News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-09-10

ferently OF twenty-nine ministers SAL
aries in the first period, seventeen were
as large in the second period as in the
first and twelve were smaller; measured
In purchasing power, seven were larger
and twenty-five were smaller. Excluding
those ministers who did not give their
whole time to church work and counting
the rental value of parsonages as money
received, the average salary in the first
period was $646 and in the second $744..
Compared with the frst-period salary as
to purchasing power, the second-period SAL
| airy was 1924.
The country minister in these days is
more dependent for support on his salary
than in the old days of donations and he
is probably glad of it. Complete detail
ed figures to cover donations the investi-
gators could not secure but seven of the
Methodist Episcopal churches increased
their donations and thirteen decreased
them The total average amount given in
donations by these churches in the first
period was $773 and in the second period
1921, decline of sixty-two per cent.
Reckoning by towns there was large de-
crease in donations in every case.
What about the educational equipment
which the churches are thus paying for?
Data were secured from all but three Of
the country ministers of Tompkins County
at the time of the investigation and these,
three probably had little academic prep
aratlon. Five ministers, two in small vii
lagos and three in larger villages, had
seven years in college and seminary. Two.
had fve-years' course, three a four
years course and six three-years course
of similar grade. Six pursued the courses.
of reading and study prescribed by Metho-
dist Episcopal conferences. Seven had
only high or common school education.
One in addition to other studies, took agri--
cultural courses at Brown and two attend
had some experience on farms For the
needs of the country minister today when
the country church is in it's critical period,
the equipment thus indicated is in most
utterly inadequate Eighty
five per cent. of the ministers OF Tompkins,
County never had full course of seven
years preparation in college and theo-
logical seminary. 1t is worthy of note,
also, that thirty-three per cent. of the
ministers are either foreign-born or sons
Of foreign born.
Heroism and Self-Sacrifce
Windsor County in Vermont was the
'ther area selected for study The facts
md figures obtained there, Indicative of
he condition of the country church and
If the causes therefore, correspond closely
With the results Of the Tompkins County
Investigation. In the matter of ministers
alaries-a small part of the field of study
it was found that, at the end of the
period considered, sixty-four
er cent. of the ministers were receiving
alaries less than those paid at the be-
inning of the period. Only twenty-five
er cent. of the ministers had for prepara-
ion full college and seminary course of
even years.
Now it would be quite unfair and ut
erly erroneous to conclude that the coun-
~ ministry is filled by an inferior group
men. Many country parson, of first
ate abilities and Of the finest scholarship
nd cultivation has run his godly race
emote from towns without ever wishing to
mango his place. His contentment with
is lot and his devotion to the people of
is parish are almost incomprehensible to
len more ambitious for position and
over. There was such man, perhaps,
no came into your life There was such
man, perhaps who moulded the COM
unity where you once lived nearer to
hristian ideals.
A man he was to all the country dear,
. in his duty prompt at every call.
e watched and wept, he prayed and felt, for ALL
| knew him. He was a man of spiritual
sion able to translate his version into
lrthly realities. He was man of lati-
lde, for a small community does not
ecessitate a narrow life. He was the
and burden-sharer of all
S people. He was soldier of the
oss, risking his health and exhausting
IS strength in ceaseless toll and in self
rgetful performance of duty in the worst
weather. He came to his white hairs
I'd bent figure prematurely, and there
ere those who spoke of him then as "a
minister" of no further use.
ut the angels had kept the SCROLL and the
cord of his deeds and character had been
ritten in human hearts forever. From
e modest little parsonage in the village,
it'll lilacs in the dooryard, he was called,
vt to larger salary or a city pulpit, but
the golden city and a mansion prepared
old for his coming. To the widow and
ildren, over hundreds of miles of tele-
aph wire, from one of the many who had
own him but to love him, came the
1rds: "God rest his shining soul"
n