The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-27

1000. Onc-third pay less than $500
The Methodist preacher never knows
until the appointments are read out al
the close of the annual conference
whether hewill he returned or removed
whether he will get good appointment
or sorry one. In the meantime the
churches within the bounds of the con.
ference ara likewise uncertain as to
who their pastor will be. AS rule the
preachers are loyal to the powers that
lc- As rule the churches accept loyal.
ly the preacher the bishop sends them.
Many times there Is simply misfit that
cannot be adjusted. but the preacher re-
mains with his people for the year and
they pay him his salary. looking for
ward TO the time when they shall get
| rid of each other. It is the preachers
| desire in religious way TO get the best
appointment available to him. On the
other hand, every church wants tho
best preacher possible whether they
pay much or little. suppose our
preachers like everybody else are
graded in their salaries. We have few
$1,000 preachers; some $1,000 preach
ers; some $1,000 preachers. and then al
most any sort of preacher you want.
We can supply the demand.
One of the saddcst phases OF these
annual conferences is the memorial
service that each conference holds in
memory OF the preachers who have
gone 10 their reward during the year.
The old heroes fall by the wayside
every year. The ranks are filed up by
young and vigorous men who apply for
membership in the conference each
year.
1t takes three things TO make mn
effective preacher. First, one who can
preach: second, one who succeeds in
building up his church and adding TO it
such as shall he saved: and last, but not
least, the preacher who raises the
money assessed TO his charge. The
monies TO be raised by preacher are,
first. his foreign missionary money;
second, the domestic missionary money;
third. the fund for our colleges and
schools; fourth, the church extension
fund; fifth. the bishops funds and
sixth, what we call the conference coll
lection. This fund goes to supporting
the WORKOUT preacher. or the widows
and orphans of deceased preachers.
These collcctionsasa rule amount to as
much on many charges as two-thirds OF
the pastors salary. 1t takes money to
run anything in this world. The Lord
will provide. but most of His provisions
for man are such as enable man to pro-
vide for himself. The ravens came to
Elijah and the mama raincd down on
the children of Israel in the wilderness.
but the Lord gives man health and
strength and sunshine and rain. and if
he does not provide, then as last re-
sort Providence has provided poor
house il almost every county in our
states.
AS a rule the Methodist preachers are
jolly on their way TO conference. They
are jolly set at conference. They are
Jolly on their way home from confer
ence. AS rule more consecratcd set
of men never get together than you will
find composing these annual confer
ences. They are ready to rejoice with
them that do re ioice and weep with
them that do weep. They are the most
liberal set of men on the face OF the
earth. Almost every preacher comes
away from conference, where they have
had repeated collections. absolutely
broke, and as poor in money as preach
ers usually are it is marvellous tho
contributed in the collections
taken Mt the annual conferences for
some brother in distress, for some
brother who has lost his horse, or who
has been stranded in some way; for
missions; or for any good work. Out
of the eco preachers on the train the
other morning doubt if there was 5000
cash in their pockets as they came away
from the conference. If the Methodist
preachers preach liberality to their con-
gregations they certainly set the ex-
ample. They practice what they preach.
l have mingled with Methodist preach
crs for rs years as one of them. l be-
lieve in them, I love them, I reverence
them. Other churches may have MS
good ard faithful men, but no church
on which the sun shines to-day has
purer, better. noblcr men than they who
our annual conferences.
SAM P. JONES.