Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-09-10
support OF the ministry.


The following very timely anC
sensible article taken from tn.
Nashville Banner, expresses oul
own views very forcibly and clear
" upon subject, which during
these stringent times, ought to es
pecially demand the attention Of
every christian in the land:
Among those likely to suffer from
the effects of the drought, none are
more in danger of pecuniary troub-
| les than the ministers of the gospel.
Under the most favorable auspices
il is with great difficulty that these
men of God, who devote their
whole time to ameliorating the con-
dition of mankind, are supported.
People do not consider that in call
ing or accepting their services, they
are under any legal or moral right
to do more than give them what
they can, without any inconven-
ience whatever, spare from their
resources. They do not esteem it
a debt in any sense, and if they,
from any cause, fail to pay them,
they feel NJ conjunction about it.
With this sentiment it is easy to
see that in time of scarcity they
will let everything go by the board
save these debts they are compelled
by law to pay. 1t is true enough
that everybody, especially the farm
ing community, will be straitened
this year from the failure of crops.
But is it fair, honorable, or just,
that the entire suffering shall be
borne by one class? Suppose every
one fails to pay his usual dues to
the church, the question arises how
are the preachers to live? They
have devoted all their time to their
duties. They are excluded from
ordinary avocations and are with
but few. exceptions entirely depend
ent on their meagre allowance for
support. The Church with the
view of lessening the burdens of
the people as much as possible, al
lows the preachers but a small
amount, barely enough to sustain
life at any time when it is all paid
up. Each man will say ''the
preacher gets more than / do and !
lives and dresses better than /, and
I'l pay nothing this year. This
agreement with themselves, enter
ed into by two-thirds the members,
leaves the poor man in deporable
He has a family and
they must live. Relying on the al
Iowance voted him, generally liO-
eral enough, ne goes in debt for the |
actual necessaries of life, and the |
falling to. make it good, puts him
in the questionable attitude of get
ting goods on false pretences. But
who is responsible for it? Let who
may, yet the preacher is the one |
who suffers. a hue and cry is |
raised against him, his reputation
suffers and the poor mans useful
ness is destroyed. All this would
have been avoided if the members
would only pay the pittance proln-
ised him. The assessment of the
members is, as rule, made
with the consent of each member.
IF now they will only, for the very
reason that some always fall short |
Or off altogether, exert themselves
and make this debt the preferred
Dne, how much happiness they
would bring into the family of the
faithful minister. 1t is debt,
sacred one, preferred one, debt
each man in his dying hour will re-
gret that it was left unpaid. For
he very reason that no legal obli-
cation holds in it the obligation
should be stronger. A small, very
small, self denial will enable every
)ne to pay their share. Let the
of the drought instill into
Zach man the determination to pay
he minister. He is, of all credit
rs, least able to be deferred. When
/ thing is to be done it is easy to do
I by only setting about doing it.
Then let each member reason thus:
'Inasmuch as the minister is likely
o lose his supper, Pll pay my
lues," and the thing is done.