Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-13

MONEY IN THE CHURCH.
'The material growth of all American
denominations has for the last 25 years been
remarkably great But that very fact
has blinded the eyes of Christians
to:the fact that their spiritual growth
has not been correspondingly great.
The church in growing rich and prosperous
mas rapidly degenerated. American
Christianity to-day is confronted by
problem that involves not merely its WELL
oeing but its every existence, and this
serious state of affairs is caused by the root
OF all eVil-money."
He moreover saws that while the Amer
| lean churches do not perhaps worship
wealth, they conciliate it and toady to it
to such an extent that their message of uni
Versal brotherhood becomes a farce. The
power OF money not only shapes the policy
of the church, but it compels Christianity
as whole to take the rich mans view OF
every moral and social question
that comes before it. The enor-
nous wealth OF many men may
be known to have been acquired dishon-
j estly, but neither the churches in their cor
porate capacity, or the clergy in their indi-
vldual C pacity ever think of denouucing a
| social system which allows this state of
affairs to exist, and even throws over II the
sacred sanction of law.
This being admitted, it is hardly TO be
wondered at that Rev. Mr.. Hamilton COM
plains so bitterly of the ingratitude and sell
fshness OF the churches to its ministers.
and that he denounces it as sting
ing shame" and "burning disprace''
when the committees have no scruples
about turning out "a ripe cultured saint
vino has expounded the gospel for so years
for callow STRIPPING just out OF school with
glib tongue and pleasing presence.
Then in his disgust, the good doctor asks
what would be thought of England reject
| ing Gladstone because he was old, and fill
ing his place with Bradlaugh-what would
be thought of the New York Central firing
out Chauncey Depew, and putting into his
place a raw young brakeman?
WORK OF THE CLERGY DIFFERENT.
The trouble seems to be that the people
where their heavenly possessions are con-
cerned are not so deeply interested as they
| are in their worldly joys and earthly toys.
Corporations know the affairs Of
a great railroad can not be
run so as to secure tat dividends without
| superintendents of competence and capacity,
hence to such they pay large salaries and
hold on to them as long as possible. Banks,
business associations and enterprises where
money is concerned pay for character, ca
pacity and honesty, because they know that
safety demands them, and keep them for the
reason that such qualities are rare and valu-
able. But the work of the clergy is looked
upon differently. Its material effects, bene-
fcially considered, are matters more Of emo
tion, sentiment and personal pleasure than
! of tangible material worldly benefit. A
clergyman's value to the congregation
who paws for him is founded a good
deal upon whim, personal caprice,
personal liking of the magnates, and upon
the possession of such manners and fine
tact as will please the multitude. He must
cater to the prejud1ces of the elders, and
toady to the good ladies. He must not
closely scan the shortcomings of the wealthy
| pillars, nor strongly denounce the sins OF
those who have the high seats. With every
body to please, with the Scriptures to e1-
pound so as not to tramp on anybody's toes
| particularly, it is not surprising that even
the most gifted of men in the theological
| line run amuck in a few years, and are
compelled to resign or to accept their walk
| ing papers.
The recent affair in Trinity is a case in
| point The rector preached solid sermons,
good, orthodox, all according to the rubrio
and the canon laws, yet some called them
dull, but his worst fault, it would appear,
was that he went counter to the wishes of a
parishioner Of great wealth. His wisdom,
culture, experience, stood for nothing as
against the error of judgment; so to get rid
Of him he is given rich gift of So 900 to go
away.
TEACHERS SUFFER, TOO.
But this disgrace extends as well toEthe
educational matters. A teacher, endowed
with all the learning, culture and wisdom
that should be held essential to
the dignity and importance of the
occupation of training the young, is alike
cr1hi 70 tho NH inns roreonal
petty spites and boorish ignorance OF direc-
tors and school committees. The salaries OF
the majority OF teachers, like those of most
of the preachers. are less than the wages Of
unskilled laborers, and teachers receive no
pensions, or provision for the future. So if
it is any comfort for the preachers to have
company in their miseries, they will find
plenty among the teachers.
The estimation in which these important
professions are held, and the prices they
command, show that the parties
responsible consider that teach
ing the young and expounding
the Scriptures are not very highly valued.
A gliD-tongued, callow STRIPPING, just out Of
school, is supposed to be as well able to take
charge of the spiritual interests of church
as "a ripe and cultured saint, and the same
is true in education, where green and giddy
girls are mare preferred to train the young
than wise and cultured women.
But talking or preaching will avail
little to the pulpit in the way of help
for the "old horses turned out" or for those
who toll in direst straits of poverty. The
world is hard hearted and selfish even
in the church. But preachers are
no more compelled to make martyrs Of
themselves than others, unless they choose.
a Methodist preacher not ], 900 miles away
who had a beggarly salary was compelled
to 60 West for his health. While there, in
order to pay expenses, he worked for friend
in the real estate line. With his natural
sagacity and aptitude he soon mastered the
business, and, finding in it great possibili-
ties, he engaged in it for himself on a small
scale.
HE ANTICIPATED CALAMITY.
To-day be is the possessor OF great wealth.
his family lives in luxury, and he will not
return to the pulpit to struggle along on
meager salary, with the prospects OF the
poor house at the end, when the elders would
tell him, as they told Samuel, "Behold
thou art DID," His wife who had worked
so long, so patiently, so hopelessly to make
both ends meet, now has these ends
lavishly Tapped over with plenty to spare
OF course he catches it from the pious
brethren and sisters for deserting his high
calling for mere money getting, but as he
would likely have been forced out to engage
in struggle with want, as DIR. Hamilton
SAYS most of them are, he only anticipated
the calamity with advantage to himself and
family.
The terrible struggles of ministers with
poverty when superannated or deposed for
the more brilliant young men, as depicted
by Rev. Hamilton. are most pathetic. But
since they must preach and the salaries ara
so small IL is very evident that thav sborI5