Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-05-27
May 81, 1910.

rear. lie settles with the merchant, an
6nds himself some 200 or $50 dollars il
debt, and about the same amount is due 4
him from the people. A little exertion i
made, few dollars collected and paid owe
10 his creditors. The people begin to tall
some about hiring him another year; sub
scriplion paper is put into the hands of A
B, and G, for circulation they offer it to D.
E, &c. &C., but get little or nothing sub.
scribed; and why? Says E, we owe our
minister now, and we had better pay up our
old debts before we contract nep ones =
and this was the opinion of F, G, and H.
The result is, these brethren return home.
put the subscription paper carefully in the
desk, where il lies unmolested for weeks
The minister becomes rather uneasy. and
inquiries Of his brethren whether thew wish
BIN TO continue bis labors among them.-
By all means, say they. We can't do
without a minister. They now call upon
A, ., and G, to ascertain the amount of
subscription raised. A answers for The
rsI, and reports as follows: we made an Of.
oh 10 get the subscription filled, but utterly
hied as the people were unwilling to con-
racI nep debts, till the old ones were maid
This unlocked for report throws shade ov-
their prospects; they consult together
Wbile, and finally come TO the decision
hal they can't keep their minister, unless
will throw of so dollars of his salary .
be consents TO do il, and they engage him
mother year.
The good minister now begins to feel
most seriously his embarrassments. He i
under the necessity of curtaiIng his ex-
penseS, which are already within the bounds
u competency. He meets his creditors
md can hardly hold up his head when he
peaks TO them. o, if the church but knew
low their minister, thus embarrassed with |
hbts, feels, when he comes into the house
God, and casting his eyes over the con-
'gauon, sees there his creditors, who he
COWS are in want Of their pay, and he has
Of the means for paying them, they would
u suffer him to be thus crushed, and shorn
his strength by their neglect of duty,-l
ut SO 1t is; the minister, unwilling to
uden others with his trouble, keeps it to
msell, at least within his own family. To
Fake up the deficiency in the salary pledg-
he must turn his attention to some other
nployments. He cultivates a piece of
40, or he enters again his once deserted
a9 to earn, by hard labor, portion of
hSead. This necessarily claims a part
his time: consequently he has not so
uch time to study the Bible and prepare
sermons, or TO visit among the people,
'n the church begins to complain of their
Nalster, for not risiting more. They are
aplelOus also, that he does not studv as
uch as formerly, does not preach as well
short, they make up their minds, he is
The minister for them, and at the close
The year, they are fully prepared 10 dis
ss him. Now comes the climax of
0OOle The pastor has been running in
col all the year; the church has made no
ao' during the time 10 raise, in subscrp-
w. The sum pledged; individuals are dis
ashed, some with the minister, and 9TH
with the church thus divided and split
} they are unprepared TO do anything
ne minister finally leaves without his pay,
no Of course is unable TO cancel his debts
Gthe disgrace Of being called a dishon-
= man, falls on him, or the church has to
sat The reproach. In either case, the cause
Goc greatly suffers.
NOW, brethren, these things ought not so
'%j they need not be SO there's remedy.
unll me here 10 say, that, in my opinion,
ae following rules were adopted, or rig
y observed, by the churches of our Lord
Gus Christ, there would be little reason
complaint on the part of ministers, that
"Cnurches do not sustain them in their la
VS. or on the part of the churches, that
FU ministers do not visit, and study, and
each as they anticipated, and had reason
expect. would say, therefore, TO any
u every church about TO engage minis
b.
l. Never pledge any more than you are
We and willing to do; remember that your
ulster (f poor, and most ministers are,)
spends all his pecuniary calculations for
year, upon what you pledge him. If
iall IN the pledge given, he is Of course
appointed, and unable to meet his engage
''0's' repeat il, never promise beyond
W.T. ability and willingness 10 perform.
: Always be promptly lie. pay what
Ou pledge, at the time you promise 10 nav
II quarterly, or semi-aunually. or wear.