Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-04-01

very plain, aud intended 10 expose some
of the evils connected with it,.
l. 1t is an evil but poorly to pay tht
preacher. / have nothing TO say to those
churches that compensate, in no way, The
man of God for his labors of love. leave
them until the day of final reckoning, wher
they must answer for glaring neglect Of
duty. But for church to admit their duty
in this particular, and 10 dole out with a
sparing, if not with a grudging hand
scarcely enough to buy their ministers corn,
is no small evil. And this too is done by
churches that are able to pay thrice as much
as they now do 10 the support Of the minis
try. Other labours are not put off with
hal pay. But the minister's services are
so much less important than any one else.
that he must not s!umble if he gets but
half loaf | repeat it, this is an evil un-
der the sun. Were this an occasional thing,
it might be better tolerated. Butt is loo
general-the instances Of those who are
well supported by their churches, forming
only exceptions. In this the value which
is sci upon the gospel by those who profess
TO value itjabove every thing? Don't these
people love money more than The gospel? ?
Is charity outraged to answer YES!
9. Another evil is, to promise minister
certain amount, and pay him only a part
oft. This, too, is moi so rare case. II
it were, it would be better both for church
and preacher-the former would not be
guilty of breaking promise; the latter
would not be disappointed in meeting his
reasonable expectations, and he would be
spared the pain Of thinking at least, that
his people are not to be relied on. But it
is very common case, tha, churches pro-
mise one thing, and come short Of it. Who
will gainsay this :? | venture the assertion,
that nine-tenths of our preachers do not
get, any two years in succession, all that
their churches promise 10 pay. There is
many subscription unpaid. Now, this is
sore evil. Ministers can't live on unpaid
subscriptions. PITY they could't.) Be-
sides this, promises are serious things; and
they should 90 more be violated when
made by churches, than when made bv in.
diriduals. An individual making a pro-
mise to pay money, is held accountable to
his church if he fails, wilfully to comply.
And yet, the church may fail 10 fulfil a
similar promise made to its minister, and
nothing mus, be said about it 1t is an evil
NOT 10 be winked at, because it is commit
ted in high places. Nor will it do for such
Io HER Communion, have not PAID @tf19g t11e
The minister always con
tracts with the church, and not with indi.
viduals, whether IN the church, or out Of
it, so that, in all justice, the church is bound
for all deficiencies. And any church put
ting off its minister with such plea, de-
serves 10 be left unsupplied.
3. Another evil is, that what a minister
receives in the way Of compensation is re-
ceired in such manner, as is title caiculat-
ed to benefit him. 1t is received by piece
meals. little to-day, and little to-mor-
row. In many instances, the ,chote amount
so comparatively little, but the manner in
which it is received, renders it still less in
value. Why should not ministers be paid
quarterly, or semi-annually, as well as lit
erary and theological professors, &c.. A,
any rate, where this cannot be done, would
il not be more to the credit Of the church
to pay him IN full at The END of the year?
This would not only look more business
like, but it would enable him to lay out his
nav, however small, 10 better advantage,
Won't churches correct this evil !! If they
are determined not 10 raise the wages of
their ministers, won't they try and pay
them all at once!
4. The practice ofcollecting, and paying
the minister on Sunday, is another evil.
But few churches but what do this. To-
wards the end, or at the beginning Of the
wear, YOU will see the deacon, or some one
else, with subscription in hand, busily col
lcc,ing the amount subscribed; aud the
first thing, after leaving the pulpit, the
preacher is met by this collection with Il
roll of money, (somctimes very small,)
which is counted out with great care, be-
fore "many witnesses" Now, all this sort
ofbusiness, on the Lords day, has 10 say
the least. The appearance of evil. some other
day, should he taken to attend to this bust.
ness, ~ re this done, more, in my opinion,
would he collected than now is. The
church, where the deacons are negligent,
should appoint some one to attend 10 it.
And now, Mr.. Editor, have said all that
I intend 10 say, at present, on this suhje
You may hear from me again on it, prori-
ded, q like provsions) you think this arli-
Gle will DO any good.
Respectfully,