The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-19
SUNDAY, MARCH MARCH 10,
The Dignity Of the Church.

The Dignity Of the Church.
The New York Independent mas pcen
publishing Il series Of articles enlitl l''
..,rbo I5sperences of q Preachers Wife,N
,l,e writ or representing herself to be the
life partner OF IL Methodist preacher In
,elntinr her experiences she paiises now
md then to mako an observation.
i. vsrv vacation" she observes, is en-
l$g lowed with its own besetting sin, q temp
5ihtion that fits into the very chafa cter
AZ ii like a Virtue: and | think that OF
x Id NIcthodistfitneraut Is to become a. sort
~ ,nendica1lt. THE custom OF giving
things to them began long ago, when
many Of them received nothing else Tor
Heir services. Now. however, a prcacah aet
whose salary often amounts &c rs lnuC y, y
ssj,l ) the income Of the average man IN MS
congregation gets free tuition for his
N children medical attention without charge,
d discount on his groceries and all the
roods nc buys besides innumernblc$ gifts
from members of his churches. And
& he effect Is often perniclous especially
Z upon the children in his family. They
sometimes get astounding sense OF 3chh li -
ty inimical to essential seli-rcspect. Oll
families are representative on this point
land alenute friends by resenting some
natural expression of generosity.
There was a time, and 1t was not SO
long ago, either. when practically all
preachers were regarded as nendicants.
They received for their work such conf
\ ptnsat ton, as the congregation saw fit to
s5 give, 4innd 1t was by no means sure II al
cases that even this pitiful allowance
~ would be forthcoming on pay day. Few
sofs the parshioners felt that they We're
under any obligation to pay stated
sumEof money each year for the support
OF the preacher and the church, and
they gave, If they gave at all, as q con-
trihution TO charity. The preacher was
4 expected to subsist upon the crumbs that
IN fell from the tables of his practitioners;
Vet, in spite Of short ratons to continue
his good work, help the needy, comfort
the weak hearted, administer to all the
necessities of the saints never to utter
a word of complaint, and always to look
pleasant and be! pleasant. The Christian
Church has a human side. and 1t has
committed plumbers and sins, and as hui
man nature is prone TO err much may
be forgiven. But, however charitable one
may be toward the faults and failings Of
Tho church, 1t must be conceded and con-
Il fessed that the church's treatment Of Its
faithful ministers has often been, con-
temptible and dlsgraceful.
1T is gratifying, however, that there has
al,
y for the better in the attitude of the
church towards it's ministers. AS n rule
the minister now receives a stated salary,
and receives 1t when 1t Is due. 1t is
recognized that the minister Is entitled to
his pay; that he earns his wages, and
that ne is In no sense pcnsoner. In
IS many churches the assessment system
prevails, Each and every member In the
beginning of he year pledges bimsef,
or herself, rs he case may be. to pay
so much money towards the support of
the church. and with all rlght-thlnking
people this promise is as much an oblga-
tton as any other debt. Under this sys-
TEN the church has a sure source OF revc-
ll,ie and the officers of the church may
make their plans accordingly. It puts the
business affairs of the church upon n
business footing, and all things are done
Gecently and in order according to the
Ecrptures. Under this system the church
has become more self-respecting nnd,.
therefore. more Respectable and more re-
specicd. The ministers of the church
I have become more independent and man
ly. and, therefore. more influential and
the cause OF religion has become more
Z dignified Xnd more prosperous.
One thing onlssthe church needs to do,
IN order 10 complete the reform thus be-
gun. and establish its complete indcpend-
eiIce, and that Is TO decline all fayors
Of government whatsoever. The church
should refuse to accept free water, free
gas, exemption from taxation, or wlla,
A not tbs not q question whether or not
the government should bestow such gifts
upon The church; the question is whether
sor not the church should receive them.
We are clearly Of the opinion that the
church would greatly strengthen Itself
and Increase and enlarge It's influence II
n should decline All offers of This ma
sure and 50 sets example of dienilled
independence.
As for ministers of the gospel they do
themselves wrong and the cause which
\ they represent injury when they allow
y themselves 70 he treated IN any degree
as mcndicants or pensioners There ii II
grace of refeiyipg as we'll as a grace Of
4iVins. and YaeA gisls are made 10 The