The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-30
A BULL IN THE SERMON MAnKzE
acnsarirs ~ n YoupE Rlinister Invited -
Preach In . Fashionable Churon.

HemnfMH ~ = HOuuH WaIutntef Invites -
Preach IN . Fashionable Church.
Presbytcrlans arc discussing the recent ~
tempt to bull the sermon market which was
mado in Buffalo by a young minister OF that
city. In the particular instance tho attempt
was q brilliant success; whether or no II will
act ms n precedent 10 tho thing which 10 In
%tercstinG clcrgymon In general. The young
minister in question was loft with a very oonsid.
cradle fortune by bis father, q wealthy manu-
%facturcr. In mind and method he 10 az inde-
pendent as he is in fortune. SO his ministerial
work has been hampered by mono Of tho ~restrio-
tions which young pastors usually hnd %
troublesome.
At tho outset Of his career. instead Of trying
to got n fashionable church. as no might easily
have done through his influential connections.
tho Rev. Mr.. Blank went to n little mission
chapel in Buffalo with the nvowed intention OF
making o substantial church out of IL. Most Of
the congregation were poor, and the salary of
tho now preacher was smnll. When the parish.
toner's discovered that Mr.. Blank kept good
horses, had n handsome house and q good con-
sorvatory, and lived in frst-class style, they
jumped at tho conclusion that IL wouldn't b
necessary to pay him the salary offered; that IL
wouldn't mako any difference to him whether
he got 1t or not. Very soon they dis
covered the fallacy Of that theory. Their
new pastor made them understand very
thoroughly that their arrangement with him
was q business matter, to be carried on upon
that basis. They had stated q salary; 1t was .
small enough salary anyway, but he would take
1t, and after the church had grown he would eI-
pect the stipend to koep pace with tho growth.
That was tho kind Of man the Rev. Mr.. Blank
was. 1t caused considerable groaning and COM
planning among tho elect; but tho first quarters
salary was finally raised and paid over. The
minister promptly turned 1t in to the church
treasury, with the suggestion that It. no used for
c C : , needed regair +; That was also the kind
the Church W TIC church dourish s%f" and grew rev.
Rev. B Brn No. ene His e Church a%PSsf Is one s'f y the most ssS
exclusive and fashionable in tho city. and
the reputation Of partakinE of the nature Of his
church. Seldom does. he attend synod or pres
him for what, they cali his aioofness: Although
mo- soo fTo s ehS fShS ,S Soal ., BE- BE- separated par HSd ~, 2 W W dSs
Rev. Mr.. Blank. tho two clergyman moved in
the same circles. Then it happened that upon .
Mn S%nf Bi,n EH %as as asked sb to w pSss &c 'G in 0G lis CT sh sSGn
not without intimations of the unusual honor
" %h %S Obscure wsS o Ssins ID DONE o3fsr,h him S,m the sso p ennsr.
ton. Such was the hardened nature Of the
young minister that he did not seem overcome
pulpit. he went to pr. Ms church and
that decorous congregation somewhat, never
theless met with general approval. Mr.. Blank.
bers Of the church. received IN intimation that
IL he would call at a certain bank on the follow
On tho next day he Went to the bank. He was
greeted by the cashier. a man prominent in the
A good morning. Mr.. Blank. Very refresh
business end oft. You called on that account.
e, The e ns q. man, sIsnihed that such was the 90
"Ah yes IU write vou m check. aunnoso
-.er-s2o would be about right y said the cash.
Ter. with that mildly interrogative note which
" think not" replied the young minister
The cashier looked as If no didn't understand.
What's is r. 3 n e sa,SGyr
ier said. with a strong emphasis On tho name;
but. my dear sir, your salary"
the " young asn ni Gdsssron @L eiy me ssi see; six iai thousand
a year, That's $12o q Sunday, I belieye. not
it up somewhat higher"
But. my dear MI. -"
Wen set aside the question Of the difference
made by vacation" pursued the young minister
serensly. "Til trouble you for a check for
"1,Why. It's proposterous !" exclaimed the
the same as we pay TO DR.. M It's un-
do / undsEstsnd that my :,ssrmon was unsat.
~ "NMp-o-o;. not that, Of course. But consider
Consider my reputation" replied Mr.. Blank.
I'm the pastor OF a city church. So is DIR.
N. Can / afford to hold myself cheaper
than he when 1 supply his pulpit Am / NOT
invited there upon equal terms
But not financially. Mr.. Blank" insisted the
cashier.
And consider the reputation of your church."
continued the young minister, sweetly. Cam
not the most prosperous church in Buffalo
pulpit 7"
The cashier looked at his visitor and gaaped.
Then he c%ogitated with a furrowed brow. Pres
emily tho wrinkles disappeared. and q smile
appeared upon his face. The smile broadened
TO a laugh. and the cashier reached out through
the window. grasped the young minister's hand
and shook 1t heartily.
you've got nerve" he said, but you're right.
I never knew it to happen before, though. Here
Is your check for 1920"
THANK you," said the Rev. Mr.. Blank, pocket.
ing the check.
OF the $l20 he gave $50 to the clergyman who
Ind supplied his own pulpit and tho other $50
to a well,known city charity. And he never said
a word about it to anybody, for that's the kind
OF man he was. But the cashier thought it was
too good to keep and it soon got around, TO the
edifcation of tho church folk. all but one.
When DIR. M heard OF 1t he was not
plensed. 1t was q bad precedent. he said; but
tho rising generation Of ministers will hardly
adopt his view.