The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-17
2'HT'E's'qe.H / /
PAYING THE MINISTER.
story for church Members.
2ngss ( n:IaMAosE: ~

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A story for Church Members.
2TTsS ). NJ. NAIoEE. q a.
Through some unforeseen casualty
the little church of Il suddenly be-
came deprived of its faithful old pastor
who had .toiled there patiently, devo-
tedly, for many long years, aye, eve'
since those men and women who came
20 hear him preach, and expound the
blessed word, had been little children
lie had been meek and mild old man,
~ no. like hi lowiy Master, cheerfully
and without q fnurmur, bore his heavy
..ross. and whose every effort had been
Cor the good of his charge; they had
lost their bost friend, counsellor and
advisor. But 50 it was; and instead Of
ettling down to grieve, they must
leeds look out for new minister TO MI
his place.
Such thing was more easily deter
mined upon than accomplished. 1t was
true, they could find plenty of those
belonging to that sacred profession
Young men and old ones plain men
and destinations ones; dull, insipid
men and eloquent, inspired ones; but
m all this long array there seemed to
he not one whom they could willingly
take to fill the vacuum in their neigh
Sorhood and in their hearts, made by
the departure of old Job Meekman:
At length, however, after much effort
on their part, they succeeded in finding
one whom they thought would fulflil
all their expectations, that is, provided
he and they could agree upon one very
important item-his salary. -
This CHI osen one was a young man by
the name of Hezekiah Fairview, then
but very few years old in the ministry,
though warm, eloquent, and possessing
the finest natural abilities, which has,
i'm later times, gained for him reputa-
tion that but very few in his walks of
life enjoy.
The agreements were that he should
come over to IL shortly and deliver
a preliminary sermon, after which a
convention, composed entirely OF
church members, was t. be called, and
a regular engagement to be perfected
with him, II possible.
The day came, and with it came the
young clergyman. The people were on
tip-toe with expectation. AT an early
hour, far earlier than was their usual
wont, they came flocking into the little
wooden church by twos, threes, and so
on up to dozens, till there was room for
no more within. People who scarcely
ever went to church at all, turned out ;
they We're all anxious to see and hear
the new minister for the first time
The sermon was preached and The
people were electrified. Never before
had they heard such a discourse, SO full
of fire, pathos, and beauty. Never be-
fore had they heard the holy word ex-
pounded so clearly, so forcibly Never
before had been SO WILDLY painted to
their fresh awakened minds, His igno-
minious death for guilty, fallen man
His glorious resurrection; His incessant
mediatorial pleadings at his Fathers
throne. And never before had that old
house witnessed such another scene:
Men and women whom had grown old
in sin and transgression, whose hearts
were hard, stubborn, and obdurate,
wept and trembled as they heard these
tidings.
And when the services were finally
concluded, and the people had betaken
themselves to their homes, naught
could be heard save of the dear, pious
Mr.. Fairyjew. For the time being
their old minister seemed entirely for
gotten. L
On that same evening a meeting OF
the members, as before intimated, was
to be held. And at half-past seven
when Mr. Fairyiew, who had been no.
titled of the fact, arrived, he fouEd a
goodly number already collected.
He was kindly, cordially greeted ;
and when he had taken a seat, and
everything had become quiet, old Per-
CIV Saunders. a prominent member OF
the church and one of its most devoted
leaders, arose and said:
brother Fairview, have been dep
uted to make known to you the result
of our deliberation, which We had
brought to close ere you came in."
Heye the old man paused for mo-
ment, and looked with an important
air, first at the assembled people and
then at the minister Piously clasping
his hands, he then slowly continued:
"Your sermon of to-day has con-
WINGED us that you are just the man We
want. Yes, sir, just the man suited to
lie our pastor. We like you, we like
your method of preaching, and We have
unhesitatingly, aud i may well say
unanimously laid great stress on
this rd-''unanimouSiy determined
upon securing your services for this
present year, and for many succeeding
ones, it Is to be hoped"
He paused again, he wiped his brow
he proceeded:
"But with provision, my dear sir
YES, OUT determination IS based upon
provision, and that provision Is in re-
Yard to your salary. We have deter.
mined to secure your services, pr0UateO
the church can agree with you upon
salary. And mind, Mr.. Fairview,y or
will please state at what amount you
can afford to preach for-zby the year,
mean-and the church will at once de.
eide whether or not you will be engaged
as the pastor of l."
The young clergyman, after a mo-
-mcnt's deliberation, arose and tolC
them that as his wants were but few
and that, as the church in itself was Sc
small, he would not place his services
for the first year, above his actual ex'
penses, which would he but a trifiins
sum, say hundred and fifty dollars
He very well knew by, experience, ht
said, that it would require this amount
to support him; and of course they
could not desire his labor any cheaper
There was considerable leDgthening
of faces all over the house when Mr.
Fairview made this statement; anC
Perry Saunders, who still stood up
quickly said, addressing the clergy
nan:
"Why, positively, my dear sir, YOU
demand is unreasonable \ hundred
and fifty dollars a year! The church
will not engage you at such an cnor-
DsDt,r price as that, sir. Our old pastor
Meekman. only received forty dollars,
I'D that supported him handsomely
the whole year round. No, no, no, MIR.
Fairyiew, we cannot-we will not Ell.
gaze you at that"
And the old man sat down with a
very stern visage.s
With meaning smile, such as only
those can understand who have eXpe-
rjepced like circumstances, the young
minister told the church that he was
sorry, very sorry, they differed so wide.
lv. hut he could not think for a moment
OF deviating from the sum he had
named, which was, in fact, compare
tivciy nothing, and which Tould not
even support him without the most
rigid economy on his part.
ii is plain how this would have end
La,,ot ,notbar who had heeu at