The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-02-11
Preachers Fast and West.
now THEY FARE.

We clip the following from the correspon-
dence Of the N. Y. Express. The Rev. Mr..
Douglass, the Church Pastor Of that aris-
tocratic parish it is said by the newspa-
pers, died from the effects of the starvation
stipend allotted him by his congregation.
Sunday or two ago, Bishop Doanc visi-
ted Jersey City to administer the rite OF con-
6rmation to one Of the Episcopal churches
there, which is looked upon as one of the
wealthest and'most ''tonnish' 10 this vicin-
ity. II was "held day. and, ms usual on
such occasions, the edi6ce was crowded to
excess. Silks, satins, and velvets, were out
in magnificent display--the choir had been
reinforced with an extra vocalist or two,
and to quote commonplace, coup d. oeil
was grand in the extreme.
But list the swelling tones Of 81, 900
organ burst on the ear, and before you have
time to inquire il that voluntary strain il an
overture from "Normao or ala Prophetic. ,.
the Bishop, in his canonicals, Issues, solitary
and alone, from the vestry room. People
wonder why the Rector does not accompany
him, but conjecture ceases as the venerable
Diocesan comes forward TO the rhancel steps.
and with characteristic emphasis, delivers -
the astonished congregation the following
eloquent address, which, it is almost unne-
cessary to add, was not interrupted by
"bursts Of applause
MY BRETHREN According to appointment,
| came to this Church, to-day, for the pur-
pose OF administering the Holy Apostolic rite
OF confirmation, but | am grieved to say
that, on arriving here, found your pastor.
the Rev. MIR. Douglass, is 80 seriously indis-
posed, as to be unable to attend. And can
not let pass this opportunity, to say, be-
cause deem It my duty, that your faithful
pastor has been brought down to deaths
door, by the heavy burdens he has borne in
building up this church for your benefit
.hese burdens am sorry to say, he has been
permitted to bear solitary and alone. Often
ne has been without, not only the comforts
but the nccessaries Of life. II 10 . shame
and disgrace-a shame and disgrace / re-
peat--that such state OF things should
exist anywhere, and especially In . wealthy
congregation like this, in large and prosper
Gus city. Had you done your duty, your
pastor would not, at this moment, have been
stretched upon q bed Of sickness.
That is the way preachers fare in the rich
and pious east.
Out here in the west preachers take Il for
granted TINT We are poor and ungodly race
OF sinners, and therefore don't much calcu-
late Tor support. And believing with the
apostle that he that provideth not for his
own household IL worse than an iniidcl, they
20 to work like practical men, raise what
they can out Of their congregations and exc
out the rest of their support by their own
exertions.
As result Of this common sense view oil
the matter, and the practical course pursued
by them, We have Presbyterian preacher in
our city, worth nearly quarter Of . million
Of dollars; an Episcopal preacher worth
near hundred thousand, an Associate Re.
formed preacher worth about a. much, Z
Baptist preacher who is we'll of in the
world, and Methodist preacher, who bul
recently left here, worth fifty thousand dol.
lars,
That, We think, will be sufficient TO show
that our preachers havn't suffered from star.
walton literally or fguratively in worldly
sense.
Asa fnrther evidence that the preachers
OF lowaeare doing we'll, We will state a fac
within our knowledge. At the last Mciho
dist Conference, there being very full at.
tendance OF preachers of thu, persuasion
some question in regard to speculation wa,
mooted. Nherenpon one of the body wht
did not like to have his privileges infrnged
asked the presiding Bishop TO call upon al
the members Of the Conference who ha,
specuiated in land TO hold up their hands,
Al but one poor preacher held up their hands
We think il fair to presume that when tn
great mass of Methodist preachers are max
ing money by the rise in the price Of lands
there Is no, much danger Of the preachers o
other denominations suffering.