Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-11-18
Vol. Kill. NO. 9.

We have no money in the treasury now,
we will remunerate you sometime The
preacher goes home and pays for the use of
a horse and carriage, hired for the purpose
of conveying him to that church, and proba-
bly, never hears from them again. The evil
last named prevails to great extent. lob
ably there are few churches in Vermont
that do not owe debts of this nature
(b) Debts contracted in building and re-
pairing meeting houses.
The church and society are called togeth-
er to devise measures for erecting Oh. repair
ing meeting house. The plan is agreed
upon, and committee appointed to carry it
into effect. Subscriptions are obtained-a
contract is made with the builder-the
amount to be paid and the time of payment
stipulated. The subscription goes well for
while, and all seems TO be prosperous
Finally, some subscriptions fail-some, who
had promised great things, do nothing--
others find fault with the management
and the contract is not fulfilled. There are
meeting houses in this State, which now be-
gin TO turn gray with age, the builders of
which have not yet received all their pay.
(c) There is also a general neglect in
paying the sexton for his services ...s
A man is hired to take care of The meet
ing-house-Warm Tight it-ring the bell,
&c. His services frequently remain for
years unrequited. After preaching, upon
this subject, TO certain congregation, in
this State, man said to me, A church in
this village appointed me, six years ago,
committee to hire sexton; did so, and
paid him $4,000 out of my own pocket, not
one cent of which, have ever received
Now if your preaching makes that church
honest, and they pay me the $4,000 will
give you half of it" But have not yet
received the S11 90; nor do ever expect it.
A church, which has SO long neglected so
small debt, viii neper pay it, until regen-
Grated.
2. We will, now for few moments, turn
our attention from the church to iadiriduais
of the church. -.z-
(a) Many church members let their sub
remain unpaid, year after year.
There are three causes, which may be as
signed for such neglect. 1st. Want of abil-
ity. I'd. A general habit of negligence
Sd. A wish to save the interest on the sum
subscribed. -
The first of these very seldom occurs
Whenever. it does occur, the cause is iusti-.
fable. The second and third are unpardon-
able. A mans general habit of doing wrong.
Dr. his doing wrong to save his money, can
never justify the act. Even universal
custom in wrong doing, would never make
il right to do aOrong. 1t is as much irnpos-
sible to convert wrong into right, as to make
into truth.
The honest man who does not find il
to pay his subscription when it
IS due, will be willing to give a note on
interest. The interest, SO far as it goes, is
ust as much due as the principal. If he
would be honest, he must pay the interest,
or IN all his dealings adopt that law which
saith, NThou shalt not take usury of thy
neighbor." And even in that case he must
pay at the time stipulated, and give NO. oc-
casion for usury, unless he delay By consent
of the creditor.
(b) There are some who wish TO paw
their Gospel debts in produce at an exorbit-
ant price.
Some years ago, when wheat sold at one
dollar per bushel, a brother wished to paw.
his subscription in that article. A Deacon
asked him, =" how much are you going TO
charge our minister for wheat ?o The an
swer was, Why, believe the merchants
pay a dollar; but, as it was TO giue for
preaching, | thought should charge dol
lar fifty.o The Deacon being an honest
man, and having feeling heart, said to
him, "you are wrong, brother-the minister
is poor man, and has large family. with
a salary of only $500. Hecannot live sou
Why rsaid the brother, "Ialways charge
the minister more than the market price..n-
Ia this way the brother paid his subscription
of SIS 90 with ten dollars worth of pro-
duce. A minister Of my acquaintance was
requested by wealthy brother, to take his
subscription of S. 90 in produce. The
minister remarked that he should be obliged
to carry the produce toa merchant, whom
he owed, eight miles distant, and sacrifice
one dollar in the price, besides transporta-
tion. !. Well" says the man, q if four dol
lars cash will be better than the produce, L.
viii pay you cash TO accommodate" and
actually paid his fire dollars with fourt