Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-04-18
NO.29--S0S.

not have in any other. 1t sometimes
happens that good minister win com
mand small salary, but this is because
he strikes community where he is ap-
preciated for much less than heis worth.
and he is generally open to louder
call. Clergymen are citizens of the
world. They are not allowed to have
a home on earth, at least very long at
time in any one place. They are ex-
posed to inconyeniences and losses by
the caprices and whims of individuals
and communities more than men in 9TH
er professions, and as a compensation
perhaps, need larger salaries. Most
churches demand learning in their min
listers but this is about the last thing
they are willing to pay for. There are
various eXternals that soonest catch the
attention and win or lose the favor of
men, and willingness to pay is meas
ured by these. Intrinsic worth is ov-
erlooked in this direction as in every
other. Some ministers are popular for
few years and during that period they
command good salary. People pay
for what pleases them and in about the
proportion they are pleased. Are min
listers paid enough? Some are and some
are not. What wouldbe good salary
for one man would be poor salary for
another. Some ministers will live well
upon what would starve others. Some
regulate the size of their families
according to anticipated facilities for
bringing it into a wholesome condition
of being, and others recklessly obey the
injunction to increase and multiply
Ministers will live in some places upon
salaries that would starve them ia 9th
ers. In regard to living we believe
that ministers should rigidly practice
the virtues which they enjoin upon 9th
ers. When they do this there will be
less trouble about salaries. The sala-
ries of ministers ought to be regulated
somew hat by the incomes Of other pro-
fessional men in the community in which
they labor. Men win not willingly
assist in paying others much larger
sum than they receive themselves for
services rendered. So far as our OBJ
servation goes ministers are paid about
as well as other people and if they will
can provide as literally as other citi-
zens against a possible coming time of
need. So far as the regulation of sala-
ries is concerned some advantages are
to be found in state church such as
exists in England and some of the Eu-
ropean states, but there are evils to be
found in other directions that more than
balance all these. Better salaries could
be paid and better service secured if
the number of ministers could be reduc-
ed. This would necessitate a cores
ponding reduction in many places in the
number of churches, consummation
devoutly to be wished. When the re-
ligious affairs of a community are con-
Quoted on business principles and not
regulated by sentiment, there will be
a distribution of more even justice in
the matter of awards for labor render
ed. We are inclined to think that the
clergy would commend themselves more
favorably TO the laity if the question of
salary was made less prominent when
considering calls to the churches. 1t
should be with ministers as with gov
ernment officers. These are not hired
but are called TO fill certain positions
to which such and such salaries are at
tached.