Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-08-18
AIsSan,Irie 8azettf.
TUESDAY EVENING. AUG. Is 1886.
PLAIN LIVING AND HIGH THINKING.
On How Much or How Little Minister,
Lived $50 Years Ago.

IPlAIN LIVING ANU lIIliNINllN6s
On How Much or How Little Ministers
Lived $50 Years Ago.
! We have heard great deal about
plain living and high thinking, with
illustrations from men who had
hardly the wherewithal to keep soul
md body together, but who, in spite
of that, have written books that have
left their impress not only upon
their own time, but upon after gen
srations. We are little suspicious
of such stories, lest they should be
quoted 10 justify the niggardliness
of those who receive of the gospel
In providing for the wants of those
who preach the gospel. But the fol
lowing instancei is too remarkable TO
be overlooked, and we give 1t to our
readers, since we can youoh Tor us
accuracy, having examined the rec
brd only Saturday last.
Jonathan Edwards is the greatest
theologian that this country has ev-
er produced Robert Hall, the ia
NOUS English preacher, used to de-
Tour his books with such amaze
ment at the power of reasoning they
showed that he exclaimed, Ed
wards is the greatest"-perhaps he
meant solely in the field OF philo-
sophical snd theological speculation
of the sons of men," Yet this
great man was settled in a country
parish in northampton, where the
people, who could not appreciate his
greatness, fairly drove him away,
after which, as if he would find a
hodge in some vast wilderness, he
went over the mountains and took
refuge at Stookbridge, on the banks
of the Housatonio, where there was
a mission TO the Indians, with few
settlers from eastern Massachusetts,
and the records tell Us that a meet
ing of the town (not of the church,
Tor in those days there was but one
church, which was established by
law, and the town was TO provide
for its support) held on Feb. %, 1850
twhen, perhaps, down in old Vir-
GINA, George Washington was cele-
brating his eighteenth birthday, 1t
was voted that "in case Rev. Jona-
than Edwards should settle with
them in the work of the ministry
he should receive the sum of &c lbs.
4d. per year-about s35. 1t is com.
forting to know that he was assured
In the contract that it should be
-'lawful money.
When Tread this, I confess I could
hardly believe it; yet no rubbing OF
eyes or of spectacles could change
the figures. There they stand as
they have stood for 146 years, for
the benefit of whosoever may have
q curiosity to read them. The
amount seems indeed incredibly
small, and perhaps was supplement
ed bv contribution from the Eng
lish Society For the Propagation of
the Gospel In Foreign Parts. But so
far as the record goes that was the
salary, and the whole salary, so far
as it was paid in money. But with
this there was also a provision for
keeping the minister warm. If the
people could not supply much to
stimulate him inwardly, they would
at least keep the blood from freez-
ing in his veins by keeping the fire
burning on his hearthstone. And &C
cordingly, with this munifcent sala-
nv, it was voted also that he should
have 100 sleighloads of firewood, of
which the Indians were to furnish
so and the white settlers 20, which
they were to chop in the woods and
draw on sleds to his dwelling house.
With this very modest supply OF
that which could buy food and cloth
ing, vet with the fire burning bright
" on his hearth, Jonathan Edwards
wrote books that will be immortal
in the history of his country. Plain
living and high thinking indeed
Henry NJ. Field in New York Evan
ool;-+