The San Francisco call., 1909-02-24
MINISTERS DISCUSS THE MEAOER INCOME
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Us aLInefor rm0gkN

This question, raised by Rev. Ferdi-
nand S. Rockwell, who resigned
from the Sheridan Park Methodist
Episcopal church in Chicago because his
income of $1,000 a year was insufficient
for his needs, was answered by his
of them strongly holding to the con-
trary. And this despite the fact that
the average salary of the Methodist
ministers In the state is about $500 a
year Not single Methodist minister
could be found in the city who thought
Rockwelrs step justifable from min
isterial standpoint; there was not one
who gave him moral support.
All were willing to admit that the
ministerial calling as a profession was
woefully underpaid and that the lack of
ready money entailed drudgery and
hardship extremely difficult to bear.
All agreed with him that the same eff
tort and the same intellectual energy
would, If directed toward other ends.
produce more profitable results; but all
were firm against the materialist theory
that in the luxuries of mammon was
found greater contentment than in the
burdens of the cross.
FEEL NO BLAME
They did not blame or criticise the Rev
Ferdinand S. Rockwell of Chicago.
They but maintained that they per-
sonally preferred the rough, unhewn
paths of duty against odds with all its
labor, care and disappointments to the
cushioned seats of an automobile If the
latter necessitated disobedience of
the CALI which originally made them
ministers of the gospel.
They realized the motives which ac-
tuated Rockwell when in resigning he
said: 1T is matter of duty to my wife
and family first for none knew SO well
as themselves that the brunt of the bat
t1a had to be borne by the helpmeet in
the home.
.On the shoulders of the pastors
wife falls the greatest burden said
Rev E. r. Ollie yesterday. Il know
of two ministers wives who are on the
verge of nervous prostration brought
about by their duties in the home and
the church"
Yet, realizing this. there was not one
who held that Rockwell had acted
rightly in forsaking the church for no
other reason than that of better in
come. The wives themselves main
tanned that he was morally wrong
There was primarily their call to the
church and their duty to their creator
and to humanity. All else was sec
ondary.
WIVES EXPECT HARDSHIP
The wives knew what they had to
endure when marrying into the minis
try. They expected a life of hardship
and struggle against poverty and re-
ceived it with as much fortitude as the
woman missionary a martyrs death in
struggle The children, If unfortunate
enough to be born to a minister and
his wife struggling along on pitiful
$500 a year, were but innocent victims
of the eternal, inscrutable law, the
workings of which would be made
clear at the opportune time. Above all
else was their duty to God and man.
the dictates of the divine call
1T is a well known fact" said Rev.
e. r. Ollie of the Central NJ. E. church.
that ministers are poorly paid; but It
is well known fact also that the min
ister does not take up his calling for
the money he is to receive from it. He
lays aside all ambitions of pecuniary
profit when he takes up his work. If
he does not, then he ought not to be
in the ministry. Rev. Mr.. Rockwell
with his income of $4,000 a year was
receiving far more than the average
salary of the minister of the gospel.
Here in California the average SAL
airy is $500 year. In san Francisco