Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-02-01
A MINISTERIAL HUMAN DOCU
pc. l. MENT.

A MINISTERIAL HUMAN DOCU-
~-.. MENT.
While the average ministers salary
outside OF cities does not rise above
ST ,ooo-a figure about on a par with
that of the unskilled laborer, human
documents, like one printed by The
Standard Baptist, Chicago need
cause no surprise. 1t comes from a
minister who tells why he is quitting
his profession to enter business. The
editor OF this paper tells us that the
letter was not intended for publica
ton; and in the early part OF it shows
that it was addressed to an old frienI
in seminary days, who with the writer
had talked OF the future and painted
pictures OF what we were to do lor the
kingdom of Cod Twenty-Five years
have passed and the old friend is given
the reasons that led to this mans de-
cision to desert the active ministry.
Thus
TO be perfectly honest with you,
money has had much to do with my
decision. think you will not charge
me with being mercenary in those days
conscious OF caring any more Tor
money now than | did then have
never desired to be rich; | do not now
desire to be. | have not gone into
business with any expectation OF max
ing a fortune, but | do want to have
something for the years when can no
longer work, and Tor my fanny, ii
should be taken from them. | do want
-p~19-Shle tDs-f:fcet my -biiis-as- they f4l
due. A month ago in Our ministers
meeting an Old minister, shabby Almost
to raggedneSS, arose and told us that
he and his wife were on the verge OF
starvation. He had no money, his
credit was exhausted, thev had no ,ood.
no coal, and were about to be put up
on the street because they could not
pay the rent. we raised some $50
among us and gave it to HIM, and
suppose he will go to the home tor
aged ministers; but it scared me.
saw myself in him. What reason have
| to expect that | shah not be wnere
he is twenty years from now:
'Frugality? Well, | have not been
thriitless, wife and | have tried hard
to lay by a little each year. We cid
get $500 saved up, and then Edna was
taken with tuberculosis and it all went,
and much more, before God took her
home. | had 81 900 per year from the
church at B.. They paid it promptly
and possibly some men would have
been able to save something out oil il
each year. We tried our best and
failed. Once the church thought OF in
creasing the pastors salary, BUT
DEACON EDMUNDS AkGUED
TINT fHE MINISTER SHOULD
TRUST GOD; said that when he be-
gan lie he only had an income OF
$500 tor the first year; spoke OF the
joys OF Christian sacrifice; pointed to
the Savior OF the word and his SELL
abnegation, and the salary was not in
creased, | may say that the deacon is
supposed to be WORTH NOT LESo
THAN 100000. Then | was called to
this held at ST 200 per year. | have
been here seven years, and there has
never been month since the begin
ming when my salary has been paid
promptly. At times the church has
: owed me 5000 and $500. have Dor
red and paid interest, have stood
\credltors until | was ashamed
Jon the street, have scrimped
sted and wiggled until my soul
T. I've had enough.
lays he has touna no, lew,
p T. unselfish, consecrated Chris
\ and Aninks he is not especially
tid or unfair in his estimate.
II }hlgh all these years a convlc-
ton Vas been growing within me that
the average church member cares pre-
cious little about the king dom OF God
and its advancement, or the welfare OF
his fellow men. HE is A CHRIS
TIAN IN ORDER THAT HE MAY
SAVE HIS SOUL FROM HE'LL
and for no other reason. He does as
little as he can, lives as ndifferently
as he dares. If he thought he could
gain heaven without even lifting his
finger for others, he would jump a,
the chance. Never have | known mort
than small minority OF any church
which | have served to be really inter
ested in and unselhshly devoted &c
Gods work. 1t took my whole time
to pull and push and urge and persuade
the reluctant members OF my church
to undertake little something ioI
their fellow men. They took cover.
nat to be faithful in attendance upon
the services of the church, and not one
out OF ten ever thought of attending
prayer-meeting. A large percentagt
seldom attended church in the MORN
ing. and a pitiuly small number i,