Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-08-06

IA! 20 eat today b<cznse | could
not ret il. There h not eYen 4 crust
in the cupboard Fof wsek 1 and my
family have lived entirely upon black
berries and bru.d- he rcssoa my fam-
iiy hs DOT here this nofnins y because
they have no hoes y wear. ! do not
ask shsrity. bat only that soo pay me
the salary that you ssrssd to. that may
not starse."
This startling announcement OK
course. created = sensation IN the little
congregation al once. DeAeon William
Lane. the oniy male membcr present a.
once arose aud took the minister 90 task
for bringing scandal upou the church
by thus publicly annonncing his private
affairs from the pulpit when be ought
10 have come 20 him privately ~ the
trustee. and ne would have helped him.
Mrs. Robert Click. who u ono Of the
stewards Of the church. sprang 10 her
fcet also and said she did not Sc how q
man could rude around all the time with
a fine horse Of his Own and % In q stars-
Ing condition.
The parson replied that not one penny
Of his salary went toward the keep OF
his horse. as that was self supporting.
but he failed to tell in what way.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith has wife and
daughter 10 support upon = 500 salary,
and declares he cannot set even with
this small suu-
Deacon Lane, whcu called upon by
q repo ter, said: I'VE have hard
work 10 support preacher here,
but Mr.. smith said he could
stay here another year for 500
and house rent don't see bow he can
be in a starving condition when he has
over 100 chickens which he has 10 feed
and care for besides HE horse. At q
special meeting the other night we Of
fered 10 pay his salary and give him q
vacation until next October. when his
year runs out. and he sgfeed to take IL.
and We collected the money, but the
next night he refused &C. take his salary
ia advance or take vacation, but said
he should stay here until October"
From the secretary Of the church.
Mrs. Joseph Guthrie. IL was learned that
up to August l the church owed the
minister lust S244, after deducting
s2325 for a grocery bill and SD for re-
pairs 10 the parsons carriage. which
the church became responsible for. The
secretary handed the S244 10 the
preacher on Wednesday. and Nc ac-
cepted II.
Il have been here two years next Oc-
tober,r said the Rev. Mr.. Smith. land
have Iabored hard to build up the
church and instruct the people in the
WAYS Of righteousness. What said in
the pulpit was only the bare truth. and
il it hurts anyone can't help it. Had
| accepted their invitation to take a
vacation and leave the church
would make myself liable. to church
discipline. which says no preacher shall
drop his church without permission OF
the president. have preached herefor
five months and only received sl5 in
cash. and for two long months without
receiving a penny. 80. Of course. lad 10
get into debt. won't say that they are
trying to stsrve me out. bnt It looks that
way
There are persobs In the church who
do not want Parson Smith to preach to
them, and are not slow about stating
their opinion Of him. and who say that
IL he insists upon feeding them with the
bread Of life, be will himsslf have to live
upon bread and blackberrias 90 Tar Al
they are concerned.