The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-03

/ ignorance, where all was purity and truth,
but her feet were near the borders, and the
glamour would soon be dispelled, and pass
away 10 return no more She heard the
whispers OF discomfort. She knew that all
the congregation had not been pleased with
the change in the services, but she felt that
she was doing her duty, and so gave little
heed. But her anxiety was for the minister.
Would he understand the situation, and be
able to check the growing trouble, or would
he prove weak?
Soon other matters came to the surface,
many of them fostered by the principal
members OF the church. Financial troubles
loomed up. The minister's salary was not
| paid; he was in debt for his board and his
pride in his freedom from such bondage
was CALLED by the memory of the
accounts that were forming against him.
He was forced to postpone his visit TO the
city. He did not have the means to go.
His clothing, though kept with scrupulous
care, began to wear shabby, and none came
to replenisi his wardrobe. He tried 20
forget these things in his word and minis
trations but all in vain. Not an hour
|
and unpleasantly to his mind. II he visited
the poor and needy he could only offer his
sympathy and prayers; his purse was empty
If missionary money was needed he could
give nothing. If any trivial thing.relating
to charityor or church enterprise was broached
he must be silent or contribute only words.
He had exhausted at college all he could
obtain for some time from the little estate
left HIM, and now he was absolutely penni.
lessIn the midst of his own people. Because
he had neither wife nor children he was
expected to live without money as if he
himself had no wants to be supplied. He
bore this as long as possible. and theh deter
mined to ask the official members of
his church for aid. But the same
old story that every itnerant min
lister knows by heart was poured into his
ears The members were poor. He knew in
a majority of cases that this was not so, for
they spent money freely for other things.
Then the church debt had never been paid,
and it took good deal for the interest on
that. "The church debt, that worldly bur
den that bears down upon the wings of
Christians and keeps them ever in the dust
instead of at the gates of pearl. The peo-
| pie, some of them at least, thought the
salary was too high, for young man ought
to live cheap. Many of the members lived
on half what he got, and had no trouble"
Mr.. Arnold showed them his cash account;
he had been In Glenvilie five months and
received fifty dollars. His board, including
other necessary expenses, had been seventy
five dollars and he had entertained three
Bible agents, returned missionary two
visiting ministers and the presiding elder at
an additional cost of twelve dollars.
Here he paused. He could not tell
out. though carefully concealed by
his overshoes. He could not explain
that he needed some nST clothes. These
were too private for him to recount them.
But he was surely entitled to as much as a
field hand, dollar day or else his board,
and yet he was receiving neither. He lis
tened to the petty criticisms the wonderful
feats of economy, the tales of what other
ministers had done with an outward calm but
inward disgust. Would this always be so?
Though the fields were white to the
harvest, must his hands be so tied
and he could no reap. Must he be
ever obliged to beg at the hrnds of the
church people enough for food and raiment?
Was there never to be a generous appreci-
alton of his zeal and work, if not of his time
and talents? He did not wonder now that
ministers drop off into the superannuated
list and live their last days in poverty and
- L.
could understand now why faces blanched
and lips quivered as the bishop
, each year told the lot of the
members of the conference, and
yet he had come to Glenville strong in fai h
and trust and ignorance. Was this but a
, trial of his confidence in the Hand that
sustains? Was it but the taste of the bitter
that Turks In every cup or would the whole
draught be unsweetened2 The conversation
went on around him; he did not heed it.
He was tempted as many a man in his
position has been. Ought he to still retain
I his position? Would 1t not be better for
him while young to leave the ministry, and
seek other work than to remain until worn
out, when he would fall by the wayside to die ?
? The faculty of the college had told him
' often he would make good lawyer; would
: it not be better for him 10 abandon his place
a and seek profession in which by persistent
labor he might at least make living. But
I these thoughts were fieeting and putting
e them from HIM with q silent prayer for
r strength he turned to the brethren.
I They had concluded to make an
appeal to the congregation on the
!. next Sunday, and if that did not
D succeed, they would have a fair or concert to
= raise the salary for the past two months.
g They wandered off from this to other things,
. buying cattle, land, expensive farming i'm
e plements, and there seemed no great lack of
q money. They chatted about crops and
t harvests as If there was little prospect for the
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