The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-03
For the Central Presbyterian.
How is Your Minister Supported?

No. 3.

No. 2.
We saw in our last the grave objections
which lie against raising money for the
ministers support by rented pews. We
turn now to our country church What
plan has it adopted for maintaining its
minister?
At the outset it was determined by this
church how much-or in many cases it
may properly be said, how little would be
required to support the minister and his
family A subscription paper was then
passed round in the congregation, on
which persons pledged themselves to pay
so much at the end of each half-year to
make up the salary. One result of this
was that many in the congregation were
heard to remark that Mr. A and Mr.. G.
had not subscribed as much as men Of
their means ought to subscribe. Mr.. A.
and Mr.. G. were also heard to say that
the burdens of supporting the minister
fell altogether on a few men, and that
half of the congregation gave nothing
An impartial observer would have SAID
here that there was much truth on both
sides. The minister thought the salary
small. However, his dignity as an am
bassador of Christ kept him from higglng.
He accepted, and began his work. AS
the money subscribed was not due till the
end of the haf-year, it did not appear
how the good man was to subsist the first
six months. Perhaps, he had some mon
ey of his own. Perhaps, few of his
church members would advance some
thing on their subscription. Perhaps, he
would get credit at the store. At any
rate, he did manage to get through the
half-year, and at the end of this time it
was found that a part of the salary was
still unpaid At the end of the year, the
portion of salary unpaid was still greater
and the reasons for the deficiency were
these:
. l. Mr.. B. had died, and his estate was
not bound for his subscription
2. Mr.. E. had taken offence at some
thing done by the new minister. He said
he would pay his subscription for the
first halfyear, as he had promised: but
he would pay nothing more. He kept
his word.
3. Mr.. F., Mr.. G., Mr.. H., and three Oh
four others, when called on for the money
subscribed by them, said they did not
have the money at that time. True
they had all hadSmoley on hand ire
uuently during the year, but it was spent
They might spare two or three dollars
now, but the fact was their own families
were needing things which they could not
do without. The deacons called on them
two or three times in this way. In fact
the deacons dunned them. NC The painful
ness of these efforts, however, much ex
ceeded the fruits.
4. The remaining subscribers had paid
up faithfully the money promised by
them They thought they had done then
whole duty, and they did not make up
the deficiency caused by the failures just
named. So, the year closed. A part Of
the pastors salary was withheld. And
Mr.. A. and Mr.. G. had enjoyed in their
households many good things to which
the pastors family were strangers.
That this is only fair picture of the
working of the subscription system in
most cases, no one well acquainted with
our churches will, we think, deny A
review of the evils now brought before Us
will indicate what the requisites are of 6
true system of ministerial support. These
requisites we propose to consider In oul
next. M. II. ID.