Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-15
PASTORAL sUsTBvT.sTEO.v.
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

P.sSTOR.aL AUTHORIZATION
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AT a recent meeting of the convention of
Congregational churches, important action
was taken on matter which is of interest
beyond the limits of the denomination. 1t
was for the purpose of increasing the sal
aries paid their pastors by weak churches,
and thus its object 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; ma
ny churches were unable 10 offer salary
enough 10 induce a pastor to be settled with
them-or their fear that they could not
continue even their present 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 dol
lars. The average salary is $3.50.
A similar state of things appeared in the
Presbyterian church, and two years ago
committee was appointed in the General
Assembly 10 consider this subject of the in-
crease of salaries. They devised plan,
and its success has been beyond expecta
tion. In our own convention, one year ago,
the success OF the Presbyterian plan was
spoken of, and committee was appointed
TO take this matter into consideration.
They sent out circular Of inquiries to
the churches, responses TO which contained
fact 4 mi too
pointed, with instructions to devise plan
and put it in immediate execution, and
this is the action TO which have reference.
This committee consists of Rev. II. Fair
banks and Rev. III. r. Fuller, of ST.
JohnSbury; Rev. G. $. Smith, OF Mont
pelier, who is also secretary of the Vermont
Domestic Missionary Society Deacon c.
L. Thompson, together with line writer of
| this article.
The committee met as soon as possible
and adopted this plan:
All salaries now below that amount shall
| be raised to nine hul dred dollars, provid-
ed only that evidence be given of having
met the following
CONDITIONS:
: /. Actual installation of pastor.
.. 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.
). No reduction OF salary from preced-
ing year.
q. Church's salary to he Il ST paid quar-.
terly and reported.
I. Advance payment 10 Sustentation
Committee of contribution equal TO one
twentieth of Church's salary.
s. Pastor TO pay nothing toward meeting
above conditions.
8. Systematic contributions each year to
the American Board, Vermont Domestic
Miss. Society, A. NJ. A. and Sustentation
Committee, as above.
10. Two or more churches to he aided,
coniointly, in the discretion of the Com
mittee. Grant of aid to date from actual
fllhllment of the above conditions, and
payment Of the same at the end ofthe
quarter.
We have not hestated TO profit by the
experience of the Presbyterians. We have
not adopted their plan, but have been guild
ed by it. We draw hope also from the
same source. They have aided three hun
dred and eight churches, and have raised
the salaries which these churches pay, 10
one thousand dollars. From two hundred
OF these churches they learn the following
facts $4,000 were paid before for salaries.
Now, in order to meet the conditions of aid,
they pay $4,000. The increase of benevc-
lence has been ftom $4,000 TO 100000. APP
plying this ratio of gain to all the aided
churches, we find that the Increase to the
general treasury of the church is s5s, 500.
This work has required an outlay of $50, ,000
Surely the returns are good. When we
consider the pastorates established, the in
creased vigor and courage of tho churches
and the relief it gives to the Home Board
(for most of these churches were drawing
upon the Home Mission treasury, it is
sufficiently recommended.
There is no reason why equally good re-
suits should not follow in our Stale. We
have some problems TO meet which the
Presbyterans did not have. They drew
their supplies from the unlimited wealth of
their entire denomination. We can appeal
10 the comparatively poor churches of a
single State. Yet there is money enough.
and thore is increased inclination TO give IL
for such purposes as this. 1t is difficult TO
see what object could more attract one who
held more wealth than he has u moral right
to spend upon himself, and who is locking
for the proper directions in which to make
il useful. The strong churches will also
recognize the reasonableness of the appeal,
and 1t cannot be doubted that they will
meet the need. The conditions of aid are
such as to strengthen tho church which ac-
cepts it, and to place it upon broad, firm
basis. We cannot see how more good could
be done with the same expenditure OF mon
ey.
We cannot doubt that the plan will have
adeclded success. J.o.J
--R1dlond Herald.