The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-10-02
A QUESTION OF INCOME.
Conducting Church Affairs on Bust
ness Principles.

1t was a time of trouble with the
Presbyterian Church and society Of
Bfanksville. They had come to their
annual meeting and found, justas they
expected, that their assets were not
equal to their liabilities by several
hundred dollars. This was no now
experience but rather an old, chronic
ailment, that had afflicted them for
years. Heretofore they had managed
to tide over the troubfe somehow, but
this year the deficit was larger than
usual-it had been growing larger every
year, in fact-and it was agreed that
something must be done about it.
The chairman OF the meeting called
upon one after another to propose some
plan of relief or to express his views,
and several gentlemen were not slow to
do the latter, at least.
Squire Boomer took the floor and
said, in his usual methodical manner:
I've made up my mind that 1t costs
great deal to run church. What with
the minister's salary, which is the larg-
est item, and the janitor's, and the
organist's, and the insurance and re-
pairs and the fuel and lights, and our
Sunday-school expenses, to say nothing
of our benevolent contributions, which
to be sure are not what they should. be,
it costs great deal of money to run O
church; more it seems to me than 1T
ought to cost---more than we can afford
Ito pay. And l think we must contrive
some way to diminish our church ex-
penses, SO as to make the two ends OF
the year meet. If any gentleman can
think ola better plan let him speak out;
but for my part, ! say we must reduce
our expenses, so as to make our income
cover our outgoes. We must manage
our church finances on business princi-
pies, If we expect to prosper"
Mr.. <Snodgrass followed, saying
Squire Boomer has expressed my mind
exactly. We must lessen our church
expenses; we must cut>our garment ac-
cording to our cloth. We know just
about HoM much we can raise each year
by slip rents; and what's the use OF try
ing to stretch the sum two or three
hundred dollars, when we know it can't
be done? repeat, we must cut our
garment according to our CLOTH
Mr. Mullins endorsed all that had
been said, and added somewhat pomp-
ousry, as his manner was: II am OPP
posed to all pretense of appearing to be
"a richer and more prosperous church
than we really ares" and, as II in imita-
ton of Patrick Henry, he exclaimed:
1--WE must retrench. ! repeat it, sir,
we must retrench!"
Others followed in much the same
strain. Indeed, there appeared to be
but one opinion upon the subject The
chairman said: 81 am glad TO observe
so much freedom in this discussion.
Nearly all present seem to be agreed
upon retrenchment. Now, will some
one suggest how and where we shall
brgin?- Will some one make mo-
tfon?''
There was silence in that room for the
space of one minute; then Squire
Boomer arose slowly. and said, with
some,hesitancy, as if the subject matter
was painful one: '.In order to bring
the matter properly before the house,
will move that a committee OF three DC
appointed to wait upon our pastor and
him OF our financial embarrass-
ment, and ask him kindly to consent te
a reduction Of his salary at least $500.
Ehe=motion supported by hall
dozen voices, and afterward discussed
vigorously pro and con (mostly prol fol
] an hour. The sentiment was evidently
something like this; that their pastol
was rolling in wealth on 81, 200 per year
while they, the people, were put to al
sorts of straits to raise the money. The
times were hard; several who once
rented pews had moved away, and two
or three rich men had died. 1t was un
reasonable to expect them to pay al
large salary as they did when whea
sold for two dollars q bushel, and al
branches Of business wore lively ant
profitable; and il DR.. Slim was the con
siderate man they took him to be, n
would look upon the matter in the SAM
light. If not, then--but the alter
native was not discussed.
Are you ready for the question?
asked the chairman
mot quite" said voice from re
mote corner OF the room, and aplain
unlettered man, with a shrewd bu
kindly face, moved to the front, and !
was announced that Mr.. Ball had tn
floor.
Il don't often feel any call TO make
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