The Mena weekly star., 1907-10-24
LEAVING THE MINISTRY.

 weeks printed a dispatch, purport- ing to come from Pittsburg, stating that within the last two years a score of Pittsburg clergymen have given up their charges for the life insurance business, and are making more money" A specific case was mentioned as that of a Methodist minister who upon resigning said to his people:
 ''I do not quit from choice, but from necessity. It is not altogether a matter of money consideration, but in consideration of the high cost of living. If ever the opportunity offers will reenter the ministry, but at present there is not living in it. The shortage of ministers today is occasioned solely by the insufficient pay"
 The Pittsburg Christian Advocate casts doubts upon the statement as emanating from a Methodist minis ter. It further thinks that no Methodist minister of that neigh borhood has deliberately turned aside from this sacred calling that he might accumulate property" Some there are who have entered other lines of work" but without having ''left the ministry because of lack of support" This journal goes on to say:
 There are ministers of other denominations, men of unexception- able character, and also of ability, who are engaged in callings other than the ministry. the reasons for whose course it is not our province to inquire after. Some of them no doubt, have failed to receive calls of a satisfactory character. And one of the reasons which would make a call unsatisfactory to prudent man would be the offer of salary in- sufficient to support his family. A minister, like any other man. must provide for those dependent upon him.
 But notwithstanding what we have said, it is very clear, from the condition of things at present most manifest, that the churches must give earnest heed to this matter of ministerial support if they expect men to enter the ministry and re- main in it. They must be comfort ably supported; and the churches are able to give them such support, if the proper attention is paid to the matter. Our ministers are holding on loyally, but the point may be reached when they cannot do so. It is our duty to see that such a point is not reached"
 The Central Presbyterian (Rich- mond) thinks that the facts alleged in the press dispatch may justly be regarded as one of the inevitable sequences of the conditions existing that in a period of prosperity un-
  paralleled, and of imitation and high prices, the men who live on salaries are those who suffer most, and whose incomes become inadequate for decent and comfortable living. <" Further:
 "Of all the class of salary-support- ed men, there is no part that is as likely to suffer, and suffer seriously, as the ministers of religion. They are unwilling to assume a position ot independence and ask for what they need. They must accept what is given them and cut the coat ac- cording to the cloth Salaries of ministers were fixed when they were called and installed. And changes are not often made with the chang ing conditions and the higher prices, With us the presbyteries examine and approve the calls. but with little consideration as to the amount of salary, and its insufficiency in the community. ..
 We would say candidly to the readers of The Centeral that we dc not believe an adequate support is given to many of our ministers Whatever may have been true ter or twelve years ago, the salaries promised then are not sufficient now. The minister can not turn tc other means of eking out his living without impairing his service to hi. people. Good and useful men ar, burdened with care. if not witt debt, and are made restless anC anxious for change. ."-Literary Di crnof