Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-07-09
R. RELATING TO
PASTORS FOUGHT

ZAAAAAA8 ~
railroad orders which grant clergy
men reduced passenger rates, a
movement instituted by Burlington
county preachers. is stirring up much
discussion between ministers of many
denominations as to whether a spe-
cial rebate granted to pastors SHOULD
be condemned by conscience as an
evil to be opposed al strenuously as
Ubiquitous freight rebates, prohibited
under the antitrust law"
The movement means a Statewide
clash between the pass and no-pass
factions of ciergymen, and already
has caused considerable feeling. Sew
eral clergymen of national repute
have taken the ground that the re-
bate is neither better nor worse than
ordinary graft, and are opposing 1t on
the ground that acceptance and use
is incompatible with Christian doc
trine and teachings.
= Conflict of opinion is even found
among local ministers. Father Fred
erick C. O'Neil, of the Church of the
Blessed Sacrament. has set himself
on record as supporting the move
ment, and Rev. Robert S. Inglis, of
the prominent Third Presbyterian
Church, has vigorously condemned 1t.
The matter promises to figure promi-
nelsfly before State associations of
the various denominations at early
sessions, and one attempt already has
been made to put the Episcopal do
cese of New Jersey on record against
the pass system.
How the System Originated.
The fact that the State Publicity
Commission has condemned the prac-
tise and in a recent reoprt asked the
Legislature to make rebating unlaw-
full strengthens the stand of the anti
pass pastors.
. Clergymen have been enjoying con-
siderable reduction in rates on all
lines east of Pittsburgh, being al
lowed a full round-trip ticket for the
ordinary price of a one-way ticket.
The custom has been in vogue since
railroads came into existence. 1t
originated. according to Rev. DR.
Inglis, when ministers were paid
their salaries in produce, such as hay,
vegetables, etc. The railroads could
not accept such stuff as payment of
fare, and In consequence allowed the
ministers to ride free.
I'm the first place, the hackers of
this movement are making a noun
tain out of a molehill," said DR..
Inglis.
1.-THE average minister's wage Il
speak with no personal reference, for
1 represent the few exceptionally
~high-salaried ministers) Is lower
than the average mechanics wage.
This deficiency has been helped m
what by the granting to ministers of
a certain percentage off prices of
various commodities, such as dry
goods (the department stores allow
US a generous discount), and off rail-
road fares. Thus these universal re-
bates are a much-needd and just
addition to the low salaries of min
listers, as many of them could not live
and could not be expected to live on
their salaries without such help.
a 1t Is Not Personal.
Moreover, as to the railroad fare
reduction, most of a minister's travels
are made at the expense of his church,
so that largely the rebate is not a
personal matter at all. All the trav-
cling that I do for my private pleas
ure is done in New York, where l
am allowed no rebate.
"The shoemaker gets his shoes
free, the baker his cake free, the
butcher his meat free, but the
preacher only gets his religion free.
Then, too, the minister is a public
servant. When the city has its fire.
men and policemen ride free 1t is not
graft, it is just a public recognition
of a debt to public servants. More
than half of the minister's work is
for those who contribute nothing at
to his support. Thus the minister
is prominently a public servant, and
as such the public owes him a largo
debt, which it justly pays him in
large through discounts al
lowed him.
"Of course, an established gradu-
ating scale of ministers salaries
made proportionately higher would
obviat ethe necessity of the rebate
system ano would be highly desir-
able, as 1t would free us from the hui
initiation of accepting, reates. But
with the present scale of low wages
these discounts are a just and nee
essary complement to salaries that
otherwise would be too small.
mo. I most heartily disapprove of
this movement, and I believe 1t will
be as abortive as 1t Is useless and un-
just"
Father O'Neill, on the other hand,
said: Personally, I am always will
ing to pay the full price of admission,
whether to a baseball game or to a
theatre. and I am perfectly willing
to pay my full railroad fare. I think
1t no more than right that I should"
The question is expected to give
rise to considerable controversy, and
1t is ven thought by Rev. William
T. Snead, of New Brunswick, the
vigorous leader Of the movement,
that the qestion will be made az is
sue in the open-Sunday legislation at
Trenton.