Connecticut western news., 1875-10-29
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 Clerical SuppOrt-and Sharon.

HUH iSsthof StoHuiHS MIaCle OA Oul uay souly lparaileledNbyfhe feeding of Elijah by the Erayens in old times! As the writer showed some years since, it was a present distress. Salaries in the country parishes were al- wayssmeagre enough, but in the arte-war times they did usually afford bare sub sistence. The financial changes of the war (now gradually wearing away) for some years reduced the purchasing power of the nominal dollar to fifty or sixty cents. (lt is now again rising in value.) The name dollar, however, remained, and as the sala- ries of all men living on salary were slow ly advanced, and then not in proportion, in good truth they were reduced. The clergy were perhaps the worst sufferers by this phase of finance.
 For instance, clergyman living in 1860 on $500 year, may have had his salary advanced nomina2y to $75O by 1870. But estimating the purchasing power of a dol Jar at sixty cents, compared with the dollar of 1860, (and it is liberal estimate and the salary in real value would be $45O, or $50 short of the very small sum the parish formerly gave. We bring out this fact broadly and strongly, because we believe a failure to weigh and measure and realize It on that part of the laity accounts in part at least for their willingness to let their clergy struggle on, as too many parishes do, without living salary. In some sort therefore, it is sin of ignorance.
 Thoro ro 0no oF fu-s, nfhor noscAc ho.., ever, we wish to call attention to. A sin gular but common mistake of farmers is to wonder why the parson needs more money than they spend in year, without reckon ing, as they should, at market price, the fall pork, milk, butter, poultry, eggs, veg etables, and perhaps flour, which they use, and which their farm supplies to them, but which clergymen and most other men have to pay cash for Fs[fz-f EEE<T
 Another thing often .s,r!ooked by the lalty is that they do not reckon the expense of position. which is an expense just as real and just as hardto escape as the cost of one's breakfast No one expects farmer to spend as little as his hired h,.nI, DOT the merchant to live on as moderate sum as his clerk. For the problem, though theoretically pos Eisible, isnever worked out in real life, and as practical thing is impossible. The clergyman (if alive to his 'duties) usually has an item in his expenses of parocAsal needs and which goes long way towards balancing the kind gifts of his people. He must, unless he wishes tolose professional caste, attend conventions, conversations and clerical meetings. He must entertain to some extent, and provide himself with books, reviews and papers, unless he wishes to grow rusty and behind the times.
 All these cost money, and furnish very simple reason why he cannot compete in cheapness of living with others in positions very different. Few of the aity study out this question in its many relations. We state as fairly as we can, all these excuses for state of. things too common, but we cannot think they cover the whole ground. How can men in comfortable circumstan, ces, who cannot meet their own family ex- (penses with every care under $500 or per haps $2ooo,e expect their clergyman to meet bis in the same place on .$750? Belng of charitable frame of mind, we can only -attribute It to the extraordinary veneration the people of this country have for their clergy. They must believe them to. have some supernatural means of support, and that the text 'man shall not live by bread alone is literally verified in their kitchen, and that faith in the Almighty saves them! Unfortunately, God does not work need- less miracles, although as we sad at first, their existing at all is in some sort mira cle. He may send His ravens to feed His prophet, gone by His command into the wilderness, but he need not expect them, with their burden of meat, when dwelling amid the flesh pots of prosperous people.
 The country clergy are not in general supported. Some are living on private in- come which they brought with them into the ministry. Some are using of little capital belonging to themselves or their wives. Others are aided by wealthy rela- tlves. Others are teaching school and wri- ting for magazines. and others still are get ting, in spite of themselves, into debt and disgrace. For the most part they suffer in silence. The public knows nothing of the hard fight with poverty; but as one who has for years made thls matter 8 special study, could cite instances which have come to my knowledge in the confidence Of professional sympathy, which would man. tie any Christian cheek with the blush of shame. So that know of no bequest which would be so desirable as one to in- increase the livings of the clergy in small places.
 Sometimes a partial knowledge of the state of things leaks out, and this seems to l be what has taken place at sharon. Your correspondent in the columns of THE NEWS some two weeks since. is very confident in his statements, and evidently thinks he has made out clean bill of health for the par ish. Is it SO? He seems oblivious to the patent fact that to call man to parish containing 65 communicants, most of them well-to-do and some of them wealthy, on a salary of $$750 and house, ($6o0 only giy- en by the people, is terrible reflection on the appreciation the people have of a pas tors work, and of their bounden duty of giving of their means to God in the support of His worship and His minister.
 No doubt MT. Lessell accepted that call. Alas with the clergy it is now too often the case that necessity knows no law. The parsonage newly furnished throughout reads very we'll in print. One thinks here is $1ooo or perhaps $500. In truth that
 furnishing cost perhaps $2oo. The 'libe- ' a- ea.a