The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-01
Published by request.
Support Of the Ministry.

Among those likely to suffer from the
effects of the drought, none are more in
danger OF pecuniary troubles than the
ministers of the gospel. Under the
most favorable auspices it is with great
difficulty that these men of God, who
devote their whole time to ameliorating
the condition of mankind, are supported.
People de not consider that in calling
or accepting their services, they are
under any legal or moral right 10 DO
more than give them what they can,
without any Inconvenience whatever,
spare from their resources. They do
not esteem it debt in any sense, and
if they, from any cause, fail to pay them,
they feel no compunction about it
With this sentiment it is easy to see
that in a time of scarcity they will let
everything go by the board save those
debt they are compelled by law to pay.
1t is true enough that everybody, es-
pecially the farming community, will
be Strengthened this year from the fail
ure of the crops. But is it fair, honor
able, or just, that the entire suffering
shall be borne by one class? Suppose
everyone fails to pay his usual dues to
the church, the question arises how are
the preachers to live? They have de-
voted all their time to their duties
They are excluded from ordinary avo-
cations and are with but few exceptions
entirely dependent on their meagre
allowance for support. The church,
with the view of lesSening the burdens
of the people as much as possible, allows
the preachers but a small amount,
| barely enough to sustain life at any
time when il is all paid up. Each man
will say "the preacher gets more than
| I 1 -
and III pay nothing this year" This
agreement with themselves, entered into
by two-thirds the members, leaves the
poor man in a deplOrable condition.
He has family and they must live.
Relying on the allowance voted him,
generally liberal enough, he goes in
| debt tor the actual necessaries of life,
and the church failing to make il good,
puts him in the questionable attitude OF
getting goods on false pretenses. But
who is responsible for it? Let Wh9
may, yet tho preacher is the one who
suffers. A hue and cry is raised against
him, his reputation suffers and the poor
mans usefulness is destroyed. All this
would have been avoided if the members
would only pay the pittance promised
| him. The assessment of the mem Der Is,
as a rule, made with the consent of each
member. If now they Will only, Tor
the very reason that some always tall
short or off altogether, exert themselves
and make this debt the preferred one,
how much happiness they would bring
into the family of the faithful minister.
1t is debt, sacred one, a preferred
one, a debt each man in his dying hour
will regret that it was lett unpaid. Fol
the very reason that no legal obligation
holds in it, the obligation should be
stronger. A small, very small, self de-
NAL will enable everyone to pay their
share. Let the presence of the drought
instill into each man the determination
to pay the minister. He is, of all credi-
tors, least able to be deferred. When s
thing is to be done it is easy to do it by
only setting about doing it. Then lsi
each member reason thus: 'Inasmuch
as the minister is likely to lose his sup
port, I'll pay my Dues" and the thing il
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