New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
TRIALS OF POOR PARSONS.
NO WONDER SOME OF THEM TAKE UP
UNCLERICAL OCCUPATIONS.
HOW MANY COUNTRY PREACHERS ADD TO
THE PrrTANCE THAT IS GIVEN THEM FOR

In requesting the resignation or tnelr pastor
because he ventured to supplement his small
salary by engaging in an outside occupation
the good people Of the First Baptist Churcn or
Freeport, Long Island have touched upon a sub
ject which is probably wider than they suspect.
To be sure Mr.. Lee the pastor In this case. went
about the matter in somewhat unusual way
but one can scarcely be fastidious In his choice
Of extra work when SO month is the sum al
lowed him on which to support himself, his wife
and four children. Under such circumstances
oyster-dredging would seem far too good a
money making opportunity to be lightly thrown
away Judging from the past history Of the
Freeport Baptsts. however. they were not so
much distressed by the nature Of the occupation
as by the fact that one existed. Even literary
work on the part of the minister is frowned upon
by them Mr. Lees predecessor having been dis
missed for writing treatise upon Hell"
The question suggested by these complaints is
interesting What are the hundreds of pastors
now in charge of poor parishes in the small
towns of the South and West or in any OF the
outlying country districts. TO do? The young
theological student who offers his services as
minister of such church. churches, for he
has often to attend to thrDe four which may
be several miles apart knows that he is about
to enter upon a life In which there will be no
luxuries and often a hard struggle to obtain
necessities. If he chose 70 enter almost any
secular profession other occupation he would
be far surer Of earning comfortable living. II
has been said that the average minister. reckon
Ing those OF the poorer and richer districts all
together. receives a salary Of about 500 year
less than the wages Of skilled mechanic This
seems little enough upon which to support and
educate a family, but there thousands OF
country pastors to-day who receiving far
less. Most Of them are stationed in the newly
settled portions of the West. in the agricultural
or cattle raising districts and in the mining
camps Their salaries range from $50 year
to $500 5000 and occasionally 500 or $500 the
latter figures. however. being exceptional. There
are many instances where they fall even below
the frst-named sum. and there Methodist
ministers In Arkansas and other parts of the
West who receive from $50 to 500 for an entire
years work.
HELPED BY MISSION BOARDS
The poorest churches are provided for in part
where It is found necessary, by the Board Of
Home Missions OF the denomination TO which
they belong-that is, perhaps half their salary is
furnished by the Board. the remainder being
raised among the parishioners in the little settle
ment. In addition to these there are great num-
bers Of poor churches which ask no help from the
mission, but make determined effort at self
support.
The ministers in such places undergo almost
continual hardships. but they learn. as rule to
withstand them with the utmost courage and
patience They live In the plainest possible fash
ion. often in rough little cabins of two or three
rooms. The food they eat is that which may be
obtained most cheaply. Where 1t is practicable
they have small farms. at least vegetable
gardens. in which, by working in their leisure
hours they can raise the greater part of their
subsistence. The clothes with which they are
able to provide themselves and their wives and
children are barely sufficient for warmth and de-
cency. In the colder regions such Montana
and North Dakota. this subject Is of especial inn
portance and there is frequently actual suffer
ing throughout the rigorous winters. To meet
this need Of clothes, boxes of the most desirable
contributions are continually being made up in
the East and sent to the poor ministers and
their families They include other things. too.
besides wearing apparel Books toys, household
utensils and anything which is sure to be use
full are packed In. Where the want Is so wide
there is scarcely article which can come
amlss. The boxes are not sent at random. Blanks
first mailed to the pastors asking them TO
state the things which they most need. 1t is in
teresting note these blanks after they have
been returned. One man writes that he has not
wife would like almost any Kind of dress winch
she could outdoors; another that the chill |
dren have not whole pair Of shoes among them.
and so on From one family recently came TINS
request
We are not suffering for lack OF clothes now,
but there is Absolutely nothing here to read
Can you send some good newspaper or
magazine regularly"
Such requesr az this is easily complied with !
for ii Is usually difficult to find some person !
who is willing and glad to RENAL his paper, when !
pah n he 1iSf
Another hardship which would continue 10 be
one even though the minister had considerably !
more money. is that entaled by constant travel |
ling about through rugged and lonely country !
oyer large circuit. Sometimes he Is pastor of
several churches, which he visits in turn. In |
the morning he breaches al one place: in the |
afternoon at another perhaps five or six miles |
across the prairie or through the woods and |
again In the evening at third. equally remote |
from either of the first two. II he has more than
three. he cannot usually get around to- them all |
in Sunday but is obliged to take two or three |
weeks to make the entire circuit. Driving in a |
light open wagon is the common mode Of travel.
but those who cannot afford to Keep or hlre q |
horse are obliged to walk.
A Presbyterian clergyma Of this city has Just !
sent his own bicycle to one Of these travelling
ministers. who was wearing himself out In try
ing to cover the necessary ground each Sunday. !
The gift greatly appreciated and has exactly |
answered the purpose. as the poor young pastor
writes with enthusiasm.
NOT ABLE TO COLLECT SALARIES OFTEN.
Small as are the salaries Of these ministers
when paid in full there often years when
they are not able 10 collect anything like the
stated amount which they are supposed to re-
ceive. All their Pensioners are poor and able
in the best of times to pay only small contribu-
lions toward keeping the minister They are
almost always exceedingly kind hearted and |
willing to share what they have but that Is often
pitifully small. Long-continued drouths caus-
ing the failure Of crops. foods. severe frosts,
tensive fires and the failure of rains some
OF the causes which at times reduce the pastors |
living money to almost nothing. The Nebraska !
drouths of last year was felt with especial sever
ty. In a silver mining town In Nevada the ,
church Of which had been paying its pastor
unusually high sum for that part Of the country.