The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-20
THE PAY IS
TOO SMALL
SALARIES OF MEN WHO
PREACH THE
GOSPEL
PREACHERSASFINANCIERS
Rev. Hicks Tells Of Minis.
teriaI Hard.SIedding.


49,. lBy Geo. e. Hicks. A. -
The financial reward Of a minister Is
not adequate to the demands OF the
twentieth, cenuoy His preparation must
De Of the best lie must have c7l-
iege traini-- that covers a period OF
from forr to zine years.
Nine years are none too many II he
desires to snbserve the besf i5"erests 81
tho cause he represents This work is
niduous and expensive HIS equipment
is costly il he surrounds hinself with
The best reference Jooke and Helps rec
essary h his work
lie desires to raarrs and dos not be-
lieve in sace suc.re. although ] anu of
the opinion that he falls ia lire VIII
the majority sometimes when he arHci-
pafes the COS or rearing children IN
these pf9sperous aud sirenuour times
But be mairies and children come TO
hic home a ne coiahli a p.lpit in a
rich city. lie Is a college man and he
desires to advanc, He has aspirations
10 NJ himself for the best places In his
church.
His library needs constant ,eple1sh-
ing. There nust COME 70 his study The
best Ifer lture. Ec needs n ore thaa baif
his time in Lis study. whirh fact the
church does not appreciate tocay lis
family must be clothed better han the
average u his parishiorers ana he must
dress wen. HIS shil'ron mus be edg
Gated
when he accepts can TO a church
his whole frmily are considered n The
transaction Is his wife a music an
Can she train choir Does she take
an interest in tn various desarttn' nts
OF the womens work Of the cutnsh ?
what are her social qualification g? How
nlsny OF The children do shur III work.
In fact The whole family hires TO the
church.
rhe minister himself Is exuected TO
se versatile. Is be a good mi@er2 Can
ie icmen hoi an the people he seea and
rall lhrir nam - How Is mis- voico2 Few
people o, tslde the craft kro~ what
the work Of the minister is tolay
] would rather travel circuit OF 81
miles the way our grandfathers did and
receive their inancial 'ewari thnn 70
be the Iastor Of a modern chucch ~
city Of 10000 ard receive Si,.oo salary
'rhe work would ~ much easier and the
earthly reward grea'er.
we have it said sometimes that pre- eieh-
ers as class are poor hnanciers. This
Is false The ministers today are the
best ananciers IN the worlt. No other
clats of men could do the WORK that
the ministers do on tie same salary.
Why do not the churctes pay the ,'ro-
fossion bctter7 There n"ver was ''me
wh,n preachers were trying 10 make
moaey 'un she side" as tl'ty are tod5y
scorcely week Dasses t''at Hoes not
bring TO me an opportunity 10 take lp
some easy 90 work that Will supple eni
my salary hnndsomely Touie elterpris-
ing hrm wants 70 furnish the peoi L.
with something useful and the preacher
is the happ, meJfcm through which he
phnanthropic firm can ren.h the dear
people. whose welfare uey arc anAh us
10 sub4eiNe.
Here Is specimen
y have proposition that I ans very
conndent win appeal to yau, especially
as you must be seeking more protta-
be field for your work. Rev O. "A :or-
mer minister oi c.. was induced come
Thing over year ago TO take dp the
work with is and l DO wish that you
eoul6 have a .alk with him. l am at
the present tiIae IT. communication or
In fact Negotiation with the ministers
who are very prominent n the work
and think that they VIII decide, ir the
very near future 10 east their lot with
us"
Why should not a profession suct as
the ministry carry with q sa'.r' ale
quate 10 prorerly fnaintain a flmily and
vic'd a.surplus Tor OLD oge2 u does not
bring such a reward. Let the minister
testify Who has reared fsmily Of any
size ana preached for 80 years end saved
enough money from MS alrry 20 buy
home and give him an meomc for old
age. The church IS arie tc paw saleries
commemorate with the ability and de-
mands Of The profession. The reason
why st docs not IS because the church
Goes lot realize the weed The average
church could double the salary OF the
average preacher easily and IN, time is
here when that must be- done or large
numbers Of ministers will seer emIdov-
ment IN other lines Many have already
taken that action.
II is NOT complimentary TO Vie minis-
tcl and much less 90 the church when
! say that on account OF an Inadequate
salary thousands OF preachers 10 say
woold change 4 the oppo'tun ty were
afforded Not because they are lovers
OF money, but because they have s,lf-
respect and desire a suin>.enoy 10 old
age.