The Detroit times., 1911-01-17
MINISTER DRIVEN
FROM PULPIT BY
MEAGER SALARY
Owned Horse, Surrey and Cow
When ! Began Preaching, But
They're Gone Now and I'm in
Debt" Says Rev. R. W. Mclean.
Mt. Clemens Pastor Will Return To
Practice of Medicine That He
May Support Family.

The Rev. r. w. Mclean. pastor of
the First Baptist church. M. Glenn
ems, startled the members OF the De-
troit Baptist Ministers conference,
In their weekly meeting In the Wood.
Waro-aVe. Baptist church. Monday
morning, by announcing that he was
unanle to make both ends meet"
ny ministerial work. and tina. he had
practically decided to return to his
practlce of medicine for living for
himself. wife and two children.
When l entered the. ministry FIVE
years ago." said Mr.. Mclean, Il own
ed a horse. surrey and cow and was
free from debt. Now | have lost them
all and am in debt to the extent OF
couple OF hundred dollars, which
money / was Obliged to borrow In
order to get along. No. don't see
that l can get out OF debt by stay
ing in my present charge, and think
II would be we'll for this conference
to consider the matter of placing an
other person in charge of my church.
The salary being paid by the church
is not large enough for a family OF
four. such as my own. I think the
church ought to have o man whose
family would consist OF but two
When | took hold of the church,
five years ago, determined that |
would make 1t self-supporting and
have succeeded in doing that IL got
10 help from the board last year, and,
although, was hard up took IL upon
myself to borrow money rather than
place any extra burden on the church.
church
Mr.. Mclean also requested that, IL
he should give up the ministry for
the time being, he be allowed to have
his ordination papers continue in
force.
In response to this request, the Rev.
Maurice Penfield Fixes, president OF
the conference, said that he person
ally would not countenance the idea.
He pointed out, however, that the
conference had no power to take def
mite action In the case.
IL want to be kind towards Brother
Mclean" said Mr.. Fixes. but want
to say that I would not be in favor
of allowing anybody to hold his ordin-
alton papers after quitting the minis
try. think, IL a man leaves the min
istry, he ought to no longer be looked
upon as a minister of Jesus Christ.
At least, that Is the way ] should
want to be treated myself. | only
want tho Rev placed in front OF my
name when am going into the pull
pit to preach the, religion or Jesus
Christ. I don't think 1t would be
right for Brother Mclean to still hold
his ordination papers while doing
other work; he might have too many
temptations. Brother Mclean can be
ordained again IL he wishes TO return
to the ministry"
One of the clergymen present OBJ
jected to Mr. Fixes way OF looking
at the matter, intimating that mas
much as Mr.. Mclean had practically
been driven out of the ministry. he
ought to be shown some consideration
i'm regard to his ordination papers.
Mr.. Fixes replied that Mr.. Mclean
had not been driven out of the min
istry: that it was not necessary for
any clergyman to be forced out of the
ministry II God wanted him there. He
refused to concede that Mr.. Mclean
was really obliged to quit the MIN
istry.
The Rev. Myron E. Adams. pastor
of the Warren-ave. Baptist churcn,
ended the OlSCUbSlOu Wy hoNhhS ~
pointed committee OF three to wait
on Mr.. Mclean and advise him in the
matter. The three appointed were the
Rev. M. p. Fixes, chairman. ana the
Reys. c. f. Conley and John Mat
thews, the latter OF Royal Oak.
Mr.. Mclean said he would be glad
to receive the committee, but said ne
had practically made up his mind in
regard to his immediate future.
Replying to question from the
Rev. F. B. Cutler, pastor OF the Four
teenth-Ave Baptist church, Mr. Nc
Lean said he would be unable to take
up the work OF medical missionary
In a foreign field, as ne had been adj
vised some time ago that he wouldn't
be accepted for such work unless he
took his family with him. His two
children are now 8 and IL years old,
and he would be unable to take them
and his wife to foreign mission field,
IL.