Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-05-14

Ed. Register-I ask space in your paper to
correct false impression that is being made
upon the people of Ironton.
1t is reported by some individuals, who
have had opportunities for knowing better,
that the money paid me by the Stewards of
the church of which am Pastor, was fully
equal to the apportionment made to the diff
ferent classes. Now, had not learned from
friends whose solcitude for myself and fami-
ly is the prompting of an earnest zeal for the
cause of the Master, that the above false
statement was made means of justifying
the withholding from us that which we are
justly entitled to, and that the public is made
to believe that we have been eXtravagant and
unreasonable in our demands, / should have
given the statement the silent contempt it
justly deserves. But inasmuch as we have
no system: of compulsion for raising the
Pastors salary, as our moneys are raised by
spontaneous giving by any and all being so
disposed, and feeling that a generous and
well-meaning public might be betrayed into
bias of distrust, and knowing that our only
resource is public sympathy, have felt it to
be my duty to subjoin the following tabu-
lated statement of our finances for the last
conference year. A word of explanation
will be necessary. According to our church
polity, we have what is styled Quarterly
Conference, which is the church court of the
Circuit or station. BY this tri-monthly Con-
ference, Stewards are elected whose duties
are as follows (See discipline T20l-page 12D:
"To take an exact account of all the money
or other resources received for the support
of the Preachers. To make an ac-
curate return of every expenditure of mon
ey. To seek the needy and distress
ed in order to relieve and comfort them. To
inform the preacher of any that are sick.
To attend the the Leaders and Stewards
meeting. To write Circular letters
to the societies, eXhorting them to greater
liberality." "They are accountable to the
Quarterly Conference for the faithful per-
Torrance of their duty" Again, 1870, page
1877: "The more effectively to raise the
amount necessary to meet the allowances of
the Ministers, let the stewards, at the be-
ginning of the year, estimate the amount
needed monthly. Then ascertain from each
member of the church, and, as far prac
ticable from each attendant of the congre-
CATION, what each will give as his monthly
contribution" .
Now, make no reflections upon the inno
cent. 1t is no fault of my members or con-
gregation that the above plan was not carri-
ed out; but that it has not l am ready to
declare. ] also have it from the lips of the
Stewards themselves that the amounts L re-
ported to the different Quarterly Conferences
were larger than the amounts reported by
them. Indeed, no effort was made by either,
so far as l can ascertain, to keep accurate
| account of the amounts they received and
paid over. Then, may not urge, how could
| their reports, which were less than mine,
argue that i had been fully or overpaid? l
confess that it mortifies me to make this
| statement, but in justice to myself and the
| people that l serve, feel it my duty to do so.
! Now for the table:
| The first Quarterly Conference of last year
| apportioned to Ironton and Pilot Knob $50.
Reed of Ironton alene, 1st quarter $3.50