Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-31
written for the Herald ]
Pastoral SEStenfRtiOIi.
A STEP IN TIE RIGHT DIRECTION.

At the recent meeting of the Conven-
ton Of Congregational churches, import
ant action was taken on matter which
is of interest beyond the limits of the
denomination 1t was for tue purpose
of increasing the salaries paid their pas
tors by weak churches, and thus its OBJ
ject is nothing less than the continuance
of preaching the gospel, where such
continuance had become a question.
The need for this action had become
very great. Salaries in many places had
not kept pace with the increase of
prices; many churches were unable TO
offer salary enough induce pastor to
be settled with thpm-or their fear that
they could not continue even their pres
ent salary led to the same resultant
the fact appears that few more than
fourth of the two hundred churches in
the State have pastors. But sixty paid
as much as one thousand dollars. The
average salary is $3.50
A similar state Of things appeared in
the Presbyterian church, and two years
ago a committee was appointed in the
General Assembly to consider this sub
iect of the increase of salaries They
devised plan, and its success has been
beyond expectation. In our own con
vention, one year ago, the success of the
Presbyterian plan was spoken of, and a
committee was appointed to take this
matter into consideration. They sent
out a circular of inquiries to the church
es, responses to which contained valua-
BILE facts. A new committee was APP
pointed, with instructions to devise a
plan and put it in immediate execution,
and this is the action to which | have
reference. This committee consists of
Rev. II. Fairbanks and Rev. IL. I. Full
Ter, of ST. Johnsbury; Rev. G. S. Smith,
of Montpelier, who is also secretary of
the Vermont Domestic Missionary So
ciety; Deacon c. F. Thompson, to-
gether with the writer of this article.
The committee met as soon as posi-
BILE and adopted this plan:
All salaries now below that amount
shall be raised to nine hundred dollars,
provided only that evidence be given of
having met the following
CONDITIONS:
1. Actual installation of pastor
2, Salary, paid by people, at least
$500.
3. Average payment, by people, at
least $40 per resident church member.
4. No parsonage to be reckoned more
than 800.
5. No reduction of salary from pre-
ceding year.
6. Church's salary to be first paid
quarterly and reported.
Z. Advance payment to Sustentation
Committee of contribution equal to one
twentieth of Church's salary
s. Pastor to pay nothing toward meet
ing above conditions.
8. Systematic contributions each year
to the American Board, Vermont Do
nestle Miss. Society, A. NJ. A. and Sus-
tenation Committee, as above.
TO- Two or more churches to be aid
ed, conformity, in the direction of the
Committee. Grant of aid to date from
actual fulfillment of the above condi-
tons, and payment of the same at the
end of the quarter.
We have not hesitated to profit by the
experience of the Presbyterians. We
have not adopted their plan, but have
been guided by it. We draw hope also
from the same source. They have aided
three hundred and eight churches, and
have raised the salaries which these
churches pay, to one thousand dollars.
From two hundred of these churches they
learn the following facts: $85, 900
were paid before for salaries. Now, in
order to meet the contribution of aid,
they pay $4,000 The increase of be
nevolence has been from $4,000 to $780,
OOO Applying this ratio of gain to all
the aided churches, we find that the in
crease to the general treasury of the
church is $58, 800. This work has
required an outlay of 100000. Surely
the returns are good. When we con-
slider the pastorates established, the IN
creased vigor and courage of the churches
and the relief it gives to the Home Board
(for most of these churches were draw
ing upon the Home Mission treasury, 1t
is sufficiently recommended.
There is no reason why equally good
results should not follow in our State.
We have some problems to meet which