Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-03-10
An Honest Debt.

OF all trades and professions
there are few so inadequately pa ID
as that of the ministry. The ma
iority of preachers have to depend
more upon Providence than upon
their congregation for their daily
bread. Most people would be
ashamed TO so to a concert or a
lecture and ask to be let in without
paying the usual fifteen, twenty.
five or fifty cents, but they will go
Sunday after Sunday and listen to
the good sermon the minister has
spent most of the week in prepar-
ing and occasionally throw in a
nickle.
When the women come around
making up the minister's salary,
for it is usually required of the
women, many begin to tell of the
hard times, of the illness in the
family, or the big fire or some
thing else, and perhaps will give
her fifty cents. Think of it-one
hundred and four sermons, with
music thrown in, for fifty centsl
How fortunate it is that a minister
can live on less than other individ-
uals! There is not quite so much
wear and tear on his clothing, and
owing to his student life, he does
not require quite as much pork and
beans as other folks, but that is no
reason why the whole matter
should be left to providence.
The minister ought not to be
compelled by his congregation TO
put more importance upon the
"Give Us this day our daily bread"
part of the Lords prayer, than any
other part. But how do you sup
pose he can keep his mind active,
wide awake and strong, and his
language pleasing and persuasive,
if he has no literature? His mind
demands its nourishment, and
probably has a heartier appetite
than the minds of other people.
Remember, he is human and not
spirit yet a while You owe
more to the ministers in your town
than 10 any other men. Try your
town without them for a while and
see if your property does not
shrink in value. When you pay
your minister for his services do
not call it charity. When you pay
the doctors bill, or pay for tele
gram, or an advertisement, you do
not call it charity. Pay him in
business like way. If your money
is scarce and you cannot pay him
cash in full for value received, pay
him in corn, or meat, or hay, or
store goods, or labor, and in the
name of all that is honorable in
business, do not call it charity.
Think of the unbusihesslike
method by which our ministers
salaries will be raised this coming
year. There will be oyster sup
pers, cake and coffee socials, ice
cream and strawberry festivals,
little dramas, public dinners and
donation parties. The women
will do most of the work. They
are not to be blamed; money must
be raised, and women found out
ages ago that the vulnerable point
with men is their stomachs. How
would it strike you if people raised
money to pay their school teachers
IN this manner?
Ministers 40 not complain and
'reither do their wives, but it is a
reflection upon prosperous peo-
pie, in a fertile country like this,
when they will allow a devoted
minister, with an equally devoted
wife and family of growing chill
dren. to live a whole year on about
what would keep an average fami-
ly in shoes.
There is something more that
you owe your minister, aud that is
your presence at his services, and
in your presence he should feel
assured of your friendship, SYM
pathy and influence. However,
you are the loser, and not your
minister, when you absent your
self from the services.
Why not make a vow Just half
as good as Jacobs was at Bethel?
X.