The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-06-28
Minister'S Wages
Pressing Need of More Concern for
the Comfort Of the Pastor.

q the reports read at the New
England Southern Methodist
Episcopal conference, should
find sympathetic, intelligent apprecia-
ton by those within and without the
denomination and the ecclesiastical
calling. The matter of ministers
salaries was presented by District SUI
perintendent Coultas of the New Bed
ford district. Mr.. Coultas finds that
IS churches Of his denomination in
the Southern New England confer
ence pay their ministers hardly a
living wage, and many of them less
than living wage" AS to the speak
er's standard of living wage let it
be known that AZ churches pay from
$500 to 500 salary, including parson-
age, and 46 pay less than $500, includ
ing parsonage. The district superin-
tendent says truly that here are
wages almost as low as those of the
striking operatives at Lawrence and
less than those of the street laborer."
Surely Worthy of His Hire.
The Methodists are not alone
among the denominations, probably, in
underpaying their ministry. When the
costly educational preparation and the
social and cultured requirements for
the modern Christian ministry are
considered, 1t must be conceded that
the operative and manual laborer is
better off than the great majority of
preachers and pastors. 1t is no de-
fpncn for 1aunonp 70 hot a1a
men are doing their work for higher
considerations than the material. The
Master had not where to lay his
head" but to him was freely extend
ed the hospitality of the people of his
land and time. He lived as did the
average of the plain people to whom
he preached-neither better nor
worse. But is this true of the min
lister, say, in the smaller southern
New England Methodist parishes?
The minister does not enjoy the free
dom from financial pinch that his
average parishioner does. The inclu-
sion of the parsonage rent as the
equivalent of so much wages Is actual
ly considerable reduction from the
figures given. Men in most callings
receiving $500, $500 or $500 a year do
not pay the rentals at which parson-
ages are appraised. These, like the
church edifices, being visible evil
dences Of the degree Of liberality of
the parishioners, are seldom shabby
There is more willingness to put
shingles on the roof than clothing on
the occupants.
Reproach to the Church.
Men of education, ability, influence,
of power in the community" serving
the community, feeding its intellec-
tual, cultured and spiritual flames, up
holding the standard of the homes
men of family, often with their own
education to pay for and their chill
dren's to plan for, giving all their
time, their soul, with less personal
liberty and privilege than any other
worker, all for dollar or so a day
and perhaps a furnished housed Now
these are conditions existing in popu-
lous, prosperous southern New Eng
land; not in a new land, among a
struggling pioneer people. 1t Is in an
old and great and influential denomin-
alton, whose preachers and laymen
are strong men; not in a new and
scattered sect, with mere handfuls of
adherents here and there.
In the same report from which
these facts are taken there are
numerous evidences of the devotion
and liberality Of the churches in other
matters. The church strives general.
ly for the cause Of better conditions
for humanity, for charity, education
for the dissemination of good cheer
to the distressed, for the kingdom of
heaven on earth. Why not more con.
Germ for the pastors comfort, to as.
sure his cheerful view of life, the edu.
cation Of himself and his children
material sunshine for himself and his
helpmate? '"The church pays the
| lowest wages possible" says Mr.. Coul
| tas. The church member who In his
business pays the lowest wages pos.
| sible," would be charged with falling
far short Of the standard for human
brotherliness that is expected of the
| processing children of God. The moral
principle that it is the generous giver
who receives generously doubtless
would find demonstration in a church
better served If its servants were bet
| ter paid.-Providence Bulletin.
|