The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-10-21
The Business Relations of Minis
teTS.

sScribaer's Monthly for October has timely
article on the failure of pastors and their congre-
cations to establish between them just business
relations On the part of the people, it claims
there is sometimes disposition to reckon what
ever is paid to the pastor as charity, and on the
part of the pastor liability to place himself in
ihe attitude OF an object of charity all his days.
But to the article:
ga misunderstanding mistake is made when
pastors and people fail to establish and maintain
between each other business relation just as in
dependent Of the spiritual as it is possible to make
it, The physician may be- and in multitudes of
instances is the dearest family friend but he
lives by his profession, and his services have a
recognized money value which he expects to re-
ceive without question. He would prefer, per-
haps, to render his services without reward,
especially to those whom he loves but he has
mouths to feed, and provision to make for rainy
days, and for the days of helplessless that come
at last to all. So, though love and sympathy's
sake, may have actuated him in all his daily
round of duty, he goes home at night, takes
down his blotter aud enters his charges as for
maly as if be had been selling farm produce or
tinware.
'There is a feeling in many sparishes that it is
gift by whatsoever any pastor may be pro6ed
by them-that pastor earns nothing, and that
in all things he is the beneficiary Of the parish -
TO make tkis u,stter- -a-theasend times worsey
there are pastors not a few who take the position
to which the parishes assign them, and assist in
perpetuating the mistake. They men whose
hands are always open to receive whatever comes
who delight in donation parties and who grasp
right and left, with Unsuitable greed, at gifts
They become so mean-spirited that they do not
like to pay for any thing, aud do not really think
it right that they should be called upon to pay
for anything. They are spongsrs upon their peo-
pie and community. Wherever they happen to
be, they 'lie down on the brethren. There is
nothing of value that they are not glad to receive,
and there is nobody that they are not glad TO Je
indebted to for favors. Sometimes they are ex-
travagant, and have graceless way OF getting
into debt, out of which they are helped yearly,
and out Of which they expect TO be helped yearly.
The abject meanness into which pastor can
sink, and the corresponding and consequent
powerlessness into which he can.descend, find too
frequent Illustration among the American minis
try. 1t is shocking and sckening that there are
some men who seem forced ny their parishes 10
live in this way, and ii is still more disgusting to
ind men who seem toIerahly comforted and con-
tented while living in this way. If man is fit
to preach, he is worth wages. If he is worth
wages they should be paid with all the business
regularity that is demanded and enforced in
business life. There is no man in the communi-
ty who works harder for the money he receives
than the faithful minister. There is no man-in
whose work the community is interested-to
whom regular wages, that shall not cost him a
thought, are so important. OF what possible
use in pulpit can any man be whose weeks are
frittered away in mean cares and dirty econo-
mics? Every month, or every quarte-day, every
pasor should be sure that there will be placed in
his hands, as his Just wages, money enough to
psy all his expenses. Then without sense of
special obligation to anybody, be can preach the
trut1 with freedom, and prepare for his public
raiListratons without distraction. Nothing more
cruel TO nastor, or more disastrous to his work,
can bc done than to force upon him feeling of
dependence upon the charities of his flock. The
cfice Of such man does not rise in dignity above
that OF couTt-fool. He is the creature Of the
popular whim, and a preacher without in
taence to those who do not respect him or
his Office sufficiently 20 pay him the wages due 70
:. nan who devo,es bis lie to them. Manliness
cannot live in such man, exct pit it be in torture
"A torture endured simply because there are
others who depend upon the charities doled out
20 him.
Good manly pastors and preachers do not
want gifts, they want wages. 1t is not kind
to exc out insufficient salaries by donation
parties and by benetaciions from the richer mem
hers of flock 1t is not merit, as they seem TO
regard it, for parishes or individuals to do this
1t is an acknowledgment of Indebtedness which
ihsv too mean to pay in a business way
The pastor needs it and they owe it, but they
take to themselves the credit of benefactors, and
place him in an awkward and false position
The influence of this state of things upon the
world that lies outside of the sphere of Christian
belief and activity is bad beyond calculation
We have had enough of the patronage of Chris
tianity by half-scoffing, half-toerating world.
If Christians do not sufficiently recognize the
legitimacy of the PASTORS calling to render him
fully his Just wages and to assist him to main
tain his manly independence before the world,
they must not blame the world for looking upon
him with contempt that forbids approach and
precludes influence. The world will be quite
ready to take the pastor at the valuation OF bis
friends and the religion be teaches at the price
its professors are willing to pay, in business
way, for its ministry"
No doubt, all ministers, and especially timer
ants, need the attention and care of their f1ocks
vet the attention and care should be so rendered
rs not to undermine personal independence -
Gifts as a supplement 10 a meagre salary are well
but better is it to put all minister requires for
subsistence into his salary, and then he will feel
that he stands on solid ground. Gratuties can
ben be given and received without creating in
the recipient sense of humiliation.