The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-11-25
From the Saturday Evening Post.
Paying the Minister.
nv r. $. ARTHrR.

Money. money. money! That's the
everlasting cry! Ill give up INV pew.
] won't go 10 church. III stay al home
and read the Bible. Not that care for a
few dollars more than do for the dus,
that blows in the wind but this selling of
salvation for gold disgusts me. I'm sick
10 death Of NJ
But hear, first, Mr.. Larkin, what we
want money for" said Mr.. Elder, one of
the vestrymen Of the church TO which The
former belonged. "You know that our
minister's salary is very small; in fact,
entirely insufficient for the maintenance
of his family. He has, as might be sup.
posed, fallen into debt. and we are making
an effort TO raise sufficient sum 10 re.
lieve him from his unpleasant embarrass.
menl."
But what business has he to go in
Of his income, and as an honest man,
should not lei his expenses exceed it,"
But YOU know us well as | do that
he cannot live OH four hundred dollars a
year."
~ don't know any such thing, friend
Elder. But do know, that there are
hundreds and thousands who live on much
less, and save a little into the bargain.
That, however. is neither here nor there.
Four hundred dollars year is all this pa
IRISH can ai1nr,l TO pay minister. and that
Mr.. Malcolm was distinctly told before
he came. II he could not live on the Sal
larry offered, why did he come! Mr.. Pei.
ton never received more"
Beg your pardon, Mr.. T.arkin. Mr..
PeIlon never received less than seven hun
dred dollars year. There were always
extra subscriptions made for him."
IL never gave any thing more than my
regular subscription aud pew rent"
II is more than | can say then. In
presents of one kind and another and in
money it never cost me less than from if
ty TO seventy-fve dollars year extra.
Having been in the vesiry for the last Ten
years, happen to know that there was
always something TO make up al the end
of the year, and i, generally came out oil
the pockets of few.
! "Well, it isn't right, that is all | have
/ to say" returned Mr.. Larkin. "a min
/ lister has no business to saddle himself up
on a congregation in that way for less
than his real weight. It's an imposition
and one that I'm no, going TO stand. In
opposed TO all these forced levies, from
principle"
~ rather think the first error is on The
side of the congregation" said Mr.. Elder
Il think they are not only to blame, hu
really dishonest in fixing upon a sum TO
the support of a minister that is plainly
inadequate TO his maintenance. Here, il
our parish, for instance, thousand dol
lars might be paid toa minister with th'
greatest ease in the world, and no one b.
oppressed by his subscription. And yet
we are very content and self complacen
in our niggardly tender of four hundre,
dollars.
A thousand dollars! don't believ
any minister ought To receive such Sala
ry. have no notion of tempting, by in
ducements like that, money-loyers into tn
sacred Office"
"Pardon me. Mr.. I.arkin, but no,
much does it cost you 10 live! Not les
than two thousand five hundred dollars
year. presume.
But don't put my expenses alon
r side of the minister's. | can afford I
spend all that il costs Inc. | have hon
estly made what possess, and have
right TO enjoy IT," 49,.
! al didn't question that, Mr.. Larkin.
E only turned your thoughts in this dire
2 ton, that you might realize in your ow
mind low hard il must be for man wi,