The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-03
THE PAsTORs SALARY

his WTiteT III not u pastor, Dut dur
ing the pas few weeks, he has con-
| versed With number of these SER
wants ri God In the various denomi-
natichs. In every instance churches
were reported to be slow in paying
their pastor. Now, IL a pastor is Gods
appointed man to preach the gospel
in a community, and IL the church in
| said community promises to pay him,
so that he shall, according to Gods
Word Live of the Gospel" then such
promise becomes not merely an
| obligation to man; it is an obliga-
tion, promise to God.
These are times OF retrenchment, of
| cutting down expenses; but the
| Scriptures have never warranted our
| cutting down our obligation to Gui
but, on the contrary, temporal ad-
versity, as well as spiritual decline,
| follow such a course.
The church and the faithful pastor
| are two of the greatest assets any
community can have. For they mean
temporal and spiritual prosperity, 1
would venture not reader of these
lines would live In community where
churches could not be reached. Really
he and his family would not be safe
to live there. Lawlessness and all
| forms of sin would be abroad.
Pastors also have financial obliga-
| tions. They must live, dress well, and
many of them preach all the funerals
In reach, paying their own transpor-
| tation charges. with not O cent from
the bereey a family to replace same.
Then, If he gets, In debt, some of those
same people he has gratuitously SER
we'd Will ask, "how came our pastor
so deep in debt?" Their own negli-
gence constitutes q part Of the answer.
The remaining part lies perhaps with
others who have not given his help
less conditional passing thought. But
this pastor has done his part. The
year has past. Another year has come
in, and till he is unpaid, and humili-
ated because of debt, where, IL he had
his rights, he could pay and look the
world squarely In the face. 2
Paying a pastor is not hard propo-
sition. A small amount from each
would do the work, and hurt no one. A
bushel OF corn will bring one dollar.
SO that those who haven't the ready
cash can In most cases find 1t by
selling something they have in order
to pay obligations to the Lord. This
OF course, applies to the meeting OF
other objects of church work; but !
am following the title of my article,
and not discussing church work in
all of its phases. p..
Failure to pay our pastor, IL we can
do SO, constitutes an offense against
the church, and those who fatty ig-
more this obligation should be answer
abel to that body for remissness In
duty. Churches should prayerfnlly In
vesti4ate such cesesl requiring all
who are able to contribute, and them
selves contributing to those who are.
not able to contribute
Thoroughly Investigation will dis
close many ailments, and will also
| furnish the remedy Many will be
found. whose membership is miles
from their home. IL 4 s
Approached by the pastor or men,
bers of their nearest church soe the
subject OF bringing their letters. said
members will begin to tell how their
young days were spent In the old COM
! ! sfiGaitty, anu tnat their parents are
buried in the old church cemetery,
and that they want their membership
to remain in the old church. On the
tother hand. if a. deacon OF the old
church asks them for g contribution,
some of them at least wiil reply, sesseii,
| haven't heard my pastor preach at
all, and so I don't think you should
expect me TO pay for that which I
did not enjoy. live near another
church (naming It'd and they expect
i,ne to help them But here's sf.o0. .
50 the man with. hin broad acres goes
ON his way, excusing himself both
HERE and there for what he has failed
to do.
believe that In every church where
this 81 true the names Of all such
shosiia constitute a drop list. Those
who have Intelligent Christianitg are
/ not seeking for excuses. but arA try
Hing to do their duty day by day.
sincerely hope the above reflection
Twill find a place in tie minds OF All
who may read them. and that they will
he more figidiy nut into praefice.