New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-22
"WORN-O UT.p

A little incident which occurred this week
in the New-Jersey Methodist Conference
might serve very well as text for a sermon
tomorrow. No clergyman probably would
preach it, but we recommend the cOngrega-
tons to take it up and make what use they
can of it.
The appropriations to WORKOUT preachers
were read aloud. One brother, whose name
was omitted in them, rose and stated that for
the first time in his life he had no food nor
money to buy bread with. He was deemed
too old to take q charge, and he had actually
not roof to cover him or his children. The
case, we are told (fOr the whole miserable
story was blazOned abroad in the public
prints, was recommended to the Board
of Stewards, and the old man we
hone will not be left to starve to death in
the midst of a wealthy congregation, as
the newspapers were telling that another
did. few weeks ago. 1t was, we be-
lieve, in a Presbyterian Church that that
happened; the EpiscOpalians, at the same
time, were making a collection of bed
ding and half-wOrn clothes from the chart
table to give as aims TO the poorer clergy !;
and now our Methodist friends give rs glimpse
of the same policy at work in their churches.
If this policy must be kept up, why is it pub
lishcdf Why should this old man-who, as
he is " WORKOUT in the service OF God, we
are bound to conclude was an honest, faithful
worker, and not deficient i'll the feelings OF q
eentleman-be placarded to the church
and tho country as pauperT 10 the
church az much as to individuals was
the command given that His aims
should be in secret. But why should this
man receive aims at all ! Either minister
should preach the gospel without reward, sup
porting himself by some other work. or he
should be paid for preaching it. Ii he is paid,
it ought to be sum equal to that which his
culture and talents would earn in other profess
sions or trades, sufficient to keep him from
starving or pauperism. That it Is not
enough is proved by the establishment
of permanent funds in all of these
churches for superannuated or worn-out
ministers. They " charity; annual ap-
peals are made for these men as for beggars
worthy, but beggars still; tho whole system
ranks with the bees and donation parties, by
which New-Eugiand congregations try to pay
half of a just debt with complacent smirk
of generosity.
The whole system is false. No church has the
right to insult sensitive men gratuitously
by placing them in the attitude of paupers; no
church has the right to keep out OF the ser
vice of her Master the men who are not willing
to bear this indignity, for very few men of
ability and refinement have the moral courage
to enter profession in which they are liable
III their old age either to starve or DO published
as WORKOUT alms-seekers
If the churches were poor. as in the days
when the Apostles worked with their own
"hands" while they preached, it would be
different matter. Salaries of $4,000 to $2O,-
900 to favorte preachers are not unusual,
nor churches costing Cor owing) from 100000
to half n million. Individual congregations
have tho right, We suppose, to treat
themselves to Injuries in the way of
high-priced preachers or buildings, just as