The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-04
"A BULL IN THE SERMON MARKET.
Remarks by "a Young Minister Invited
to Preach In a Fashionable Pulpit.

IA DULL SA1kNMON
Remarks by "a Young Minister Invited
to Preach In a Fashionable Pulpit.
| New York Sun.
Presbyterians are discussing the recent
attempt to bull the sermon market which
was made in Buffalo by young minister
of that city. In the particular instance the
attempt brilliant success; whether or
it will act as a precedent is the thing
which is interesting clergymen in general.
The young minister in question was left
with very considerable fortune by his
father, a wealthy manufacturer. In mind
and method he is as independent as he is in
fortune, so his ministerial work has been
hampered by none Of the restrictions which
young pastors usually find so troublesome.
AT the outset of his career, instead of
trying to get fashionable church, as lie
might easily have done through his influ-
entail connections the Rev. Mr.. Blank went
to little mission chapel in Buffalo with
the aVowed intention OF making a SubStan-
tial church out of it, Most of the congre-
cation were poor, and the salary Of the
new preacher was small. When the parish
icners discovered that Mr.. Blank kept good
horses had handsome house and a good
| conservatory and lived in first-class style
they jumped at the conclusion that it
wouldn't be necessary to pay him the sal
airy offered, that 1t wouldn't make any diff
ference to him whether he got it or not.
that theory. Their new pastor made them
understand very thoroughly that their ar
rangement with him was a business mat
ter to be carried out upon that basis They
had stated q salary; it was small enough
salary, anyway, but he would take it, and
after the church had grown he would ex-
pect the stipend to keep pace with the
growth. That was the kind of a man the
Rev. Mr.. Blank was. 1t caused cOnSidera-
BILE groaning and complaining among the
elect, but the first quarters salary was
finally raised and paid over. The minister
promptly turned it into the church treas
ury with the suggestion that it be used
for certain needed repairs. That was also
the kind of man the Rev. Mr.. Blank was
Every quarter his salary was paid. only to
be turned over to the church. The church
fourished and grew.
In Buffalo there is another clergyman, the
Rev. DR.. M. His church is one of the
most exclusive and fashionable in the city,
and among the other Presbyterians its pas
tor has the reputation of partaking of the
nature of his church. Seldom does he at
brother ministers criticise him for what
they call his aloofness. Although no two
cial gulf than that of DR.. M and that of
the Rev. Mr.. Blank, the two clergymen
move In the same circles Then 1t happened
that upon Sunday when DR.. M was to
be out OF town Mr.. Blank was asked to
preach in his church, not without intima-
tons of the unusual honor which was being
done him, the pastor of an obscure chapel,
in Offering him the opportunity to appear
before DIR. Ms congregation. Such was
the hardened nature of the young minister
that he did not seem overcome at all. Sc
curing a clergyman to supply his own pull
pit, he went to DR.. Ms church and
preached a sermon which, while 1t stirred
up that decorous congregation somewhat,
nevertheless met with general approval. Mr.
Blank with the congratulations of the lead
ing members of the church, received an in
timation that if he would call at a certain
bank on the following day he would receive
the usual stipend.
On the next day he went to the bank He
was greeted by the cashier, man proni-
nent in the church.
''Ah good morning, Mr.. Blank. Very re-
freshing sermon you gave us yesterday.
Now for the business end of it. You called
on that account, l suppose.
lad Oln ORG
occasion of his visit.
"Ah, yes. I'll write you a check. 1 sup
pose-er-$20 would be about right? said
the cashier, with that mildly interrogative
note which signifies confident expectation
of assent.
II think not" replied the young minister
The cashier looked as if he didn't UNDER
stand.
Il beg your pardon he said.
"What is Dr. Ms salary?'
1--WE pay Dr. NJ $1,000 a year." the
cashier said, with strong emphasis on
the name; ''but, my dear sir. your sal
1T isn't question of my salary" inter-
rupted the young minister Let me see;
six thousand a year. That's s12O a Sunday,
/ believe, not reckoning on vacation time,
which brings it up. somewhat higher"
Wen set aside the question of the diff
ference made by vacation, pursued the
Why its Dreposterous.' exclaimed the
cashier do you mean TO say that you de-
man the same as we pay to DR.. M?
It's unheard Of.
DO 1 understand that my sermon was un-
satisfactory to the congregation
''No-o-o; not that of course. But consider
DIR. Ms reputat
Consider my reputation replied Mr..
Blank. I'm the pastor of city church.
So is DIR. NJ. Can afford to hold my
self cheaper than he when supply his pull
pit? Am 1 not invited there upon equal
But not financially, Mr.. Blank" insisted
and consider the reputation of your
church." continued the young minister
sweetly. Cannot the most prosperous
church in Buffalo afford TO pay adequately
those who supply it's pulpit?'
gasped. Then he cogitated with a furrowed
brow. Presently the wrinkles disappeared
and a smile appeared upon his face. The
smile broadened to laugh and the cashier
reached out through the window grasped
the young minister's hand and shook it
heartily.
right. never knew 1t TO happen before,
though. Here is your check for $780,
Thank YOU said the Rev. Mr.. Blank,
pocketing the check.
of the S120 he gave $50 to the clergyman
who had supplied his own pulpit and the
other $50 to q well-knoWn city charity. And
he never said word about it TO anybody,
for that's the kind of man ne was. But the
it soon got around, to the edifcation of the
church folk, all but one.
When DIR. NJ heard of il he was not
| pleased. 1t was bad precedent, he said:
but the rising generation of ministers will
hardly adopt his view.