Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
MINISTERS WANTED
IN THE WEST

A cry comes from the middle western
states that there is great scarcity Of Prot
cstaut ministers. According 10 reports re-
cciyed at the headquarters of Tie Congrega-
tioual Methodist and Lutheran churches ia
Nebraska scarcely week passes but some
minister breaks away from the calling to
engage In another line Of work,
The prosperity of the farming industry
has called away the greater number, but
many have also gone into business and
other professions. Low salaries are said to
be the cause Of the trouble In the Congre-
gational Church, for instance, there is but
one church IN the state that pays 5000 TO
its pastor. Another pays $500. several
others from $3.50 TO 81 500 \ few pay
from $1,000 TO $1,000. but the great bulk OF
the preachers receive SEQ or 500 year. A
large number do not receive more than 500
Il year. When It Is considered that churches
nowadays demand highly finished products
in the way of minis ters-and II requires
three years of academic training. three in
college and four at the seminary TO round
out the modern preacher-the scarcity is not
TO be wondered at. Five hundred a year is
about what the average unskilled laborer
receives. and at that figure, with a family
to keep minister has hard time of it,
The truth is, says the Rev. IL. A. French,
editor of the Congregational News. the
ministry is becoming tainted with CONNER
Ci2lSm, ana the tdlnt Is spreading. Inc
minister of today is usually college-bred
man. and he must have books, he must live
fairly we'll and he wants his family to enj Joy
some of the material advantages of life
While the spirit of self-sacrifice is by no
means dead. preachers are compelled, with
the prices of everything they require mount
ing to consider the question of financial re-
turns. The preacher is sufficiently worldly
to believe that he is entitled to fair return
for the time and money spent in prepara-
ton for his life work. and in addition he
must support his family according to a
standard of living commensurate with his
position IN the world. The greater number
OF vacancies In the Congregational Church
are in the missions and the small places
paying only $500 a year. The average
length of a pastors stay at one of these
places Is year. Usually he finds II hard
task TO raise even $500 among his people
The desire to enter another field at n larger
salary induces many designations. bright
capable ambitious young man is not con-
tent TO labor long for day laborer's wages
and II one succeeds him of like caliber il is
the same story over again. The church has
fallen In line with the demands of business
dn another sense. The aged minister is not
wanted. and very often the line is drawn at
the middle aged. Some congregations in
making their acquisitions put down an age
limit of thirty-five.
"Often the first question asked OF pro-
posed minister is his age, and very often
this is the chief requisite insisted upon. The
older men are being crowded out in the pro-
fessiun right along, and this Is one, OF the
reasons for the scarcity of men to fill Prot
estant pupits. The $500 congregations
usually insist upon the matter of age like
the others"
IT Is asserted that the reports of attend
ance at theological seminaries show a lower
average than ever. The larger financial OPP
portunitiss offered BY the law, medicine and