The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-26
PULPIT PAY.
The Pscuniary Rewards Of American
Divines. =
Tho II fghest MI alsteriAl Salary Paid ID
Henry Ward Beecher.
New York Herald. ]

very small" Inc Herald rcceutly treateu
of mr.. Beecher as a money-maker, I" showing
that in 80 years that distinguished preacher
had drawn into the Golfers of Plymouth
church the round sum of $1,000 900, and
accounting for $3.50 900 that he had made in
his several callings on his own account The
subject thus stated seems to have attracted
universal attention, and in places the unfair
inference is drawn that ministers haye big
pay and al easy life. The fact is. that the
average compensation of clergymen OF All
denominations, city and country, is less
than $500 per annum. A few favored dorni-
MES are paid from $4,000 to S45. 600. but
there are thousands who have from $3.50 to
$500, and are lucky to get that-half OF it
possibly in vegetables and 'truck."
THE PAY IN CITIES.
Clerical compensation in cities Is greater
than in the provinces, but so are the ex-
penses. Mr.. Bsecher worked many years on
$3.50 salary, half of which was paid by
the Home Missionary society, and he sup
ported himself literally by the labor OF his
own hands. Now his salary is larger than
any other paid to a preacher in this country
$50, 900. For this he breaches twice on
Sunday, and presides at the Friday evening
prayer H6SLluS. FORMERLY u6 also l6CbuI6u
on Wednesday evening" but that habit was
given up several years ago, partly because
it interfered with his out of-town work, but
largely because what used to be regular
old-fashioned prayer meeting bad run into
pastors talk" Nobody seemed to
care Ito pray or speak; they preferred
to listen to Beecher. The late Deacons Corn
ing Tanning and Fitzgerald were fond of
asking questions, to which Mr.. Beecher made
long responses; and occasionally Brother ] oe
Knapp enlivened the proceedings by ponder
Gus pleadings in behalf of sinners; but as
rule Mr.. Beecher did, as he now does, the
bulk of the work. He has three months
vacation each year, so that his salary is paid
him for three services a week, or los in nine
months-say S1S5.1S for each public appear
ance. Mr.. Beecher does not give much time
to parochial duties, the ma jority of them
devolving upon DIR. Halliday, who visits the
sick, drums up religious delinquents, prays
with the dying, and looks out for the church
missions, earning his $1,000 by real hard
work.
DE. TALMAGE.
Brooklyn has more high-priced preachers
than any other city in proportion. Next to
Beecher, Dewitt Taimage has the largest
salary in the City of Churches. 1t was made
S12 600 last year, and will be kept at that
figure this year. DR.. Talmage has not yet de-
veloped into q national teacher, and con-
fines himself largely to the duties of the
lducIudCle, Tic 1dy COiAcSc, dIu tuclT OQS-
growths. He has two preaching services and
a prayer-meetiDg every Sunday. He lee
lures once a week and attends also prayer
meeting. He supervises the lay college, and
makes point OF visiting the Sunday-school.
In addition to this he is somewhat of pas
tor. That is, he does not confine himself to
the perfunctory duties of preaching alone,
but calls around on his people, talks with
the mothers and the children, and interests
himself to an extent in their domestic
troubles.
REV. MORGAN DIX.
Trinity corporation Is liberal in Its deal
ings with its servants Morgan Dix, the
rector. receives 200. He is responsible
to the corporation for the entire parish, and
has much office work that makes no public
show. He is the discipiinarian of the par.
ish. He breaches regularly in Trinity
church or st. Pauls, attends meetings, looks
out for the Sunday schools, now and then
marries or reads The funeral service, and
literally holds the affairs of the church, as
he does its keys, in his hands. 1t is often
| said that Beecher, Dix, the younger Potter,
Storrs and others would be able to make
! four times their salaries as lawyers; but,
however that may be, the fact remains that
men, and each in his way differs from all
! the rest. DIR. Dix was at one tune designed
| for the law, but, having entered the churc
service under DR.. Berrian, his predecessor,
he found no difficulty in securing the prem
inence he now has. His father, General
| Dix, is com ptroller of Trinity parish, and
his salary is also reported at 900.
DR.. TAYLOR.
DR.. William Taylor is probably the best
paid Cengregationalist orator in New York,
receiving $12 900 or $4,000. He works hard,
breaches regularly, lectures presides at
prayer meetings, is active on boards and
committees, looks out for the Sunday-school
| interests and pays special attention to pas
toral calls. This feature of pastors life is
much neglected by clergymen who are
pressed by public duties, such as lecturing,
editing and attending conventions. There
| are many ministers whose chief success is
born of their sympathies. They make a
point of knowing personally every man,
woman and child in their congregation, and
go from house to house seeking opportunity
to sympathize with, cheer and succor Their
focks. Others have no faculty of that sort.
They are merely preachers and in no true
sense pastors. DR.. Taylor is pastor, and
although he is paid large salary as q
preacher, his chief merit is thought to lie IN
his social and kindly nature.
WHAT DIR. HEPwoRTH SAYS.
Rev. Dr. Hepworth stands on the othe,
side of the line. While Beecher, Storrs
Talmage, Dix, Taylor, Tiffany, Potter and
Tying can count their tens of thousands, DIR.
Hepworth is compelled to support bimseli
by his Drsin-work outside of his pulpit. Al
he puts it, his situation Is rather interesting
ly suggestive. A Herald reporter found the
doctor yesterday morning hard at work In
his cozy study in Forty-seventh street. and
in response to question he said: "Ah
that's subject in which / take great inter.
est The under payment of clergymenl
why, certainly. the world is full of it, and
here's bright example"
why, 1 thought you were rolling il
riches"
"Nonsense, Why..if I didn't do work
outside of my pulpit, I'd have nothing Il
live on. When I started my church wa
crippled by the death of a staunch friend
We had debt of 5000, 900. That is reduced
to $685. 600. My salary was $500; but
didn't get it. It is now, and has been fo
two years S., 900; but don't get it.'
Are clergymen generally underpaid?"
They are, decidedly. They don't get hal
what they could make as lawyers, for in