Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-18
HE PAY OF CLERGYMEN.
A CLAIM THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE
COMPARATIVELY SMALL.

No man who adopts a ministerial ca
reer can be justly charged with merce-
nary motives, for in no other profession
is the monetary reward so small. There
are, to be sure, n few instances of preach
ers who are paid large salaries for their
services, but the rank and file of the
clergy receive hardly enough to main
tain themselves respectfully. The aver
z salary paid to ministers in Protestant
churches is less than 81, 900 per annum.
Even in the large metropolitan parishes,
where men Of marked ability ofiiciate,
the income awarded them is altogether
incommensurate with their talents.
Prominent lawyers like Joseph II.
Choate, Robert G.. Ingersoll and Benja
min +. Butler make all the way from
SIS, 900 to 1926, 900 each year. Among
physicians, DIR. Loomis earns from $780,
600 to 500, 900, DIR. Polk from $40, 900 TO
$50, 900, DIR. Sayre about $4,000, and a
dozen more might be named who earn
over $25, 900 annually. Compared to the
salaries paid the managers of large finan-
cial institutions, the reward Of the great.
est preachers in the land seems paltry.
The president Of the Mutual Life lnsur.
ance company receives $4,000; Mr.. De-
pew, ms president Of tho New York Cen
tral railroad, gets SIS $1,000, and there are
a considerable number of wealthy corpo-
rations that pay their chief officials
from $4,000 to $4,000 for a years
services. The highest salary paid a cler-
gyman in New York is SEQ, 600, and DR..
John Hall is the fortunate Individual.
soaE WEALTHY PLANTS"
There are perhaps n half dozen other
preachers who get from $40, 900 to $751;
900. but it should be remembered that
they represent the wealthiest parishes in
the city, and that they assume as much
responsibility as that devolving upon the
heads of great moneyed institutions.
This will be apparent when we regard
the churches under their direction from
n purely financial standpoint. Trinity
Church corporation owns millions upon
millions in real estate. It's annual in
come is nearly $500, 600. The bulk Of
this vast sum is paid out in church work
each year, and DR.. Morgan Dix, the
rector, presides over its distribution.
DIR. Halls church has a plaintiff this
term may he allowed-valued at S2.000,-
600. The income from pew rents and
contributions amounts TO nearly $3.50, 000
per annum. Most Of this is spent in
missionary work. In 1889 the congrega-
tional expenses, including the pastors
salary, the music, and all incidental
items, footed up $50 1851. The balance
of over $500, 600 was applied to domestic
and foreign missions, the relief fund Of
the Presbyterian church, and to miscel.
laneous charities. In view Of this re-
markable showing it cannot be doubted
that DIR. Hall earns his salary.
Grace church has an endowment Of
$250,000. Its property is worth close to
$1,000, 600, and its annual income from
pew rents and contributions averages
100000. The property Of Ascension
church, Fifth venue and Tenth street,
represents an investment of S350,000.
Its revenue is about $50, 900 each year.
st. Thomas church and property is val.
ued at $3.50, 900. Its pews alone rent for
$4,000 each year, and the contributions
amount to from $4,000 70 $4,000 more.
st. Georges church is supported entirely
by voluntary contributions. All the
pews are free. DIR. Rainsford, tho rec
tor, gets a nominal salary of $4,000 per
annum. He is possessed Of private
means, however, and returns his salary
10 the treasury of his church. The prop
erty is valued at over $500, 900 and the
yearly revenue is between $40, 600 and
$4,000. A large proportion Of this sum
is spent in parish charities. Calvary
church and property is worth at least
100000. Its contributions arc very
large, averaging from $4,000 to Ss0,0c0.
The total income of the parish is not far
short Of 100000 a year, and fully one
third Of it goes to general charities
NUS LIVE EXTENSIVELY.
The Madison Square Presbyterian
church, where DR.. Charles III. Parkhurst
presides, has en- income of between
$4,000 and 100000. Its plant is prob
ably worth $3.50. 00o.
DR.. Paxton's West Presbyterian church
has an incomeo of over $50, 900. The value
of its plant has not been estimated.
Ten large church organizations have
been instanced here, representing a com.
bined property worth millions upon mil
lions, from which a total yearly income
Is derived from pew rents and contribu
tons of about 81 GOO, 900. This vast sum
is, for the most part, left to be disposed
Of by ten men. At the least, their will is
a potent factor in its distribution. 1t is
essential, therefore, that they should
each combine first class business
qualifications with learning and elo-
quence; yet the average salary they
receive per annum is only a trife over
S11, 600. When it is considered that they
must keep up a style of living in accord
ance with the dignity of the pulpits they
occupy, besides answering substantially
innumerable private calls on their char
ity, it is not to be supposed that they can
lay by very much money against the
time when old age will deprive them of
their usefulness.
Nothing has been said so far as to the
personal value Of q clergyman to the
parish under his charge. Experience
has proved that the income of a pastor
ate depends mainly upon the qualities
displayed Ivy the pastor; SO that in near
ly every instance he may be said to earn