, 1877-11-16
Wedding Fee Extraordinary.

~ Is uVl uuObhhmOh w hNua va D'ON
patured clergymen who accept half
bushel of beans or few pounds of dried
apples as q recompeDse for performing
marriage ceremony; and there are in
stances on record where they have even
ofieiated on credit. But the Dominion
ministers are made of sterner stuff. A
clergyman at East Bolton, Quebec, re-
Gently seized bride as security for the
non-payment of his fee by the impecu
nious bridegroom, and the husband had
to give security for the $125 ere he could
obtain his spouse.
We clip the above item from one OF
our exchanges, but do not believe that
many clergymen ever had more laugh.
able experience in that line than one of
our best known New York preachers, who
once accepted strange fee, n0Iens colens.
This is the story.
Many years ago, he was sitting in the
Office of a lawyer who was one of his
members, chatting on various subjects,
and as the pastor happened to speak Of
the hard times, and the dilatOriness of
the church in paying his small salary,
the lawyer remarked:
"Now l hardly agree with you, pastor,
in your assertion that ministers are paid
less for their work than any other class
Of professional men. They have great
deal given to them in one way and an
other, donation parties, Christmas pres
ents, etc. Then the item of wedding fees
alone, which you seldom hear them speak
about, but which must amount to quite a
sum, several hundred dollars in the course
of the year, brings them in good rev.
enue."
"Do you think sop said the clergy
man. "Now to come right down to dots.
what do you suppose is the average fee
that l receivel"
81 should say twenty dollars was a
low estimate" said the lawyer. Here in
New York have often known persons
to give one hundred dollars, and fifty
dollar fee is quite common, but consider.
ing the fact that you marry good many
of the poor, or those who are only mod
erately well off, as we'll as the rich,
should think, as said, that twenty dol
lars was pretty low average"
"That calculation is rather large" said
the minister, "but still | cannot tell exact
ly, as / have not reckoned up what have
received this last year."
"No, / presume not" said the lawyer.
~ have noticed that ministers don't gen.
orally know how much they have re-
ceiyed, when the sum is pretty large, but
rather think they would if it was a
small one. But will tell you what |
will do. l will give you ten dollars for
half your next fee, and don't believe
shall lose anything by it either. Do you
accept that2"
The minister hesitRted moment and
then said, "Yes, well, yes; III accept
that-ten dollars for half the next fee."
He soon bade him good morning, and
went home to bis dinner. While he was
at the table the bell rang, and the SER
want came'in, saying man at the door
wished to see him moment. He found
a rough-looking farmer standing there,
who accosted him thus:
"GOod morning, Dr. A. ! came in to
see if you could just tie me up, this
morning. Sal and | have been talking
about it a good while, and we've come to
the conclusion that 'taint any use to wait
no longer"
"oh, yes" said the doctor, "walk in,
walk in. Where did you want to be mar.
riedf"
Fright here" said the farmer, ''if YOUR
willin'. Sails in the wagon, and I'll
bring her in"
SO he brought in blooming country
maid, and the minister, who had DOTTED
his gown and slipped on his best Sunday.
go-t-meetiDg coat, made them one, in his
most impressive style. After the cere
mony and the congratulations, the farmer
said:
"About the fee, pastor, we hain't mucl
money, but / thought your children
might be fond of pets, SO l told Sal
would just bring one of our pups" Say
ing which he tipped up small box, anC
out rolled little white pup upon tn
piano.