The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-02-04
Ministerial Wages, not a Salary, but a
Support.
RY REV JAY BENSON HAMILTON,

Written for the Republican Journal.
The Methodist minister is the only Ia
borer not a slave who works without
wages. He is the only laborer for whose
services no attempt is made to pay the
full value received The compensation
estimated for him is called support He
has no voice in fixing it. He cannot col
lect it by law. He has no power to choose
his field of labor. He may be sent to a
church which does not desire him and
have the salary of a former year reduced
one half He may be returned to church
which desired to get rid of him and have
be removed from a church paying So, DOC
salary and sent to one paying but 81, 800.
He may serve churches for years for 81.
600 OF 81 800 and by a lucky accident be-
come the pastor of church paying 50, SOC
and lind himself appreciated by his peo-
pie as worth all they pay him. He may
give up business of 50. 800 year to en-
ter the ministry and never receive above
$500 a year. After giving his life to the
ministry he may find himself at fifty years
OF ace compelled to drop from a -. 00C
salary to one of 81 300. and at the same
time have Il great business house ottcl
him $50 week to till one of its most rc-
sponsible positions. He may find him
self after more than twenty years OF faith
full service no longer considered for the
best places. although he has lifted from
the second or third rank several churches
TO the first rank. And he may be thus
| ignored when he is so effective that one of
his official members may say to him II
will take him into my employ to-day and
teach him my business, and pay him from
the start twice the salary he ever received
from any church. | can name the emf
nent and distinguished ministers whose
experience | have limited at.
When the minister gets old he is not de-
sired for pastor. He is unable to 90
unable to take up another profession: he
is unable to learn another trade, OF work
at one if he had it; he is turned adrift to
support himself with the aid of beggar-
ly pittance doled out to him as a charity
by the church he has made rich. The
Gift is bestowed with such offensive
parade that nothing but absolute need
will drive him to accept it. Methodism
does better by her veteran ministers than
any Protestant Church in this country,
but she falls far short of her duty and
ability. She contributed Just dime from
each member and probationer i'll 1890.
Three annual conferences contributed %
cents OF over per capita; four, from 20 to
- cents: twenty three, over 10 and under
20 cents: twenty-four, over ) and under lC
less than l cent.
Eight hundred and six churches con-
tributed to veteran ministers. - each
40l churches 81: Ill churches, s:}
49, churches 50: S73 churches 81
| 1919 churches. 50. As the churches
that gave 81 of a certainty took no
cause so far as public presentation goes.
5.277 churches contributed S9514. OF less
| than - each,
There are two Methodist Annual Con-
ferences in Maine. In these conferences,
- churches with 622 members and proba-
TONERS. S55 300 worth of property, pay
in. II. 065 salary. contributing >l47 tt
church benevolences. gave so to veteran
ministers: 81 churches with 4.}6S mem
bers and practitioners, S2l6.530 worth OF
property. paying s26, 715 salary, contrib
uting 81. 35S to church benevolences. gave
S195 to the veterans: - churches with
4, 900 members and probationers. S21l.
$50 worth of property, paying $50, $50 sal
arv. contributing 81. sos to church benev-
OlenceS, gave $50 to the veterans, or less
than So from each church.
In the whole State, %, 544 MethodistS
contributed for the veterans 81, 7O4 or less
than II cts EACH Thirty-six veteran min
nisters received 50. 270 or sol each; 81 wild
ows received So, 22O or SOL each. HaC
these IS claimants been dependent upon the
contributions of the people, they woulC
have received less than $40 each; the res
was provided by the dividends of the
book concern, 81 .629 the Wesleyan Asso
CATION 1924 and invested funds.
Three hundred and tifty-four churche.
in New England with %, 902 members
and practitioners. 81, 349, 600 worth o.
property. paying S165. salary, con
tributing >1O,214 to church benevo
lences, gave for the veterans $50, or a lit
tie over 81 from each church. Had eacl
pastor secured for the veterans one pei
cent Of his own salary, the amount rails
ed would have been more than doubled
This terrible exhibit reveals the creates
weakness in the policy of Methodism
There can be but one remedy for this evil
Let each pastor do as he will wish to he
done by when he is Il veteran.
Hackettstown. \. j.
Comments of Contemporaries.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM VERMONT.
The Republican Journal of Belfast. Me.