The Washington times., 1917-01-23
Here and There
In the News

Il
Economy" Is the keyword Of the
age. 1t Is talked about everywhere
and by all sorts OF people Economy
associations, economy leagues, econ
omy experts and specialists NIL the
land with their theories and expert
ments, and with their rules and dem
onstrations and machinery succeed
often times In defeating the very Cd
jects at which they aim. The true
economists Of the times are not the
leaders OF the societies with long
names, but the preachers, particularly
the preachers who minister to country
congregations. a
There are in the United States about
3OO,OOO churches and something like
2oO'OOO preachers. Most OF the
churches are situated in small COM
unittes and in rural districts, and the
average pay tit Is called "support')
OF the preachers does not exceed $500
the year, or q fraction over 81 the day;
less, In fact, than the wages paid 20
the street sweeper or the hod carrier.
Helping Out His Salary.
Frequently, the salary promised II
not paid In full and the preacher IL
to resort to many expedi-
ents to piece out his living-teaching
school, raising chickens. farming
little, and doing odd jobs out of keep
Ing with his calling. The marvellous
thing about II 10 that, in the main,
the average preacher in the United
States Is the best dressed man in his
parish and manages to live In appar-
emit comfort on an income that would
make q Chinese, the most economical
people In the world, look like a piker.
How Does He Dc Itf
How does he do It? The Lord only
knows. As 9 rule, the preacher is q
family man, and as a rule, also, his
tamily-average Is larger than that OF
other men similarly circumstanced in
his community, IL there be any such.
The proprieties of his position re-
QuIre that he be well-dressed,~ that
his family present q respectable ap-
will be remembered that
the Vicar of Wakefield chose his
wife as she chose her gowns for
qualities that would wear well-and
that he keep up with the progress OF
the world in literature, science, poll
tics, and industry IL his work Is TO
be acceptable. He must be an edu-
Gated man himself, and he must edu-
cate his children, and he is required
by the very nature Of his office to
be hospitable to parishioners and !
strangers. Talk about your econo- |
mists! The average country preacher
In the United States is the Economist |
Of the Twentieth Century, par excel |
lence.
A Local Example.
Across the Potomac river In "ole
there Is q country parish
of most excellent people |
and on a Sunday they hear the words
from the service, at Is more blessed
10 give than to receive" and they
pay the able clergyman who minis
ters to them, e. promise to pay, q
salary OF about 500 the year. II |
happens that he has q family of true
Rooseveltian size, boys and girls to
iress and educate and start in life.
He has no other source of income
han the stipend offered for his ser
1ices, and 1t is said by one who knows
hat his home Is the most hospftable
n all the country roundabout, that
his family seem to have all the COM
'orts OF the better provided neigh
'ors, and the barrel OF meal and the
:ruse OF oil never seem to fail. How
ioes he do it7 The Lord only knows.
Perhaps this country parson In vir-
ginia Is the reincarnation of Elijah
he Tishbite. However, that may be,
he certainly could give the 'profes-
IionaP economists much invaluable
counsel as to the best way of making
he ends meet