The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-05
UNDERPAID CLERGY.
some OF THEM RECEIVE LESS THAN
A DRAPER'S CLERK.

lish Citrate In the Eighteenth Century.
Extracts From a Diary Which Tell Dis
NAL Tale of Privation.
A great deal is heard from time to
hme 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 college bred man of tai
ents and refinement, receives salary
altogether out of proportion to his call
ing and his ability. This remark does
not apply to the clergy in the large cit
les, 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,-
600, and many of them have rectories or
parish houses free in addition. But
in the country towns, east and west
alike, the minister who gets So, 900 is
rare exception. Many, perhaps the ma
jority, do not receive as much as 81, 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 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 or curate
of century ago. In point of abject
poverty there are no Wears of Wake
field today, nor any chaplains who fig
gre 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 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 l
had walked II miles. Item-The doc
tor limited he could have the curacy fill
ed for e15 year.
'Tuesday-Paid go to seven differ
emit people, but could not buy the Sec
, ondhand pair of black breeches offered
me as great bargain, my wife want
ing 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 a guinea through
hole which she had never before per-
ceived in her pocket and reduced all
our cash in the world to half 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 me 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
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 it
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 end
of the town. Notifying reflections
these, but a want of humility is, in my
opinion, want of justice. The Father
of the universe lends his blessings to
us, with 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
strangers 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, might leave some
thing like enough for my poor wife and
children. l told my wife what 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. Men,
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 indiscretlon, and
!. in every lapse from the severity of
economy performs an act of virtue, SUI
perior to the value of kingdom.
Saturday-Wrote a sermon, which
on Sunday preached at four different
parish churches, and came home exces-
sively wearied and excessively hungry;
no more money than twopence half
penny in the house, but you SEQ the
goodness of Godl The strolling player
whom l had relieved was man of for
tune, who accidently heard that l was
as humane as l was INDECENT, and from
generous eccentricity Of temper want
ed to do me an essential piece of serv-
ice. l 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 a living Of $500 a year."