St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-09-27
A QUESTION OF INCOME.
Oonducting Church Affairs on Busi-
ness PrincipleeL

It was . time Of trouble with the
Presbyterian Church and society OF
Blauksville. They had come to their
annual meeting and found, just - they
expected, that their assets were not
equal to their liabilities BY several
hundred dollars This Was no new
experience but rather an old. chronic
ailment, that had afflicted them for
years. Heretofore they had managed
to tide Stoe th1 trouble somehow. but
this year tho deficit was larger than
usual-it had becn growing larger every
year. in fact-and 1t 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 mcthodical manner:
''l've made up my mind that It costs
great deal to run church What with
the ministers salary. which Is the larg-
est item. and the janitor's and the
organist's. and the insurance and re.
pairs. and tho fuel and lights. and our
Sunday-school expenses. to say nothing
Of our benevolent contributions. which
to be sure are not what they should b.
1t costs . great deal OF money to run
church; moro It seems TO me than It
ought to cost-m0re than We can afford
to pay. And think We must contrive
some way to diminish our church OK.
penses. % - 70 make the two ends Of
the year meet II any gentleman can
think Of better plan let him speak out;
but Tor my part say We must reduce
our expenses. 20 - to mako our income
cover our outgoca We must manage
our church finances on business princi-
pies. IL 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 20.
cording to our cloth. We know iuss
about how much we can raise each year
by slip rents; and what's tho use OF try.
ing to stretch tho sum two or three
hundred dollarA when We know 1t can't
be done? lrepcat We must cut our
garment according 70 our cloth"
Mr.. Mullins endorsed all that had
been said. and addod somewhat pomp-
ously. as his manner was: 81 am op-
posed to all prctense Of appearing to b.
. richer and more prosperous church
than ne really are:" and, as II In imita-
tion OF Patrick Henry. he exclaimed:
we must retrenchL repeat It sir.
we must retrenchr"
Others followed In much the same
strain. Indeed. there appeared to be
but ono opinion upon the subject The
chairman said: n am glad 70 Observe
% much freedom In this discussion.
Nearly all present seem 70 be aerecd
upon retrenchmeat Nov, will somo
ons suggest how and where 10 shall
bcsinf Win some one make . mo,
tior?"
There Was silence In that room for the
sraco OF ono minuses then SQUIRE
Boomer arose slowly. and said. With
somo hesitancy. ~ II The eubiecs matter |
vas . painful one: In order to brine |
tie matter properly before the house. I
w'ii mevc that committee OF three b |!
appointed to Walt upon our pastor and
tasorm him Of our financial embarrass-
mcnt and ask him kindly to consent % |
. reduction Of his salary It least esoo .
mo mosioa rs supported BY halt -
dcsen so'ceA and afterward discussed 4
vigorously pro and con (mostly pro) Tor 1
sa hour. The sentiment was evidently !
Domething like this: that their paatoe |,
ws: roliing In wealth on q. 200 per yeae.
wniie sncy. the peoplA wore put . eli
.osss o. straits = saise tAe money. Tho |!
tincs were hard; several Who once
rented pews I'D moved away. ana two
. snree rich men AaA died. It ~ an.
seesonao'e p expees them b pay 40
'afse 'a'asy = taey dn ~sse .hess !,