Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-10
UNDERPAID CLERGY.
SOME OF THEM RECEIVE LESS THAN
 A DRAPER'S CLERK.

The Trials and Final Reward of an Eng
 fish Curate In the Eighteenth Century.
 Extracts From Diary Which Tell Dis
 nal Tale of Privation.
 A great deal is heard from time to time about the underpaid clergy. It has been recently said by an English writer that there are many clerks in holy orders who receive less than clerks in linen draper's shops." This is es- pecially true in Europe, where the cler- gy, or at least the curates, are paid such miserably poor stipends that but for the generosity of the parishioners they could not live.
 In the United States, too, the clergy man, usually a college bred man of tal- ents and refinement, receives a salary altogether out of proportion to his call ing and his ability. This remark does not apply to the clergy in the large cit ies, to many of whom are paid very large salaries. In New York city, for example, it is said that there are 100 ministers who receive salaries of $10, 900, and many of them have rectories or parish houses free in addition. But in tho country towns, east and west alike, the minister who gets $2, 900 is a rare exception. Many, perhaps the ma jority, do not receive as much as $1, 900. While the reflection may not prove of tangible benefit to these underpaid serv ants in the highest of callings, still it is interesting to know that in a social and in a financial way, and in the self respect consequent upon these condi- tions, the clergyman of today is vastly better off than the chaplain o1 curate of century ago. In point of abject poverty there are no vicars of Wake field today, nor any ehaplains who fig ure as testers or buffoons, as did many of the more favored ones of Goldsmith's $ day.
 The following extract from The Gen tleman's Magazine of 176G shows how poor was the lot of the curate of that time:
 "Monday-Received e1O from my rector, being one-half years salary; obliged to wait long time before my admittance to the doctor, and even when admitted was never once asked eo sit down or refresh myself, though l had walked II miles. Item-The doc tor hinted he could have the curacy fill ed for el5 q year.
 "Tuesday-Paid e9 to seven differ eot people, but could not buy tho sec 0ndhand pair of black brooches offered ne as a great bargain, my wifo want ing a petticoat above all things. and neither Betsy nor Polly having a shoe to go to church.
 Wednesday-My wife bought a pet ticoat for herself and shoes for her two daughters, but unluckily, in coming home, dropped half a guinea through a hole which sho had never before per ceived in her pocket and reduced all our cash in the world to half a crown. Item-Chid my poor woman for being afflicted at the misfortune and tenderly advised her to depend upon the good ness of God.
 Thursday-Received a note from the alehouse at the top of the hill, in forming mo that a gentleman begged to speak to me on pressing business. Went and found it was an unfortunate member of a strolling company of play CTS, who was pledged for sevcnpence half penny. In struggle what to do. The baker, though we had paid him but on Tuesday, quarrelcd with us, to avoid giving any credit in future, and the butcher sent us word that he heard 1t whispered how the rector intended to take curatc who would do the parish duty at an inferior price, and therefore, though he would do anything to serve me, advised me to deal at the upper end of the town. MOrtifying reflections these, but a want of humility is, in my opinion, a want of justice. The Father of the universe lends his blessings to us, with a view that we should relieve one another, and we consequently do no more than pay debt when we per form an act of benevolence. Paid the stranger's reckoning out of the shilling in my pocket and gave him the re- mainder of the money to prosecute his journey.
 "Friday-A very scant dinner, and pretended therefore to be ill, that, by avoiding to eat, l might leave some thing like enough for my poor wife and children. 1 told my wife what 1 had done with the shilling; the excellent creature, instead of blaming me for the action, blessed the goodness of my heart and burst into tears. Mem.- Never to contradict her as long as l live, for the mind that can argue like hers, though it may deviate from the more rigid sentiments of prudence, is even amiable for its indiscretion, and in every lapse from the severity of economy performs an act of virtue, su- perior to the value of kingdom.
 'Saturday-Wrote a sermon, which on Sunday preached at four different parish churches, and came homo eHces sively wearied and excessively hungry; no moro money than twopence half penny in the house, but you seo the goodness of God! The strolling player whom had relieved was a man of for tune, who accidently heard that l was as humane as 1 was indigent, and from 8 generous eccentricity of temper want ed to do me an essential piece of serv- ice. 1 had not been an hour at home when he came in, and declaring him. self my friend put a $50 note in my hand, and the next day presented me with q living of e300 a year"
 ELECTRIC SPARKS.