Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-02
THE PODUNOK SOCIETY MEET,
INC
And what It Did about the Ministers
SALARY.

SALARY.
t'A Country Parsonu In the New York observer,1
The regular society meeting Of Podunok
church was called for Monday evening. This
was an annual meeting, at which time the
business Of the church for the year was trans
acted. It was quite often the case that the
attendance was miserably small hardly
quorum present for the legal administration
| Of the usual business. Podunck society, like
many others, In ordinary times allowed Its
matters to go on without much interference.
But an extraordinary occasion had arrived
and the society was well represented Dea-
con Joel was there from the 'hill" and I'm
Gle Daniel from the "street." The people
from the "butternuts" we're all on hand, led
by the colonel who kept rubbing his gray
head as II uneasy. Deacon Noah Higgins
must not be forgotten he was the pillar Of
the church. Tonight he appeared TO hold
secret which he regarded As personal proper
ty.
The Rev. John Morehouse was Stated sup
ply, an ecclesiastical position never oontem-
plated by the policy Of any church. Because
of the hardness OF peoples hearts II has been
allowed, resulting In brief pastorates and
church quarrels. II has pleasant suggestion
OF the farm, In a rural community, when the
word goes about that I'VE have hired our
minister again" The old-fashioned relation
of uneasiness possesses both parties. PArson
Morehouse understood ell this, but he could
not change II. One or two narrow minded
men really decided the policy of the church,
although II belonged 10 an order that rejoic-
ed in q republican system. Rev. Mr. More
house had ministered at Podunok for ten
| years-a long pastoTate In these degenerate
days-years Of good, honest, prayerful work
years when beaten oil had been brought 10
h.. II - Nkn.T -
| This good man had not remained a country
parson because he was not intellectually
equipped for larger held, prepared by grace
to minister TO many souls. He was an origi-
| nal preacher in the best sense He bad large
spiritual insight, and every sermon he wrote
he tried to do his best. He believed that not
only are sinners to be invited TO Christ, In
the work Of preaching but Christians are to
be instructed in divine things. With these
ideas Of his work his study WAS place OF
toll. Deacon joel said ministers had an easy
time. II was no work TO write sermon
when you were trained for It," Uncle Dan
lei had added "he thought ministers ought to
labor like the disciples, without salary. II
they were engaged in spiritooal work they
should be spiritooal themselves" Uncle
Daniel always put quarter into the contri-
button box, and prayed thy kingdom come"
Aunt Betsy, who heard this remark, told Un-
Gle Daniel "if the congregation were more
spiritual their minister would have pleas
| anter time"
Our good brother was trying TO educate his
children on q salary Of eight hundred year.
He found il called for the grace Of contriv-
| ance to approach II. To supplement his sal
| ary he wrote for the press In his leisure mo-
ments and his wife had taken two boarders
in the summer months. The people OF Po-
| dunck were sure their minister was making
too much money. He might reduce his salA-
| ry hundred dollars year very well. 1t had
been talked up about the parish for six
| months. Uncle Daniel said ''some action
must be taken at the annual meeting" Some
Of the sisters remarked, 'if Mrs. Morehouse
had any time she ought to get up festival
to help raise the salary" Yes" said Aunt
Betsy, with peculiar CLEAN in her eye, 'it
is her duty to keep her husbands house end
beg too"
But Monday evening came IS all Mondays
| do. They had heard q suggestive sermon
the day before on the text, Eye know not
what day shall bring forth" They were
going TO do their part in illustrating the
thought Of the sermon. church society In
its collective capacity is a very uncertain bo-
dy. 1t can stultify itself without any effort
Podunck people liked their minister. They
we're proud OF his abilities. They did not de-
sire TO be mean. They wished TO get the gos-
pei cheap. They would have been better
suited II they could have had II without
money and without price" The brethren
assembled and chose Deacon Noah Higgins
as moderator. He was the most influential
member. Somewhat narrow minded and set
in his way, he was sound at the core and had
great weight among the people. Deacon Jo-
el made quite lengthy speech. Times were
hard it was purity close year; he didn't
have eight hundred TO live on. Minister'S
folks should be more economical With
writin and boarders the parson must be lay
ing up money. Deacon Joel was worth fifty
thousand dollars and not chick or child in
the world. He paid twenty dollars toward
the salary. Uncle Daniel said IL their minis
ter wished to write for the papers and his
wife take boarders he had no objection, but
they ought to be relieved Of paying so large
salary. He proposed 1t be reduced one hun
dred dollars. No one had the courage 10 pro-
pose this before, but now the bull was taken
by the horns, and the meeting was we'll IN
| der way. One brother said the minister nev-
er visited him; he wanted q man should stay
all day and spend the night. Another remark
ed that he saw the minister playing lawn ten
mis- with some Of the young people. He was
| greatly grieved. Somebody else thought q
| clergyman should not wear blue flannel. SO
the word went about The society meeting
| is the safety valve for chronic croakers and
| penurious members. Many would be asham-
ed of their remarks II they ever recalled
them.
After they had expressed their minds quite
freely John Hicks got up and spoke as fol-
lows: my friends, you seem to be quite
ready to part with our minister. Indeed, /
| should advise him TO go where he will be
better appreciated. He can command q
large salary. He is an unusual preacher. He
has family Of children to educate. You
| have not one honest thing against him. You
wish 10 drive a sharp bargain and make q
hundred dollars. Our young people all like
him because he is one with them. ! wonder
I he can afford even blue flannel with your Pc
nurious policy. If you reduce the salary you
| will lose your minister and deserve to-" John
/ Hicks was a young man, the superintendent
of the mill. He paid seventy Ave dollars on
| the subscription. The clear common sense
Of his remarks struck home. The meeting
began TO look at the other side of the qnss-
/ tion. They had never seriously thought of
losing him. They thought he would bear q
little more from them. They had tried him
a good deal. They would not see his like
again il he left them. Deacon Higgins had
said nothing through all this discussion.
That he had kept up powerful thinking was
evident by the expression on his homely face.
| He never talked unless he had something to
say. Brethren" said the deacon, 81 hold In
my hand the resignation of the Rev. John
Morehouse. The gossip OF the last few
months has not failed to reach bis ears He
is sensitive but conscientious man. He de-
sires to relieve the church of the burden OF
raising eight hundred dollars q year. H.
had not believed in the good sense OF this 80
oiety should have read this resignation at
the opening Of the meeting. We have oblig-
ed our pastor to steal hours from bis sleep TO
earn money to support his family. His good
wife has become kitchen servant to educate
her children. This church represents half
million dollars. We cannot afford to be so
mean. Brethren, move this resignation be
not accepted, and that we raise one thousand
dollars for our minister's salary, and that he
be asked to be regularly installed"
There was silence for q moment silence
that could be felt. Some looked ashamed,
few angry, others pleased. But-they were
taking it In. Deacon Noah Higgins spoke
with authority. He was q force, godly
man. He had said As he sat down, 81 win
double my subscription, but 1t may be too
late. There WAS a committee TO hear our
minister last Sabbath, and they were greatly
mi -