Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-06-16
UNDERPAID CLERGY.
SOME or THEM RECEIVE LESS THAN
a oRApER's CLERK.

Tn. TriAis and Final Reward Of an Kng-
ilsh curate Ia the Eighteenth Century.
Extracts From Diary whish Tell . Dis-
mai Tale Of Privation.
A great deal IL heard from time to
time about. the upderpaid clergy. IL
has been recently said by an English
writer that there are many clerks IN
holy orders who receive less than clerks
in linen Diapers shops" This IL es-
pecialIy true In Europe, where the eier-
Nv, or nj 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
euts and refinement, receives salary
altogether out Of proportion TO his cali
| inq and his ability. This remark does
not apply to the clergy i'm the large cit
les. to 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 t1o,-
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 ~. 900 Is q
rare exception. Many, perhaps the ma
iority, do not receive as much as III 600.
While the reflection may not prove Of
tangible benefit to these underpaid serv-
ants in the highest of callings, still IL
is interesting to know that In a social
and In financial way. and in the self
respect consequent upon these condi-
tions. the clergyman of today 10 vastly
better of than the chaplain or curate
Of a century ago. In 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 The Gen.
tleman's Magazine of 1866 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
to sit down or refresh myself, though
had walked II miles. Item-The doc
tor limited he could have the curacy ell.
ed for 4ia a year.
.Tuesday-Paid 60 to seven differ
ent people, but could not buy the sec
ondhand pair of black breeches offered
me rs o great bargain. my wife want
ing O petticoat above all things. and
neither Betsy nor Polly having n sho'
10 go TO church.
"wednesday-My wife bought a pet
ticoat for herself and shoes for her tw.
daughters. but unluckily, in coming
home. dropped half guinea through I
hole which she had never before per
ceived in her pocket and reduced al
our cash i'm the world to half crown
Item-Chid my psor woman for beinl
afflicted at the misfortune and tenderl
advised her to depend upon the good
ness of God.
.Thursday-Received a note fror
the alehouse at the top of the hill. in
forming me that gentleman begge
to speak to me on pressing business
Went and found 1t was an nnfortunat
member of a strolling company Of play
ers. who was pledged for seyenpenc
half penny. In struggle what to dc
The baker. though we had paid him br
ON Tuesday. quarreled with ms. to avoi
giving any credit in future. and tn
butcher sent us word that he heard
whispered how the rector intended
take a curate who would do the paris
! duty nj an inferior price, and therefore
though he would do anything to sery
me, advised me to deal at the upper Ell
|. Of the town. Notifying reflection
.. these. but want of humility is, In m
opinion. q want of justice. The Fath'
of the universe lends his blessings
us, with view that we should relic,
one another, and we consequently 3
!. no more than pay debt when We pc
! form an act Of benevolence. Paid Il
strangers reckoning out Of the shillir
: In my pocket and gave him the r
mainder of the money to prosecute b
4 journey.
) "Friday-A very scant dinner. ar
pretended therefore to be Ill. that,
avoiding TO eat, | might leave som
: thing like enough for my poor wife M
children. | told my wife what hs
n done with the shilling; the excellel
l creature. instead Of blaming me for Il
!. action. blessed the goodness OF n
; heart and burst into tears. Men,
!, Never TO contradict her as long AZ
, live. for the mind that can argue III
! hers. though II may deviate from q
more rigid sentiments Of prudence,
even amiable for its indiscretion, or
= In every lapse from the severity
. economy performs an act of virtue, Q
4 perior TO the value of . kingdom.
: ..Safnrday-Wrote a sermon, whi'
!, ON Sunday preached ut four differe
parish churches, aud came home exec
siyely wearied and excessively hungr
no more money than twopence hs
% penny in the house. but you SEQ q
n goodness Of Godi The strolling play
1t whom had relieved was q man of Il
q tune. who aecidently heard that | W
q as humane rs was INDECENT. and fro
J. q generous eccentricity Of temper wal
y ed to do me an essential piece OF ser
! lee. had not been an hour at hor
i. when he came In, and declaring hi
II self my friend put $50 note In .
" hand. and the next day presented I
ar with living OF fs00 year"
she Acquired and Utilised the Manly Al
II have a friend who has a very pref
IN and exceedingly muscular wife" "a
Thomas A. Holt Like most handsos
n women. especially those who live In /