National Baptist world., 1894-09-28
MERCENARY APOSTLES.
CHEAP JOHNS IN THE PULPIT
WISE OFFICIALS.
PASTORS SALAY-NAMBY PAMBY
BUSHWHACKERS-H TO BUILD
UP A STRONG CHURCH.
THE NEW DISPENSATION.
Special Contribution i.

THE NEW DISPENSATION.
Special Contribution.
All Christians believe laborer is
worthy his hire. Some people are
foolish enough to think to pay min
lister good salary implies that he is
an insincere shepard, and that he is
incapable Of being an ideal expound-
er Of the gospel This is an errone-
Gus idea. 1t is true that there are
many, no doubt, who preach for any
kind of salary-for the mOney-and
to exc out living in this world
many who shear the sheep for the
fleece alone. And yet it is unfortu-
nate that this class Of mercenary a
postles get more actual money, wear
better clothes, eat the most luciciOus
fruit, sleep in better beds, receive
more invitations to "dine," are the
recipients of more favors than the
more sedate and more honorable
truth lighters ih this ''sin-cussed"
world. But let us look the subject
square in the face. 1t is said that the
minister should be the best informed
prison in the community because in
his congregation are men and women
from all ranks in life-the farmer the
fiddler, the merchant, the lawyer, the
physician, the newspaper man, the
common laborer, yea, all men. Well,
that is good logic, He must be intel
ligent, and appear neat and hand
some, Then what must be his salary?
Let us proximate the cost eT9.4y yracti
cal living. Let the salar, re reckon
ed on basis Of ses'9n hundred
dollars per year, and, ny the way,
there are only two Ba- DIST ministers
in Kansas, Revs. Go, htee, Lawrence,
and DR.. Olden, Tcyeka, who receive
that much. A''low 800 for newspa-
! naagazil es and books; 800 for
special lectures, and entire cost of
attending scientific gatherings away
from home; 800 for clothing, $50 to
assist in the education Of the poorer
boys and girls and for other benevo-
lent purporses; $3.50 for house rent,
for there are only few parsonages
among Baptists; 5000 for table pur-
poses if the family is very large then
it is more; family clothing 500. We
have already used up $50 more than
his salary without taking into ac-
count household furniture, pledges
for home and foreign missions, med
icines for the sick and other condit-
ions so common to an ordinary
family. A church Of 800 or 400 mem
bers, not during a crisis, can pay $500
or 5000 per year without the least
strain; one Of 200 members, 5000;
from 20 to 125 members $3.50 to $500;
The Independent church, Leaven-
worth, Shiloh church, Ft. Scott,
ought each pay 5000 or 500 per year.
Both are strong in membership and
virtually out Of debt. The cry of
hard times should not be made a
ghost on calling pastor. This is
too often the case in many Of our
leading churches. Good but not
wise officers too often declare that
preachers are after finance rather
than the feeding Of the souls Of men.
The Metropolitan church Of Kansas
City, Kansas, is an example Of what |
a we'll trained church can do finan-
cially. 1t secures the ablest pastors,
pays them $50 per month with par
sonage and coal furnished. This is
not done sporadically, but systemat-
ically. What do you think Of the
efforts of this four-year-old church?
There are several smaller churches
that pay fair salaries. The church |
at Strong City, only p members,
pays $40 per month for half time;
Abilene did pay DR.. Beasly $500 for
two Sabbaths in month. Brethren. !
we must pay good pastors living sal
aries. Our Methodist brethren aft
ord US not few illustrations in
finance. Three hundred members in
the A. M E., or @. M. E. churches
means 1000 per year for their pas
tor with parsonage, clothes and fuel
free. This same church will send
up about $4O0 to the annual confer
ence. Examine the reports Of Sage,
Lawrence; Seymour, Ft. Scott; ALI
en-, Leavenworth, and ]. w. Wilson,
Kansas City, Kansas.
CHEAP JOHNS.
Some Of our Baptist pulpits are oc-
cupied by cheap Johns. They are
men that undermine good ones, who
make bids and contract with certain
officers for the pastorship Of church.
All they want is to get in and it will
take all Israel to put them out. Al