The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-16
Layfndn Asks Pointed Things
About Their Vacations.
DIR. a. E. OWEN REPLIES
Suggests, Enthusiastically that Lay
man Might or Might Not Be Sore-
head-C Country Pastor Gets
Into Discussion Also.

~ as'Ao AlaiusWOTReQ nlHistoA oSonih6 q
period OF rest and recreation, and ut a
time when many Richmond preachers
have hicd them to the woods or else
where, and many Others distinguished
among their brethren, are here rcvlslting
old places and peoplo-at this most sea.
sonable or unreasonable moment O promi-
nent Baptist layman Of Virginia throws
out for discussion the astounding query:
Shall the pastor enjoy II vacation at the
expense OF his church, And more
astounding still5in tho eyes of the min:
listers the inquirer indicates that the
q'lery calls for negative answer.
The layn1an with his innocent query has
worked the brethren UP, and that's q
fact. The ball has been given right
sound kick, and off 1t rolls to be kicked
hlther and yon apparently for some time
yet to come. Already indignant pastors
are expressing their indignation, and one
Of them reckons that the lnyman must
be a sorehead. But he Is not sure, since
no name is signed, and since. therefore,
the mysterious layman may turn out to
be one Of his choice and particular friends.
Another rather inclines to believe with
the inquirer that the city pastor spends
his vacation replenishing his purse by
preaching extra" while 1t the same
time drawing his regular. So tho ball
starts, kicked first this way and then
that. The discussion Is on, and 1t has not
yetNreached an end-barely begun.
TIE AGITATlNG QUERY.
It Is an easily ascertained fact that
the pastors as a rule look forward to
August as the month in which they will
spend tho three or four weeks OF rest
Hrrtv Nv 1,ni. ob,, II rot n hto
time the vacation period is In full fling.
A great many OF the Richmond pastors
are away, and number OF outside pas
tors are here or roundabouts spending
their vacation in this section.
The season was ripe for "layman." and
he llesitated not. Last weeks Religious
Herald came forth with four brief para
graphs from the layman, who signs him,
self Inquirer, and this week the breth-
rem are manning their big guns. When
the Herald comes forth next Thursday
the fur will begin to fly. What layman
said was this: XII
''There Is a custom among pastors OF
the present day of asking for and gem
orally getting, a vacation every year for
the presumable purpose Of resting from
the very arduous ca duties Of their pas
torate. Up to a few years ago did not
take any very active part in the business
and find that the rest % that most Of
these pastors take is filling the pulpit of
some other worn-out brother and getting
pay for the same while some other worn
out brother is filing his pulpit and get
ting pay for 1t right along.
Now, the above query was suggested
by the above facts, and I would like to
have some of the brethren, and especially
some Of the weary ones, tell us what
thew think OF the question:
II notice that my church Is called upon
to pay for supplies when the pastor is
on his vacation. In case of revival meet
irgs, and when he chooses to absent him
self for other causes
"Tn other lines OF business, when an
employe takes a leave Of absence, ex-
cept In very rare cases, he either puts
some one else In his place or he has his
pay cut off. do not see any reason
why an exception should be made In the
case OF a preacher, as the average pas
tor gets more than tho average clerk,
brethren, give us light on tho sub
ject.
A SPICY REPLY.
a spicy reply to these unorthodox re-
marks came at once, and In the shupe Of
Il communication from the Rev. Dr. A. 70,
Owen, Of Portsmouth. II am sorry the
bl other Gid not put his name to the com
municaton," says the Portsmouth pastor.
LAS It Is do not know about whom
am writing Ec may be one OF my best
friends or an entire stranger. lie may be
n sorehead, which at a distance. he seems
IL be. Ee may be especially devoted to
his pastor. but with his devotion held In
allegiance. 1t would appear that this
brothers pastor has not done exactly fair
by his church, He takes vacation. He
goes to revival meetings and absents
himself when ho chooses for other causes
think that Is leaving his pulpit too
frequently. especially as the church has
to pay the supplies, Paying the supplies
seems to DO tho most serious ground or
complaint Inquirer seems to want the
pastors pay to stop when no IS on vaca-
ton, and tells us that lin other lines Of
business when nj employer takes u leave
of absence. except In very rare cases, he
either puts some one else In his place or
he has his pay cut off, suppose that
Is true when people work by the day' but
I. is not generally true OF salarled men,
DR.. Owen proves this BY reference 10
tho United States navy yard.
ON a LOW PLAND'
Then he takes UP some other statements
of Inquirer. and replies to them sharply
But the chief hing to which ne taxes
objection Is thu low plane upon which
Inquirer" puts the passionate lie clasAss
the pastors with other h!rellngs
FFuI1 my youth, says ~ - S"s" ~
this connection, III have been taught that
the ministry was calllng-a calling from
God; that tho mission OF the preacher
was /. a holy one and was lifted above the
hucksterlngs of the market. place. Ono
thing that has weakened the power OF
tho pulpit Is that many !aylnen look upon
their pastors as hlrelngs, TO pc sapserylent
to those who hire them. This idea must
helittle the ministry and lower me SPIT
itualIty of the pew. ! hope that some
noble layman will devise some pan nS
which the commercial view Of IT, ministry la,,
shall perish and a generous spantaneity
shall break from the people 20 Supply
the man of God with necessities without
the hngging and axactons o. WAY men
call business The pastor Ought to 30
faithful and conscientious ~ the a'scharse
of his obligations. but lie ought also to
be free from tho cuts ana eAae''o'is OF
such laymen as Inquirer.
OTHER REMARKS,
This reply together with one from me
Rev, I.andon Greene, of Belona. va. VINO
thinks the country pastor needs vacation
more than tho city pastor, VINO improves
i,i ~ LEI