Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
for higher Salaries.
New York Diocese Takes Lead in Fixing s., 200 as
Minimum Stipend of Ministers Recent
Action of Washington Convention.

only for the Episcopalians. but for other
denominations as well.
The report was in the form of reso-
luton to the effect that the convention
was of the opinion that the minimum
salary for an unmarried clergyman In
the diocese of New York should be $1.20O
and for a married clergyman $1,000 and
a place in which to live, or $1,000 In
clear money. DIR. Parks declared there
were twenty-one mission stations, or
parishes, in the diocese paying less than
the minimum, and the clergymen of hf-
teen of these parishes were married
One man whom he named drew no SAL
airy, another received $410 and seven
$1,000.
1T will be necessary to raise $4,000
for this and minor purposes" he ex-
planned. THE committee proposes that
a tax of 2 per cent shall be levied on
equal amount each parish. A COM
pulsory collection should be taken on
the first Sunday in January as a supple
mentary fund. The committee believes
still further that % cents should be as
sessed annually on every COMMUNICATE
| in such manner as the rector shall see
| fit and deem best.
| He added that the diocese should Of
| fer to help all parishes unable to pay
| the proper salary. and then read the clos
| ing words of the late Bishop Potter on
his final address to the convention of
year ago. in which he advocated an in
| crease in salaries because of the in
creased cost of living; Dr. Parks paused
for a moment, and then went on:
| Let us admit that some clergymen
are not overwise. Let us admit that
| they do little. There is not one, even
if he does no more than administer the
bury the dead. who is not worthy of
more and entitled to more than the bare
| living which so many exc out. / have
heard it said uncharitably that many
are getting all they earn. Let us not
consider that statement. If you could
see some of the letters I have received
| in confidence from suffering clergymen
| there would be no hesitation in this mat
ter.
| "A tradesman. a union man. man
| working with his hands. would go on
strike under similar circumstances. The
clergyman must not be below the labor
unions which would tax themselves to
help their brothers. 1t is poor bust
are overpaid. We have to work over
| time to keep our consciences clear But
if a man with a small salary Is harassed
with bills which he cannot pay, with
suffering family of many needs. how can
he do good work? How can he give to
| charity that which is denied him? This
| resolution is put on the basis Of pure
mercy. The burden falls not on the
| strong, broad-shouldered men. but on
/ the wives and daughters OF the minis
| try"
The committees report was accepted
| The next move will be to eQualize the
salaries, which will be a different mat
| ter.
And right on top Of such a good ac-
ton was received letter in one Of the
newspaper offices begging that the
paper find a minister who would be WILL
| ing to come to a small town in northern
Pennsylvania for $500 Il year, with a
| house and one donation a year, as his
stipend I'VE have been unable to in
| tcrest the missionary organizations in
| our case" the letter went on to say, be
cause We are unable to pay $500 a year."