Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-02-02
PASTORS UNUSUAL ACT.
Asks That Congregation Divert Il
crease of Salary to Charity.

ASKS mat congregation DiVeTt tn-
crease of Salary to Charity.
An incident of unusual interest,
touching and heart-stirring and not
on the regular program, occurred at
the morning service at the First Pres
byterian church, and which it was
not intended should get into the news
papers. Fortunately, however, a re
porter for this newspaper got wind of
it, and on pain of giving offense for
printing something he was requested
to mention only incidentally" If at
all, the story is appended.
After the choir had sung the offer
tory the pastor, the Rev. J. w. Bach
man, advanced to the edge of the pull
pit dais, and with much feeling In his
heart and tenderness and emotion in
his voice. said in substance what fol-
lows:
my dear people, l want another
word with you this morning. The mat
ter brought before you ON last Sab
bath without my knowledge by my
loyal friends, our good deacons, and
seconded by others of the congrega-
ton, has moved me greatly, and CIV
en- me new evidences of your love and
care for my welfare, though needed
none. I desire to put it on record this
day that you have been faithful in car
ing for my necessities.
almost thirty three years ago
some of you who are still here and
many others of your fathers and moth
ers who have passed into glory. prom
ised to see that l should be kept free
from care and worldly avocations, and
give myself wholly to the work of the
Lord.
THAT VOW has been kept on your
part. l have never lacked since COM
ing among you for good food, good
raiment, and dwelling place for me
and mine. This is better than my
Master had; yea, more, | have never
known a sorrow or trouble which you
have not been quick to relieve, and
help in all that mortal hands and
hearts could do. Time and again you
have ministered to more than my ne
cessities, and met generously any
known desire of mine for travel and
recreation. For all this am profound
ly grateful
Nov in what l shall further say
want you to know that | have taken
no counsel with flesh and blood, but
much with my God. whose am and
whom | serve.
Il love you more for what you have
done, and | hope you will not love me
less for what | shall do. / am nearing
my threescore and ten, and my great
est desire is to honor our Lord and
set an example to young and old
which will help.
my manner and habits of life are
simple and plain, and it is my desire
to keep them so. The salary you are
giving is ample for me and mine A
greater regular stipend might create
habits of ease and self-indulgence,
which would be hard to overcome
when get to be an old man. So you
see am not wholly unselfish in what
am going to ask.
First, that you will direct your lib
crafty from myself to the poor, to our
struggling churches, and to the causes
of missions at home and abroad, and
our aged ministry This will make
you treasures above
Second, | will request my board Of
deacons to let my salary remain as 1t
is and present no resolutions in regard
to 1t to the session of the church. And
so we will close this little disagree
ment, but pleasant episode, by sing
ing:
Blest be the tie that binds, etc.
There were few people present who
could join in the singing, SO sensibly
were they moved by the tender pathos
of the speakers voice and sentiments.
-Chaftanooga Times.