The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

family-when there was no collector
near. AT last, driven to despair, the
pastor sent a note to the trustees, ask
ing for payment of the back salary.
The trustees met to consider the matter.
Some who gave sparingly to the church
| thought the pastor might let that back
salary go, others said that he was
growing more and more worldly, that
ministers of the gospel should be con-
tent with what they could get instead
of expecting the church to pay stated
amount. Others again who considered
themselves friendly to the pastor adj
vised to just let him go If he could
not get along on what they could raise.
Nearly all the members of the board
nodded assent to this suggestion, which
would relieve them greatly, and which
they were about to adopt, when one of
their number, whose eyes sparkled with
indignation, and whose lips twitched
with wrath, spoke. Now when he has
served us faithfully for ten years, and
has cut himself off from other churches
that wanted him; when his family has
grown so that it is difficult for him to
find suitable church, you'll just let
him 90 adrift on the world Not while
live in Stingy Greek, said Mr.. Saw
age, who was a man of sound prin-
ciple and good business habits, but who
previously had taken little interest in
church affairs; he'll not be let 90.
He'll be paid his full Salary this year if
there is as much money in Stingy Creek
as will do it. ! want the cooperation
of the deacons and the trustees, and |
will collect his salary He got reso-
luton passed, to the effect that no fam
ily would be considered as belonging to
the church who did not pay towards its
support, the really poor excepted. He
obtained a full list of such as claimed
to belong there. He headed subscrip-
ton list with a hundred dollars, and
| pledged himself to continue the same
from year to year till further notice,
promising to pay it quarterly in advance.
He then called on each family and indi-
vidual, and asked their support on the
same terms. Some refused to give a
cent, but he assured them that it was
no matter. He next went to the print
ing Office and had the list printed; then
he distributed it in the congregation, at
the same time causing it to be an
nounced that those whose names did
not appear could have them placed there
by application to the trustees, while
others who might wish to increase their
subscriptions or correct errors could do
so by reference to the same officers. AS
the new families came in he waited on
them promptly, left them list of the
subscribers, and soon after solicited
their subscription. The result was, the
pastor received twelve hundred instead
of five hundred that year. The sexton
and organist were also paid for the first
time, to their great establishment, and
there was a balance of hundred dol
lars left in the treasury with which to
commence the new year. Mr.. Savage
conducted the business himself. He
insisted on reporting to the congrega-
ton every quarter, and on publishing
the list every year, so that all could see
just what was promised, what was paid
to the church. and how the money was
expended. Our financial affairs have
been growing stronger and stronger for
five years, and better still, all the best
families coming into the place connect
with our church. We are becoming
ashamed of the name of our town, and
think we will soon change it to Liberal
vile. And now, Mr.. Holdington, 90
home, and at the beginning of this new
year adopt common sense, business
plan like ours, carry it out with the en-
ergy you put into your own business,
and your church will prosper. But if
you deceive and cheat your pastor, neg
lect your duty, and leave to the Lord
what you should do yourself, your
church will go down-and it ought to! "
-NeW York Observer.