Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-20
PREACHERS $50 YEARS AGO.
Jonathan Edwards Salary WINS $50 n
Year and FirewOOd.
From the New York Evangelist.


We have heard a great deal about plain
living and high thinking. with illustrations
from men who had hardly wherewithal to
keep soul and body together. but who, in
spite of that. have written books that have
left their impress not only upon their own
times. but upon after generations We are
a little suspicious Of such stories, lest they
should be quoted to justify the niggardli-
ness of those who receive of the Gospel
in providing for the wants of those who
preach the Gospel. But the following in
stance Is 100 remarkable to he overlook
ed. and we give II to our readers. since we
can Vouch for its accuracy. having eX-
amined the record only Saturday last
Jonathan Edwards is the greatest theo-
lcSian that this country has ever produced
Robert Hall, the famous English preacher
Used to devour his books with such amaze
ment at the power of reasoning they show
ed that he exclaimed. Edwards is the
greatest'-perhaps he meant solely in the
field of philosophical and theological spec
ulation--"of the sons of men," Yet this
great man was settled in country parish
III Northampton. where the people who
could not appreciate his greatness, fairly
drove him away, after which, as If he
would find lodge In some vast Wilderness
he went over the mountains and took ref
uge at Stockbridge, on the banks of the
HouSatonic, where there was a mission to
the Indians, with a few settlers from east
ern Massachusetts, and there the records
tell us that meeting of the town mot of
the church. for in those days there was
but one church which was established by
law, and the town to provide for its
supporD held on February %. 1850 (when,
perhaps down in old Virginia George
Washington was celebrating his eighteenth
birthday. 1t was voted that 'in case Rev
Jonathan Edwards should settle with them
in the work of the ministry" he should re-
oeive the sum of f6 lbs 4d per year, about
SD 1t is comforting to know that he was
assured in the contract that it should be
lawful money"
When l read this confess could hard
ly believe ft-yet no rubbing of eyes or Of
srectacles could change the figures: there
they stand as they have stood for 146 years
for the benefit of whatsoever may have
indeed incredibly small, and perhaps was
supplemented by a contribution from the
English 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, 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 freezing in his
veins by keeping the fire burning on his
hearthstone. And, accordingly. with this
he should have 100 sleigh loads of firewood,
of which the Indians were to furnish eigh-
ty and the white settlers twenty, 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
burning brightly on his hearth. Jonathan
Edwards wrote books that will be inn
mortal in the history Of his country Plain
living and high thinking, indeed.