New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10

| families and excellent people-do not Ho"oie
Themselves very mJich with the question. What income
has our pastor, and Isl adequate TOT 'no supply VI ~,
his wantsi" They do not trouble themselves with That
pos,ion 70 any great degree They are apt to say W
t,omseivcs 1.-THE trustees OF church excellent
men they have this thing In hand doubt they look
after II sufficiently. and dare say there Is abundant
provision for minister" and they lot the matter
TO- They not very much to be blamed. perhaps, for
not looking at that which their attention has not been
called andpthere beside considerable difficulty
although that difficulty is not great "a in Other lands,
nor is deficient Of responsibility, in my jufe>
ment here Il Is elsewhere; but there is some
difficulty the part of many excellent Christian people
n forming just idea that matter more particularly
IN the country districts. withwhio have also TO deal
farmer who receives his money in comparatively small
ana deals it out In the same way will
pc strongly tempted to think that GOO a
year is considerable sum, and says it must
be good deal for family to get through with in the
OF year. He ia strongly tempted to forget now
much OF the supplies for his household he raises within
himself and he only begins to realize the exact parallel
position for the minister II he had TO sum OF money
pn into his hands at the beginning Of the year and had
TO pay it out FROM day to day for absolutely
everything needed for the comfort OF his family
In the nature OF the a large proportion oil
the Christian population have some difficulty IN forninG
Just idea OF this matter. We propose to help these
brethren to just estimate OF thei that they may
know what is their duty in the premises. lApplause
think third place. that there is necessity OF an
agitation Of this matter Because OF very natural
but somewhat ,cupabei procedure the part of the
ministers themselves repeat this statement because
OF very natural but somewhat cupable procedure on
the part Of my brother ministers They do not Ike 10
plead their cause but tell the people what ought
be done Ill the matter for their own maintenance L
call that natural but call 1t somewhat cupabe for 1t
is natural salary grab is never popular measure
A mt . ha me
we are quite free from blame IN that par
ticular There are three chapters in the Epistle
10 the Corinthians that bear directly on this
very subject and we inst, as ministers, as
much bound TO explain 10 the people these three chap-
ters as any other three chapters IN the New Testament
[Appause We have right to ignore what the spirit
of God says this subject and if we sin in that paricu-
lar a Of omission. IL cannot but be that we shouid
pay the penalty and be punished for our sins.
There is good COX" sermon, it has been called.
"Muzzle not the OK that treadeth out the Doth
not God care for the Oxeni For your lsakes it is writ
ten that the Lord soweth and ploweth" and
may SOW and plow and receive the reward
that is justly dine to him for the LABOR
he expends lin the service of the Master and In the
service OF humanity. How many ministers are there In
this audience tonight that lay their hands on their
hearts and say: al have faithfully and plainly told
my people out and out their duty in this
matter as have done upon the
subject in belief in Christ repenting toward
God My brethren of the ministry with me if ask
you that II for your sakes for the sake OF your
families the sake OF your people and for the sake OF
your and for the sake OF your respective
churches We be as faithful here in declaring upon
other topics the counsel OF our Father who heaven.
And in that connection it seems to that minis
tors-and am thankful TO be Of them who are well
taken Of by their people and who Will not lie I'M
der the suspicion Of pleading their own cause-and
don't hesitate TO say, owe special duty to their
brethren who are less favored. They of all others,
by their law of IChristian magnanimity, chivalry,
and brotberly love, are bound TO do their
utmost for their less happily situated brethren.
There is another reason perhaps, why we should talk
about this thing. complain of the standard so fire.
quentIy sought be set up to ministers Incomes
My dear brethren whenever you apply to oonyeyancer
or any other form Of lawyer when come TO pay bis
bill do you find yourself raising this question. How
many children has hei How much viii it take to SUP
port hint" And by what law of justice or common
sense should men deal so with the laborers In the
pulpit
Why should there be different standard or Judging
applied to professional aborers in department
from that which applied to brethren in other de-
partments. We these in school. and were not
deficient in brains compared with them. We met the
same men in college, and stand we'll as they do.
They go to protesting they to the merchants desk
sacred desk we 20 to deal with mems souls, go 10
speak for Christ and his truth and the maintenance
that is doed out 10 us class is often placed
the charities OF the gvers and reduced as pro-
fession position to which have no right vounta-
rly TO descend. complain OF this and hold 1t to be
Just and audable object OF ministerial ambition 10 lift
ND the whole class judgment of the community and
place that class where 1t has right TO stand Appause
Now. you may say What is wanted this particular
atter7 II seems 10 me that the thing that is mainly
wanted IL information and instruction the part Of the
people, feel doubt that they will do what Is right
in the case When they begin TO understand the neces
sty for thoroughly educated ministry the necessity of
his having proper supply OF books so that he can
study the literature OF his profession OF his
having such position among his people that his mind
will be- as we are accustomed to call in the invitations
gyen to ministers by congregations free Of care"
when they can understand that have no doubt about
the issue At the present moment there is kind OF
irony, almost mOckery, In the form or some
Of our calls. ASK the Rev. Mr.. Smith
and his wife and five cbldren-1ve being the
most moderate average laughter-to come and labor
IN the work of the ministry, give his whole time'
strength and energy it, precuded by his work from
any other occupation and that you may be free of care
we presume you the of 1900 annually, in four
quarterly payments" Laugherl say, while hundreds
are ashley are at present In America. yon cannot
make ordinary ministers free OF care in that way no
matter how you try 10 fix it, am sensible there
sons objections that be raised 20 this whole plain
and in conclusion. because am unwilling to occupy too
much time shall venture to mention one OF two OF
those objections. In the first place II may be said
Why should the people be called upon TO lift up The
ministers in things pecuniary 10 this particular stan
dard3 But ministers may nix the scale as high as
they please, are we under obligation TO come
M 10 it," There you make the fatal mis-
take. 1t is not the minister that fixes the
standard at ALL 1t you. want you to use your own
Judgment in the matter and that is the II is
YOU the Christian people that determine the standard
of our expenditure. minister settles in particular
neighborhood, town country, city or village. Have
mt the people beforehand certain very definite idea