The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16
Minister'S Salaries.

Jul llllHletCiS was WI O''s VAiiNA
was erroneous. The salary agreed upon at
the time of settlement was $500, and the
rent of parsonage. consisting of a comfort
able house and other buildings and two
acres of land. No request was made for an
increase of salary until near the close OF
1864. at which time he asked that his salary
might be Increased 500. He consented tC
remain. however, receiving encouragement
of a donation to the desired amount, not
withstanding his salary was not increased.
About this time donation of not less than
S130 was given him. After the close OF
1865. while preparations were being made
for donation. he asked for an increase OF
$500 on salary, and change of parsonage.
involving an expense of about $500. This
not being acceded to by the society, he ask
ed for dismissiOn, which was accepted by
the church. Nearly 500 was raised by do
nation at this time. Salary and all the
above mentioned sums was paid in the cur
rency of the country. The direct tax
amounted to about 100 per cent. on the list
of the society. Meagre as has been his sup.
port, we rejoice that Mr.. B. has been able
to liquidate nearly all his outstanding ac-
counts. including debts incurred here and
in procuring his education, and not deprive
himself entirely of that intercourse with the
world that is necessary and proper, during
the five years he has been among us.
B. D. BROWN,
ABEL GOss.
F. r. CARPENTER
A. R. Ross,
L. B. CHURCH,
and nine others.
Lower Waterford. Feb. 6, 1866.
When we gave the result of the ecclesi-
astical council in the dismission of Mr..
Bard, we did not intend to arraign the
church of Waterford as guilty above all
Others, but distinctly stated that it was the
''same old >tory''-intimating that this
was but a repetition of what has transpir-
ed Ill very many country churches within
the past few years.
No clergyman upon dismissal would care
to so humiliate himself as to explain hou
he has been able to sustain himself. OF
through what seit-denial-nor would we
ask him to do it.
We propose to dismiss this discussion
by quoting an article, appropriate, from
the Boston Recorder of Feb. 2, and calling
to it the attention of all churches which
fail iii these trying times to give their pas
tors an adequate slpport.-ED. CAL
In our larger churches, the salaries of
ministers have, in many cases been RAISED,
50 as to make them equivalent to the pres
ent increased expense OF living. But in
! our rural districts this is far from being the
case. In a majority of parishes in New
Hampshire and Vermont, e. o. the salary
OF the ministers stands just as it did before
the war. The only increase OF the minis
ter's means Of support, when they have
been made, has come in the form of gen
circus Donations" as they are termed, but
which seldom equal a fourth part OF the
increased expense of living to which the
minister is necessarily subjected. The
balance must be met by DRAWN. Oh his
own private resources, or those of friends ::
by carlalllng his necessary expenses or
by contracting debts without reasonable
prospec! Of being able to pay them.
What must be the effect of thi, state Of
things on the spirits Of ministers and their
ability to do good Can it be Other than
to weaken their hands and dcprcss their
spirits ,
Does God have regard to the manner in
which his ministers are supported He
did when his people dwelt in their ceilcd
houses, and suffered his house to lie waste
when they withheld the tithes from the
store house, and when they brought for
offerings the sick and the lame. Does he
not have similar regard now that he has
''ordaincd that they which preach the Cos
pei shall live by the gospel" and now that
he has enjoinrd upon him that it is taught
to communicate TO him that teacheth in all
good things.
Are the churches in New Hampshire
and Vermont too poor to increase the sal
aries OF their ministers in proportion to
the increased expense of living Have
they not as body been growing rich dur
ing the last four years, as fast as they
were in previous years is it Just for
churches to leave their ministers to bear
the increased expense Of living without a
proportional increase of salary Is the
manufacturer just, who is growing rich by
his business, but who refuses to increase
IN talr proportion the wages OF his work
men !
AS evidence that we do not merely
speculate on this subject, we give the fol-
lowing from the pastor of a prominent
church IN New Hampshire
1.-The truth is, | cannot live on nv sal
airy, and l am under the necessity Of re-
trenchlng wherever l can and not til my
people increasd ny salary, CT have an
other home, shall | be free man for what
many would judge as necessary expenses.
| sometimes think that God will never
bless our churches until they cease to be
guilty OF such injustice towards their min
listers One of the hest and h.rloct ,ou,-