Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-07-20

Lesson I1tie: gaul AT Soiih'h-
Lesson Text: Acts IS s:1-22. Mem
orize yrs. o, 10.
Golden Text: "Be not afraid, but
sneak and hold not thy peace" Acts
49,: 9.
l. The Appeal to Business.
Paul was somewhat discouraged
over his reception at Athens. Culture
there was cold and critical At Cor
inth he stayed longer, about year
and half. We have two valuable
letters which he wrote to the church
there. In them he talks very plainly to
his converts and in one of these let
ters there is a perfect gem of litera-
ture-the apostrophe to love.
There is no letter to the church at
Athens. We know of no church there.
Is culture harder to reach than busi-
ness? Why? If you We're starting ,
out to preach would you rather go 10 ,
Athens or Corinth, to the university |
center or to the place of big business |
of great factories, of countless trade
opportunities?
Religion has big message to this
bustling business world, so eager to
"get there" so anxious for men who
"make good" There can be no busi-
ness without honesty, no trade with
out credit, no barter unless men keep
their word Honesty, faith, reliabili-
ty-these are fundamental religious
essentials. The world would revert to
barbarism If religion ceased its re-
straining, guiding work in the hearts
of men. Business men want honest
clerks, stenographers and secretaries.
They must be trained by homes and
Sunday schools and churches. These
are the institutions whose chief busi-
ness it is to make reliable character.
ii. Ministerial Support.
Paul supported himself by making
tents while he was preaching. We
know that he also received gifts from
some of his churches and that he was
sometimes offered the hospitality Of
a home. There are folks who think
minister should live that way today.
When 1 began preaching / used to
''board around" That was before 1
was married., Of course! School
teachers used to board around" We
have learned, however, that it is bet
ter to pay school teachers and preach
ers a fair salary and give them the
privilege of boarding themselves. 1t
increases their self-respect and their
efficiency. Only in tn most primitive
communities does tn old custom pre-
vail.
so also donation parties, as a part
of minister's pay, are back num-
ber. l once received sixteen pounds
of new maple sugar as donation"
1t was fine sugar! 1t was in addi-
ton to my salary, then 500 per year!
My college mates made short shrift
of the sugar. 1t did not pay any bills.
1t was an expression of genuine good
will. The people of our day are pret-
ty we'll agreed that Il minister should
work, and that he should have a liv-
ing wage.
Is the minister paid living wage?
Yes and No. In some cases he gets
generous salary. In many cases he
is not paid on level with other pro-
fessiOnal men, or even of common
labor. He is made an object of char
ity and compelled to depend upon bar
rels and boxes of secondhand cloth.
ing for his home equipment. 1t is
fine to send such missionary barrels
When will the churches pay living
salary so that charity will be no long
er needed? Does a church fulfill its
duty to the ministers at the front by
sending them old clothes and second
hand books? sixty per cent of Con
gregational pastors receive less thar
$1,000 per year. Ministers salaries
have not kept pace with the increased
cost of living. A large proportion ot
ministers in all denominations recciv,
a salary LESS than the wages pait
union brick layer in New York City
No one can claim that ministers, al
class. are greedy and self-seeking
Is YOUR church paying its pastor ,
living wage? If not, WHY not?
III. Folks Near the Church.
There is a Scotch proverb whicl
says:
"a near the Kirk,
Afar from God.'
My experience is that people nea
the church are not usually the mos
regular attendants. Paul, Silas an
Timothy, so the Record says, went t