizing almoner, or
the salaried official. His friendly interest ceases to be confounded
with intrusive curiosity—his proffers of amity with intentions to insult.
Only let a District lose, for a season, the services of its Visitor, and
the expression of regret is speedily made known. It is not in human
nature to resist for a continuance the silent pleadings of an unvarying
kindness, manifested, not simply in encouraging what is good by advice
and approbation, but in discouraging what is evil by warning and
discountenance. Influence follows, as a matter of course, and is used,
in most instances, under a solemn sense of responsibility for the
temporal and eternal welfare of those submitting to its sway. House by
house, and room by room, the inmates of the cellar and the garret, are
brought into contact, and joined in bands of unity with their
fellow-Christians. None but the vicious are held as outcasts, and for
the worst of these the means and place of repentance are religiously kept
open. Liberty of Conscience is respected—Creed is no bar to aid; not
that the Christian Visitor is insensible to the dangers of rending, by
schisms, the Mystical Body of his Lord, but that he judgeth no man,
leaving him to his own master to stand or fall. Conscious of his own
infirmities, he will be careful to enter on his ministrations in a devout
and lowly spirit; he will pray night and morning for a blessing on his
labours, and lay before the throne of Grace his special difficulties and
imperfections. His aim is a high and spiritual mark; and though he may
not reach his standard fully, he keeps it in his view. It is to
illustrate, in his own conduct, the beauty of holiness, and so to bring
to bear upon his charge the mute but telling teaching of example.
Courteous with the rude; consistent with the fickle; patient with the
perverse, meek with the passionate, forbearing censure with the
censorious; silent with the gossip; reverent with the scoffer; just and
impartial towards all;—ready with advice when sought; attentive to the
oft-told tale; kindling in sympathy with woe;—the fosterer of virtue; the
uplifter from vice; the promoter of repentance; the refuge of poverty—he
strives to show to others, in the mirror of his deeds, the character
themselves should be. And when, in voluntary confidence, they seek his
further guidance, he leads them onward in the pathway of the Church. By
his instrumentality the babe is brought to Holy Baptism when its mother
returns her thanks for safe delivery; the child is rescued from the
streets, and sent to school; elder boys and girls, induced to renew, in
Confirmation, their Baptismal vows; Prayer Books and Bibles provided for
those who require them, at reduced prices. Public Worship and the
Sabbath rest, pressed home on the consciences of all, and the necessity
of the Lord’s Supper inculcated on the serious but timid believer, in
every case requiring further counsel and advice, he commends them to the
ministration of the Clergy, who are thus enabled to exercise a
supervision over the masses of their population that would be impossible
without some such intermediate agency. Now informed in due order of each
occurrence of sickness, remorse, doubt, difficulty, and penitence, they
are able to bring to bear on the sufferers exhortation, argument, and
consolation, according as their circumstances demand. Thus one by one
their flock are brought under their hand, not merely by a casual
visitation, but in their hours of need, when they might otherwise refrain
from sending for their pastor, however thankful to be tended by his
unrequested care. Nor are such results of rare occurrence. They are the
ordinary issues of systematic visiting. In a well-regulated District, no
event of spiritual interest should escape notice; for without any attempt
at unseasonable intrusion, the rounds may be so arranged as to be both
regular and expected. The Books and Tracts of the Lending Library should
be enquired after at least once a week, not necessarily to change them,
but to hear that all is well with those who read them. Visitors who have
pursued this plan, and adopted its facilities for profitable
conversation, are not likely to let it fall into abeyance. There can be
no doubt that their word in season, following directly upon the
impression produced by some pious work, may oftentimes have been the Holy
Spirit’s means of turning souls to God. For this is the supreme end of
the Society; and if it fails in this, all its other successes are but
light in the balance, leaves not fruit, husks devoid of heart or kernel.