Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-05-24
UNDERPAID CLERGY
SOME OF THEM RECEIVE LESS 1u,g
A DRAPER'S CLERK.


lish Curate In the Eighteenth cept,,
Extracts From Diary Which Tell M
NAL Tale of Privation.
A great deal is heard from tina 4
time about the underpaid clergy.
has been recently said by an Enplis,
writer that There are many clerk, /,
holy orders who receive less than clerL
in linen draper's shops" This is q
pecially true in Europe, where the Gle,
gy, or at least the curates, are mai
such miserably poor stipends that br
for the generosity of the parishioner
they could not live.
In the United States, too, the clerp,
man, usually a college bred man of tai
ents and refinement, receives a salan
altogether out of proportion to his cali
ing and his ability. This remark dos
not apply to the clergy in the large cit
les, to many of whom are paid ver
large salaries. In New York city, f9
example, it is said that there are lOl
ministers who receive salaries of $40.
900, and many of them have rectorieso o.
parish houses free in addition. Bu
in the country towns, east and we
alike, the minister who gets So, 900 iss
rare exception. Many, perhaps the ma.
jority, do not receive as much as 81 ,OOO
While the reflection may not prove ot
tangible benefit to these underpaid ser.
ants in the highest of callings, stillh
is interesting to know that in socis
and in financial way, and in the sell
respect consequent upon these cond
tions. the clergyman of today is vastly
better off than the chaplain or curah
of century ago. In point Of abject
poverty there are no Wears of Wake.
field today, nor any chaplains who zig.
ure as testers or buffoons, as did many
of the more favored ones of Goldsmith's
dav.
The following extract from The Gen,
tleman's Magazine of 1865 shows how
poor was the lot of the curate of that
time:
"Monday-Received e10 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
to sit down or refresh myself, though
had walked II miles. Item-The doc.
tor hinted he could have the curacy fill.
ed for el5 year.
"Tuesday-Paid SO to seven differ.
ent people, but could not buy the sec.
ondhand pair of black breeches Offered
me as great bargain, my wife want.
ing a petticoat above all things, and
neither Betsy nor Polly having shoe
to go to church.
"Wednesday-My wife bought pet.
ticoat for herself and shoes for her two
daughters, but unluckily, in coming
home, dropped half guinea through a
hole which she had never before per.
ceived in her pocket and reduced all
our cash in the world to half crown.
ltem-Chid my psor 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 me that gentleman begged
to speak to me on pressing business.
Went and found it was an unfortunate
member of strolling company of play
ers, who was pledged for sevenpence
half penny. In struggle what to do.
The baker, though we had paid him but
on Tuesday, quarreled with us, to avoid
giving any credit in future, and the
butcher sent us word that he heard il
whispered how the rector intended to
take curate 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 enc
of the town. Notifying reflections
these, but want of humility is, in my
opinion, want of justice. The Father
OF the universe lends his blessings Il
us, with view that we should reliev,
one another, and we consequently d.
no more than pay debt when we per
form an act of benevolence. Paid tn,
strangers reckoning out of the shilling
in my pocket and gave him the re
mainder of the money to prosecute hi!
journey.
"Friday-A very scant dinner, ant
pretended therefore to be ill, that, by
avoiding to eat, might leave some
thing like enough for my poor wife ant
children. told my wife what hat
done with the shilling; the excellen
creature, instead of blaming me for the
action, blessed the goodness of my
heart and burst into tears. Men,
Never to contradict her as long as
live, for the mind that can argue Iik,
hers, though it may deviate from tn,
more rigid sentiments of prudence, Il
even amiable for its indiscretion, ant
In every lapse from the severity O.
economy performs an act of virtue, su
perlor to the value of kingdom.
"Saturday-Wrote sermon, whicl
on Sunday | preached at four differen
parish churches, and came home exces
siveiy wearied and excessively hungry
no more money than twopence hal
penny in the house, but you SEQ tn
goodness of God! The strolling playe
whom | had relieved was man of for
tune, who accidently heard that | wa
as humane as was INDECENT, and from
agenerous eccentricity Of temper want
ed to do me an essential piece of serv
ice. ! had not been an hour at hom
when he came in, and declaring him
self my friend put ESQ note in m,
hand, and the next day presented m
with living of $500 year."
She Acquired and Utilized the Manly Art
Il have friend who has a very nrett,
and exceedingly muscular wifen said
Ihomas A. Holt Like most handsome