The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-09-10
(Plttsburg Leader.l


An item appeared in local paper q.
few days ago In which complaint was,
made about the small salaries paid to.
many ministers of the gospel, some Of,
whom are, so the writer said, compelled
to engage In other vacations in order
to provide for the wants OF their fam
lilies and make ENDS meet" year In and.
year out
A gentleman who is well posted in the
early history in the church Of Western
Pennsylvania, commenting last evening.
on the article In question, said: 1T Isl
true that many pastors of country con-
gregations are not paid sufficient salary
for the proper support Of their families,
but taking Ii all around, ministers to-
day, as rule, are paid princely salaries
and have comparatively easy labors to
perform as compared with the pioneer
preachers of this locality. Many OF
the latter were obliged to prepare their
sermons, ride long and wearisome cir
cults preach to three or four congrega--
tons, teach school and do farm work
besides"
The speaker instanced a number OF
early ministers, including Rev. Samuel
Ralston, d. D., and Rev. Matthew Hen
derson, who performed almost Herculean
labors In the ministry during the latter
part Of the last century. The first named
for number of years was pastor OF
what was known as Mingo and Horse
shoe Bottom congregations" Horseshoe
was situated some miles up the Monorl--
gahela River and took Its name from
the figure made by the curve of the river
around the settlement.
Said the speaker: If any one wishes
by DR.. Ralston, let him start at the
western boundary of Mingo, traverse the
hills and hollows constantly occurring as
he crosses successfully Mlngo and
Pigeon Creeks, and Pike Run and Maple.
Creek, and persevere until he reaches
the eastern limits of Horseshoe Bottom,
and he will wonder that any man could
undertake such ride, stretching scene
Of pastoral and ministerial labors But.
Dr. Ralston not only undertook 1t, but
held on to this entire field for thirty-Hve
| years.
REV. Matthew Henderson, who was
also one of the earliest pioneer minister's
west of the Allegheny Mountains, was
| for many years pastor of the CHARTERS.
and Buffalo congregations Of Washing
| ton County, as well as Mingo and Mill
Creek congregations, his pastoral duties
there having begun about the year 1882.
Like DR.. Ralston's Rev. DR.. Henderson's
circuit was long and wearisome one.-
In those days the country was not only
rough and uncultivated, the roads in
| many places bad, but there were also
many rough characters to be met with.
1t Is related Of Rev. DIR. Henderson that
on one occasion, when travelling over the.
mountains to meet with his brethren in
presbytery, he happened to lodge at a.
tavern where two men took the
liberty of treating him with great rude
ness. This he endured for some
time His patience, however, was mis-.
taken for timidity, and only encouraged
their impertinence till, at last, nothing
would do but he must fight. This. Of
course. he was disposed to decline, butt
whether he willed it or not, they were de-
| termined upon an assault. Finding that
he could not otherwise evade rough usage,
Kew. Henderson arose and deliberately
stripping off his black coat laid 1t aside.
saying: Lie there, the Rev. Mr.. Hender--
son, and now Matthew, defend yourself. .
SO saying, he seized one of the ruffians,.
dashed him through an open window, and
was preparing to send the other by the
same road to keep him company, but this
one. seeing the kind of man they had
to deal with, took fight and Rev. Hender-
son was allowed to pass the rest of the
night in peace and quietness.
Rev Henderson, who was an able,
gifted man, received for all the ministe-
pounds of hard money annually, or rather
ne was given the option of taking this or
400 bushels of wheat. DR.. Raston, who
was also a gifted man, If l remember
rightly, received for his ministerial labors
$500 year. Both ministers were Of
Scotch-Irish descent, and both were menu
bers OF the Associate Reformed Presbyte
rian Church