Milford chronicle., 1883-04-06
.qSsPREO BIZ GOD eR nAHuOS l,'

10 belabor ministers Of the Gospel for
their worldly nindedness aud for
their love of gain,
Not because preachers have any
need of defence at our hands against
such attacts, nor because we feel any
responsibility for the views Of the Aa
vertiser upon either secular or religious
subjects, but because we are unwilling
that it should go abroad that such at
facts may be made again and again
without challenge, do we call in ques-
tion the position of our neighbor. We
do this the more reluctantly because
we know that controversy is a hobby
with our young friend, and we may
have no expectation That he will not
find occasion for "the last word"
" He is continually placing chips Oh
his shoulder and daring some one TO
knock them Off This one vas no
doubt placed for some one else than us.
yet we cannot resist the temptation to
tip it off, though it may rumple our
clothes little to hold the young man
down for two or three weeks till his
anger eOols bit
If we should attack the editorial for
its sophmoric treatment of the subject
and for its false logic, we might be
charged with taking an undue advan-
tage of one who aims to place himself
fairly on record as being in opposition
TO ''paid priesthood" Neither may
we contend that the editor is not CON
scientiously welding all the immense
force of his great paper for the break
ing down of this pernicious habit of
"spOiling preachers" seeing that he
has how published several studied ed
itorials upon the subject.
If we shall displace his chip by con-
tending only with the things he claims
10 be facts, surely no one can charge
US with taking undue advantage, and
beside we will have left the unique
network of his own logic to entangle |
him in his fiounderings in the weeks
TO come.
His first statement, claimed to be a
fact, is 1.-The theory of inspiration of
ministers is fast losing ground in the
minds of the people" He gives us no
exegesis Of what this theory is, and as
be seems to have knowledge of many
theories not familiar to common peo-
pie, the average reaier is at loss to
know just what he means. Tfhe means
to state as a fact that God has ceased |
TO have personal contact with his crea-
tures, or that the peoples minds reject
the evidence of this in their Bibles, |
their hearts and their lives, he is GER
taiply one born late, and wanting in
knowledge of those mastery argU-
ments that are weekly made from
thousand pulpits against materialism;
he is untouched by the controlling
force that is impelling the civilized |
world. By the same consciousness /
with which he would prove his own /
existence, his statement ofthis matter
is proven an error.
Z His second statement is, "There is
no subject, either of theology or secu-
iarism 10 that so interests the average
minister as the amount of his salarV.'i
If we shall take the gathering of
preachers at a Methodist Conference,
which body seems to be most aimed
at by his editorial may we Judge from
tho dress and outward splendOr of its
members that these men are "pam-
peredn and spoiled? These who have
Come from circuit and from station.
where they have borne the griefs of
many and have shared the pleasures
Of few, who have stinted family and
self until their sacrifice speaks in every
thread of the garb and in every linta-
ment of the face an eloquence in be- {
half of q personal Christ thatOutreach- l
Is the most perfect sentences of an In {
gersol talking for pay? These men /
have come, IN obedience to a custom ,
Of their church, to spend one week in )
the ffty-two, not in personal aggran-
dizement as claimed by the Nel0s, but
10 accept such change in their persO-
pal surroundings as the pOlity of their
church and the wisdom Of the bishop :
decree for the growth Of the cause q
These changes are sacrifice hat bus t
lness men would shrink from, even on d
an assurance of increased pay; and nos C
many business men could maintain =,
sheir position in the world ifeompelled
10 make a new circle of acquaiutances
every three years. Only few cynic- a
II people think the miuister too world r
" when he has ideas of business above v
10 oyster. If these preachers we're in a
capable of judging what would be bet f
er for themselves in the change, or if II
hey were unsolicitous for the future
would they thus be better guides Of a
heir feiloWs2 IL they were less hui +.
nan would they have more humanity? q
Allow that the average stay of minis 2
ers is two years at one charge. and SC
illow that the one week of the church b
;athering is as earnestly used for self cl
Is the balance of the time Is nsed for Of
heir fellows "a proposition that is not tr
rue), and even then we have a plO-
,ortiOn OF I03.to / against the Aelos' o'
on this point. St
The next tangible position Of the Ia
ditorial is tEat ministers are better If
aid for their labOrs than any other =
lass of persons Of the same ability 81
! pertinent illustration will. we think SC
ispose Of this statement The net in vi
ome Of the 8eios and Advertiser may be
.ated to be over 81 900 per annum; po
bat proportion of the preachers in MI
lilford are receiving such compensa- be
on ? Which of our eloquent divines Il,
light not turn his attention to any =.
sher profession, or to trade, with eve q,
Insurance Of more dOllais now, and ~ ~