Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-25
obrstedy and for the next Session and after, accom-
modatOn may be had quite convenient to the build
ings. A DARK CORNER FARMER.
FOR THE ADVERTISER

Foh iHE
Mr.. EnToN:-s NaTcnMAS," in a communica-
ton of last week, announces TO the District and
through her paper 10 its readers generally, that the
Churches are alarminsIy rcmss in the discharge
Of their duties to their Minister'S that their indebt-
edness has reached the ears Of the Almighty, and
calls for the judgment Of Heaven.
WATcnMAN" has seen one of our most popular
Ministers return home from the service Of his breth
rem to his own hume, and sit down To his table,
in company with WArcnMAN,n where their only
repas consisted of plate Of sweet potatoes and
chicken boiled in clear WATER" which was, it is
supposed, the best he could afford.
lie has seen another Minister whose head WIS
whitencd with the fross Of many winters, who was
compelled, during protracted meeting. to pull his
fodder in the morning and evening before AMI after
services, or let ii dry up; while any one Of dezen
members OF that Church, could have sent his hands
and pulled all his fodder in m hour
He saw Minister not long since who was prom
ised one hundred dollars BY one Of the Churches Of
This Association. for his last years services and he
had only received thirty dollars Of that amount"
lie has seen many Ministers to whom /" the Chur-
ches and congregations for whom they preached
have not paid more than onc-third Of the amounts
annually subscribed, &c"
In looking over the charges above enumerated,
at had access to the Minutes OF the Association
in order that might fix upon the name cf That
poor, though popular Preacher, when, to my sur
prise, the conviction was forced upon me, that
respectable number of our Ministers are men of
wealth Some OF them are in easy rrc mIlanc s.
and none we believe, are so poor that they are una
bic, upoE extraordinary occasions at least 10 rcgale
brother upon the ncccssrics Of life beyond plate
Of sweet potatoes and chicken boiled in clear
wafer. 1t may be that grey headed Minister
might have been compelled, from sheer necessity,
10 labor in his fodder field in the morning and even
ing, before and after services, durDg some protract-
ed meeting or other; and still it may be that no
o,nsure should be attached to his Church The
Church may have discharged her obligations to him
and yet he was poor. All men are not favored with
the talent necessary 10 constitute 6nancier.
lHc SHuTcn WHICH pToHlscu tUe Minister ono
hundred dollars and only paid him thirty, un,s, she
can urge something by way Of cxtenuation, has
certainly violated her contract and may be subject
Of rebuke, but not over the heads Of the Churches
generally. If many Of our Ministers receive only
one third Of the amounts subscribed BY rho Church
and the congregation is certainly news to us, and
i such be in keeping with her ways and dongs
generally, she is. lowered in our estimation ; and,
instead Of doubling, as We often do when the frai!-
lies Of human natureprcss heavily upon US, whether
We are fit subjects for the Church, We shall begin
p doubt whether the Church is Fl, place for US.
We believe the charge in QUESTION will not apply 10
he Churches within our bounds.
Some Of our Ministers are men of ability whose
alcnt would make them conspicuous in any Of the
pursuits of life others make no pretcnsions TO su-
,crlur attainments-all are worthy men-and though
he aggregate amount paid them BY the Church is
,ot largo yet we are not sure it does not equal what
hey might reasonably expect for their exclusive ser
'ices dieeeicd in any Of the worldly avocatious.
We are in favor Of librraity On the part of the
church towards the Ministry. Will not u higher
rider Of attainment upon the part Of our Preachers
le the most eipeilal means In seHufr ihiS ep II
May IS, 1851