The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1895-09-26
The UnDOiG Pastor.

ne can. III ne can, anu Will uOt,
he has no place in the ministry.
From an observation of many
years, during which time we have
mingled much with Baptist preach
ers, we have found the case of the
pastor who will not pay his debts
an exception and a very rare one.
And there has generally been an
excuse for his rcmissness. That
excuse usually is that be has not
been paid for his services as PAS
tor. In ninety-nire cases cut of
hundred the pastor goes in debt
relying upon the honesty of his
church members to pay him the
salary promised him. When they
fail to do So, he is a pitiable object
indeed. HIS hands are tied. He
is unable, henceforth, to preach
upon that virtue and its kindred
virtues which should be considered
among those which constitute a
real Christian life. No man, there
fore, who is dishonest, is capable
Of being a true prea cher of the
gospel. His obligations are as
binding upon him as those of other
men are upon them. The fact that
he has given up his life for others
IS not proper excuse for non
payment of any debt contracted.
No sort of sentiment can obliterate |
his plain duty in the premises.
In view of these things, what |
shall be said of those churches |
which repudiate. annually. from |
one-fourth to one-third of what |
they promise the pastor? Only |
one thing can be said Of them
thev are dishonest. In the sight |
of God, they are as criminal as if |
they were the concocters of some
other sort of stealing. This is true
if honesty is honesty. And they |
are not only responsible for their
own dishonesty, but for the appar-
ent dishonesty of their pastor, if
he has involved himself in expec-
fation of his salary being paid.
Some people. who repudiate their
pledges to the pastor, have never
gotten out of their minds the con-
which belittles them, that
the pastor is q sort of mendicant.
The truth is, God has placed him |
far above them. and their RESPONSE
bllity IS to God, whose representa-
tive he is. Therefore, ne IS no
more of a mendiCant than God is.
For He requires that His represen-
tatlve be supported by them to
whom he ministers IN, spiritual
things. WithaI, we do not know
but that the Presbyterians have a
good law which covers this point.
lC is to the effect that no church
can install a new pastor until it has
settled IN full WITH the retiring one.
True, our method of church gov
does not permit this. But
here should be an unwritten law
Emong the preachers which covers
his ground. Every one would
cap benefit from such a course on
heir part. For what may an IN
coming pastor expect, in regard to
rs OWL SALARY, 1iOIl ID CuuICu /
which owes the outgoing one?
And besides, If such custom were
n vogue among the preachers the
hurches would be forced to
igher ideal OF honesty.
Under the present regime, the
unpaid pastor Will still be with US.
t IS not out of place. therefore, to
az that it behooves the pastor,
TITLE hc should be nDeral and hos
itable, not to give away all that
e has now, nor contract debts de-
endent upon contingencies. We
now that this rule is more easily
Iritren than followed. For the
reacher must give and he must
$50 live. Nevertheless, the rule is
good one. 1t should be the habit
every one to pay as he goes.
nd to no one does this apply
18th more certainty than to the
aston. He should also live within
IS means and lay aside a little
very month for the rainy day.
Ie know some preachers on