The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

ops some Interesting racts. anu aA- though the statement is not so true as it was some year ago, there IS never theless a foundation for II stIi. Al one time I am told by good authority. not only the Methodists but the churches of other denominations were dependent upon the tobacco crop. The sgQ paaM LBIudoo 4Hul 10 uoi@eAlllno been decreasing in the South and is no longer the foundation of things as 1t used to be in what was formerly called the tobacco belt. In colonial times, when currency was scarce, the clergy of the established church were paid Tn tobacco for their ministerial services. By law of Virginia enacted in 10s6 the salary of every clergyman in that colony, without regard to the size Of his parish. was fixed at 16.00O pounds of tobacco a year, and parishes where tobacco could not be cultivated were left without ministers until the Sap lists. Presbyterians or Quakers came in and occupied the vacant churches. x <
 Dodging Their Parish Dues.
 The old vestry book of St. Georges s parish, Fredericksburg. contains a rec ord of the amount of tobacco assessed upon and contributed by different fami- lies each year and also an account of its disposition. as follwos:
 To James Marye, his salary ..16,Ooo To George Carter. reader at Mat
 tapOny ................... i'VVV To Zachary Lewis for prosecut-
 ing all suits for the parish.... 300 To John Taliaferro for three sur
 pliceS ............. ....'''''' ovv To John Gordon. sexton ......... 5,s0o To John Taliaferro for keeping
 the poor .............'.....'.. l,VVV
 There seems to have been a suspicion on the part of the vestry or St. Georges that some of the planters m that parish were lodging their reiig- ious dues. for on January 16. li2o, resolution was passed appointing committee to ascertain and make 8 record of the names of every person growing tobacco and the number or plants grown on each plantation. This was called ''processioning," and titnes were assessed in tobacco ccerdinsiy' The next year Robert Green and Isaac Norman were appointed to again pro cession' the parish.
 In 1733 the vestry made contract with Col. Henry Willis. whose wlte was an aunt of George Wasnlngton' 10 build them a church for 75,Oo0 pounds of tobacco and the planters were pro ceSSlOneQ, anu dSSCSoSu ~ ' amount in addition to their regular tithes. -
 Prayed Hard for Good Crops.
 As the salary of the clergyman and the revenues of the church were de- pendent upon the crop, the parsons as well as the vestry kept a close super vision over the planters to prevent deterioration of the quality of the to- bacco which they received from their parishoners, for that would reduce It's value and result in the injury or Christ's kingdom. And, as the price lisuad f1uctuated according to the supply and demand. like that Of all other staples, the compensation or the clergy was irregular.
 In 1755 there was a drought ana failure of crops. Tobacco was so hlgn that the planters were allowed to pay their tithes in money at the rate or los Sd per 100 pounds of tobacco, Wnlcn had been the average price for iew years previous. The clergy expostulat- ed because no additional allowance nao been made them when tobacco was abundant and the price was low. put their remonstrances ayailed notnlns' and they were compelled to accept the terms. In 1758 however, when there was another short crop. they appealed to the Bishop of London, to whose oio- cese the churches of Virginia were at tached. and sent Rev. John Camm to England to secure a change in the law so that the fluctuations in the price or the staple would not anect tnelr com pensation.