The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-01-18
UNI) % AIIl G CLERGY
.scaasa oF THEM RECEIVE LESS THAN
4 sa DfsAPER's CLERK.

SNfAHS NE fSetsl RECEIVE LESS THAN
a pHAPER's CLERK.
sCAe xsiAis and Rinal Reward OF AN Eng
y sash Guraso I'm tho Eighteen.h Century.
4 ssxssaots From q Oiary Whioh Tell q Dis
snat Tsie OF Prsvation.
IA great deal 10 heard from time to
ssIaS abUasS tina underpaid clergy. It
mas been recently said by an English
WRITER that there are many clerks in
holy orders who receive less than clerks
IN atnen draper's shops" This is es-
pacially true in Europe, whore the oler-
gy, or at least tho ourates. are paid
such miaerably poor stipends that but
foz tho generosity Of the parishioners
they could not live.
In tho United States, too, the clergy
man. usually q college bred man Of tai
ents and refinement, receives salary
altogether out Of proportion to his call
ing and his ability. This remark doea
not apply to tho clergy in the large cit-
les. 20 many Of whom are paid very
large salaries. In New York city, for
example. IL is said that there are 100
ministers who receive salaries Of $1O,-
goo. and many OF them have rectories or
parish houses free in addition. But
In she country towns, east and west
alike, the minister who gets %, 900 is a
rare exception. Many, perhaps the ma
3ortty, do not receive as much as 81, 900.
Whtle tho reflection may not prove OF
tangible benoft to these underpaid serv-
ants In the highest of callings, still it
as interesting to know that in social
and In a financial way, and in tho self
respect consequent upon these condi-
tons. the Clergyman Of today is. yastlX-
ee.seSi sss. 2qG tban tho chaplain 'ef curate
OF century ago. All point Of abject
poverty there are no Wears Of Wake
field today, nor any chaplains who fig
ure as testers or buffoons, as did many
OF the more favored ones Of Goldsmith's
day.
The following extract from Tho Cen
tleman's Magazine Of 1788 shows how
poor was tho lot OF tho curate of that
time:
"Monday-Received &1O from my
rector, being one-half years. salary;
obliged to wait a long time before my
admittance to tho doctor, and even
when admitted was never onco asked
to sit down OF refresh myself, though l
had walled i miles. Item-The doc
tor limited he could have tho curacy fill
cd for SIG n year.
"Tueaday--Paid so to seven differ
ent people. but could not buy tho Sec
ondhand pair OF black breeches offered
mo ns great bargain, my wife want
Ing petttcoat above all things, and
neither Betsy nor Polly having q shoe
to go to church.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY wife bought pct
Gcoat for herself and shoes for her two
daughters, but unluckily, In coming
home, dropped half a guinea through
hole which she had never before per-
cetved In her pocket and reduced all
our cash in the world to half n crown.
Item-Chid my poor woman for being
afflicted at the misfortune and tenderly
advised her to dopond upon the good
ness Of God.
"Thursday--Reoeived note from
the alehouse at the top Of tho hill, in
forming mo that n gentleman begged
to speak to me on pressing business.
Went and found it was an unfortunate
member OF a strolling company Of play
ers, who wEs pledged for sevenpence
half penny. In a strugglo what to do.
Tho baker, though we had paid him but
on Tuesday, quarreled with us, to avoid
giving any credit in future, and tho
butcher sent us word that he heard it
whispered how the rector intended to
take q curate who would do the parish
dutyas an inferior price, and therefore,
though he would do anything to servo
me, advised inc to deal at tho upper end
Of the town. Mortifying reflections
these, but n want of humility is, in my
opinion, a want Of justice. Tho Father
OF the universe lends his, blessings to
us, with a view thnt. we should relieve
,ana, zHndtneF, and we consequently do
no moro than pay debt when we per-
form an act Of beneyolence. Paid the
strangers reckoning ont Of the shilling
IN my pocket and gave him the re-
maindee Of the money to prosecute his
journey.
"Friday-A very scant dinner, and
pretended therefore to be Ill, that, by
avoiding to eat, might leave some-
ching like enough for my poor wifo and
children. told my wife what had
done with the chilling; the excellent
creature, instead Of blaming mo for tho
action, blessed tho goodness Of my
heart and burst into tears. Men,
Never to contradict her as long as
live. FOR tho mind that can argue like
here. though II may deviate from tho
moro rigid sentiments of prudence, is
even aniable FOR its indiscretion, and
In every lapse from the severity Of
economy performs an act Of virtue, su-
perior to the value Of q kingdom.
"Saturday--Wrote a sermon, which
on Sunday preached at four different
parish churches, and came homo exces-
sively wearied and excessively hungry;
nc moro money than twopence half
penny in the house. but you SEQ the
goodness OF Godl The strolling player
whom had relieved was man of for
tune. who accidently heard that was
"a humane as was indigont, and from
generous eccentricity Of temper want
Cd to DO me an essential piece OF serv.
II u