The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-29
"EOOLEsIAsTIOAL ALIMONY."

Throop, rector of st. Matthew's Epis-
copal church, Jersey City, has just
done something for which, SO far as
we know, there is no precedent in the
history of Christianity. He has been
rector of the church for about two
years, and, feeling that his work has
not been properly appreciated by the
parishioners, he now wishes to resign
his charge. 1t seems, however, that
the parish is in arrears on his salary
to the amount of $569.35, and he has
brought suit for that sum in the Su-
preme Court. There is, of course,
nothing extraordinary in this. Such
an outcome of the pastoral relation
is, unfortunately, more common than
it should be. The remarkable feature
of the case to which we refer is Mr..
Throop's application to the ecclesias
tical authority of the diocese of New
ark, asking that it adjudge st. Matt
hew's parish indebted to him in the
sum of $4,000 for injuries to his
health, mind and reputation, as fol-
lows: First, sacrifices made for the
benefit of the parish; second, over
work for the benefit of the parish;
third, mental pain and anxiety for the
material welfare of the parish; fourth,
ditto for the spiritual welfare of the
parish; fifth, unpleasant newspaper
publicity endured for the benefit of
the parish.
In explanation of this claim Mr..
Throop says that he makes it simply
to establish principle, and if the
money is awarded to him, he will,
therefore, return it to the parish.
That principle is that the contract
between pastor and church is a
life contract, like that of marriage,
and for that reason, when through
the fault of the parish it is dissolved,
the parish is under obligation to pay
what may be called ecclesiastical
alimony. This unique proceeding
will attract widespread attention.
The authorities of the diocese will
naturally ask Mr.. Throop to specify
the things he has done and suffered
that entitle him to this pecuniary
balm. Most people have an idea that
man who enters the ministry
should stand ready to endure with
cheerfulness and patience whatever
physical or mental vicissitudes may
fall to his lot in the prosecution of
his work.
What sacrifices has Mr.. Throop
made that myriads of faithful Chris
tian ministers have not been gladly
making ever since the first disciples
were gathered together in the upper
room in Jerusalem on the first day of
Pentecost? Have his mental pain
and anxiety for the material welfare
of his parish been greater in degree
than, or different in kind from, the
mental pain and anxiety endured by
one Paul of Tarsus? "In WEAKNESS
and painfulness," says the Apostle to
the Gentiles, in describing his minis
terial work, sin watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness; besides those
things which are without, that which
cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches" yet somehow we don't
seem to recall any claim for extra
compensation made by Paul, on the
ground that he had done overwork,
or had borne an unusual burden of
care. On the contrary, he is on rec
ord as declaring; 81 have coveted no
mans silver, or gold, or apparel; yea,
ye yourselves know that these hands
have ministered unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me-" Mr..
Throop is a minister in a church
which claims the gift of apostolical
succession for its ministry. Ponder
GUS tones have been written to justify
that claim; but we venture to say,
that it finds its highest justification
in the heroic and self-sacrifcing lives
of ministers who are apostolic, not
merely in name, but in word and in
deed, multitudes of whom, we NAV
add, are to be found laboring today
in the Episcopal, as in all other Chris
tian bodies.
We do not desire to PREJUDICE Mr..
Throop's claim. 1t may be just and
equitable, and if it is, doubtless the
diocese of Newark will 80 declare. 1t
may be that the work of minister is
on aplane with that of clerk or day
laborer, that he receives a specified
salary for doing so much work and
enduring so much mental pain and
anxiety. The SHRED man" view of
work is in considerable evidence lust
now. But it is not the popular con-
ception of the ministry, nor the type
of ministerial character which has
been handed down the ages. Per-
hons 81