Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
The Poorest Paid Profession.

Church members all over the United
States should read with the most care
full consideration dispatches that nave
Just come from three cities. One is from
Chicago and tells how the Rev. Henry NJ.
Mcdowell has severed his connection with
a Congregational church because certain
members objected to his working as an
express messenger at SIS week TO
augment his official salary He had
found it impossible to keep his family
on his pastoral pay and held that he had
excellent scriptural authority for occupy
ing himself honorably in manner not
TO interfere with his clerical duties. From
Cincinnati Ohio. comes the story of the
resignation of Rev. w. r. Gowdy. pastor
of the Presbyterian Church. who refused
to accept a cut of 500 in his pay. Finally
Rev. j. ]. Reitz, rector for twenty-four
wears continuously of a Lutheran church
at Allentown, Pa, resigns because dur
ing that time he has never received more
than half his salary while his con-
gregation owed him an additional SloO
advanced by him to maintain litigation
for the church.
These cases bring pointedly to mind the
fact that preaching is a poorly paid pro-
fession High standards are set for its
members They are required TO dress
neatly. to educate their families, to be
charitable, to set a. good example IN
every way. and yet the average minister
of the gospel in this country Is PAID
less than an artisan. He has an educa-
tional investment representing years OF
study and considerable expense, and
standing for privations and suherinss on
the part of himself and his family. He
is charged with the weightiest of all
human responsibilities, the care OF souls
He must stand before his people as a
shining light Of good behavior, of free
dom from all temptation, of benevoience-
And 10 maintain himself and those de-
dependent upon him he is paid a pittance
which if offered to a member OF work
ingmen's union would cause an instant
| strike.-i
| In some cities large salaries are paid TO
the clergy. Even extrayagant stipends
are offered to bring noted preachers from
one congregation to another But these
are the rare exceptions. For every clergy
man who is paid enough to enable him
to live without anxiety there are a hun
dred at least around whom the grocery
man, and the dairyman. and the dry goods
IDefCNdnt, anu the anu Tie Slot-
maker, and the doctor, and the dentist
stand as a surrounding circle of men
aces How can such men preach with
full freedom of spirit when they are op-
pressed by the fear of bankruptcy and
the shame of debt? 1t IS well. perhaps,
that they should lead abstemious and
economical lives to serve as examples be-
fore their congregations. But unfortu-
nately for the force of the example 1t is
known throughout the jurisdiction of the
church that the minister is careful in his
expenditures not from choice, but from
necessity; that his children are plainly
and perhaps poorly clad not because he
thinks they should be, but because he
cannot afford to buy them better clothes
that the simplest of fare is spread upon
his table not from any conscientious
scruples against good living, but because
his credit at the market is low.
No laborer is more worthy of his hire
| than he who works in the vineyard Of the
Lord, and il is high time that the good
people who organize themselves into
| churches and congregations realize that
| they will get better service and surer
| guidance and more satisfactory teachings
| if they raise the pastoral pay not only
| ing, but in proportion TO the value of the
| work that is done for their spiritual
| benefit.