The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-16
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. Mt Glenn
ems, startled the members Of the De-
troit Baptist Ministers conference,
In their weekly meeting In the Wood
ward-ave. Baptist church, Monday
morning, by announcing that he was
unable to make both ends meet"
by ministerial work. and that he had
practically decided to return to his
practice OF medicine for a living for
himself. wife and two children.
When ! entered the ministry five
years ago." said Mr.. Mclean. 81 own
ed horse. surrey and COW and was
free from debt. Now have lost them
all and am in debt to the extent Of
a couple Of hundred dollars, which
money l was obliged to borrow In
order to get along. No. / don't see
that can get out of debt by stay
ing In my present charge, and / think
II would be well 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 man whose
family would consist OF but two.
when l took hold of the church,
five years ago, I determined that
would make IL self-supporting and !
have succeeded In doing that. 1t got
no help from the board last year, and.
although. was hard up took ii upon
myself to borrow money rather than
place any extra burden on the church -
church"
Mr.. Mclean also requested that, II
he should give up the ministry for
the time being, he be allowed to have
his ordination papers continue In
force.
In response 70 this request. the Rev.
Maurice Penneld Fixes, president Of
the conference, said that he person
ally would not Ncountenance tho fdeg.
He pointed out. however, that the
conference had no power to take def
mite action In the case.
81 want to be kind towards Brother
Mclean" said Mr.. Fixes, but want
to say that would not be In favor
of allowing anybody to hold his ordin-
alton papers after quitting the minis
try. I think, II 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 l should
want to be treated myself. only
want the Rev. placed in front OF my
name when I am going into the pull
Dit to preach the religion OF Jesus
Christ. I don't think II 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 II he wishes to return
to the ministry"
One of the clergymen present OBJ
iected to Mr.. Fixes way OF looking
AT the matter, intimating that mas
much as Mr.. Mclean had practically
been driven out of the ministry, ne
ought to be shown some consideration
in regard to his ordination papers.
Mr.. Fixes replied that Mr.. Mclean
had not been driven out OF the min
iatry. that it was not necessary tor
any clergyman to be forced out OF the
ministry IL God wanted him there. he
ref,,sed TO concede that Mr.. Mclean
was really obliged to quilt the MN
istry. n
OF the Warren-ave. Baptist church,
ended the discussion by having ap-
pointed a committee Of three to wait
ON Mr.. Mclean and advise him In the
matter. The three appointed were the
Rev. M. p. Fixes, chairman, ano the
Reys. c. E. Conley and John Mat
thews, the latter of Royal Oak. i.
Mr.. Mclean said he would be glad
to receive the committee. but said he
had practically made up his mind In
regard to his immediate future.
Replying to a question from the
Rev. r. B. Cutler, pastor OF the Four
teenth-Ave. Baptist church, Mr.. NC
lean said he would be unable to take
nm the work OF medical missionary
In a foreign field, as ne had been ad-
yised some time ago that he wouldn't
he accepted for such work unless ne
took his family with him. His two
children are now 9 and IL years OLD,
and he would be unable to take them
and his wife to foreign mission neid'
he explained.