New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE CLERGY AND THEIR PRIVILEGES

THE CLERGY AND THEIR PRIVILEGES.
a CORRESPONDENTS REASONS WHY MINISTER'S
SHOULD NOT BE FAVORED ABOVE OTHERS
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The recent complaint on the part OF certain
OF the clergy against the directors Of the New
York Central Railroad because passes here
after to be withheld brings up a subject which per-
haps IL might be we'll to consider We have high
regard for ministers Of the Gospel. They are the
defenders of the faith. They essential to the
welfare of the Church. and recent events go to
prove of the State also. BY the community at
large they are held in higher esteem than men OF
other cangs But they not without their
weaknesses. as they themselves will allow. and per-
haps it is this high regard which is paid to them
that has led TO the characteristics 10 which
now refer and that is-an expectation of favors
and claim for concessions which not accorded
other
The claim for railroad passes is illustration.
Why should ministers Of the Gospel be entitled to
railroad passes reduction from the regular
fare more than other men? 1t cannot be because
OF their poverty. Their condition pecunarlly Is
quite up to that of any other class. and far better
than that Of the largest share Of their felow-men
If reduction is to be made from the price OF a
railroad ticket. to which should the favor be
to the clergyman with comfortable salary or 10
the day laborer at his side?
Ministers expect reduced rates at hotels and
boarding houses They ask for discounts and seem
to claim them right from merchants-from the
halter. the clothier. the bookseller. Upon what
ground is this claim made?
In the payment OF taxes. when property is owned.
the minister expects and obtains under the laws OF
this State an exemption OF s5c0. Why should he
be thus exempt when his neighbor. whose prop
erty. perhaps. would not inventory one-tenth as
much. is expected 10 pay the fun taxA u matters
retired; whether he has salary OF 81 900 or $1,000
or is retired with an independent income, the de-
right? We Know it is justified by the law but we
see no justification for such law at the present
The clergy are mendicants. They would
repudate the idea. ordinarily they might be called
butter is to come. We DO not find them among the
starving and half-clad. AS rule. they are well
In the extreme West there are preachers Of the
Gospel who get hardly enough to keep body anI
not better off. than many of those to whom they
preach. - nj, .,
Paul was a man whose example II would be well to
follow. 1t not in him 10 ask Tor concessions.
Would we work with his own hands that he might
not be dependent. The clergy may not be aware
f it, put ms srb 10 ask 1of from inc
dignity OF this position and from the respect whlcn
IT. out Of his own kindly feeling. to make better
price tc minister of the Gospel than 70 oiher
men he has the right TO- DO IL but ut, the m nb Hi
CATION minister with fair salary PAYS say.
50 cents for school book, the price OF which Is
discount" 4 laborer who gets 81 80 a day pays
dollar for the same book The %el,tS-Go buyer
discount of. The fac; is. he often gets the book
at actual cost and The ,n moor s 'or
In speaking as have. we know that we have
been frank perhaps qnduy So but # has been td in
p %a'se's ard ID p 9rs We hope
WATERFOWL y. y, Jan. 26. 1895.