New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-12

underpaid 70 a degree that amounts
to public scandal The average in
come in one denomination n the
Northern states IS sl.S7 day. They
could better their financial condition
by joining the ragpickers' union. One
of the pressing needs of American
church life is suitable care of ITS
ministers, so that they viii not be
instant temptation TO escape
temporarily from intolerable burdens
by changing their fields of labor.
"A man who gives up the ministry
for business is not worth any salary in
the ministry" declared DR.. Robert W.
Mclaughlin, of the Park Slope Congre-
gstional Church, Brooklyn, yesterday.
HE enters the ministry with his eyes
open and is supposed 20 have burned
mis- business bridges behind him. There
are many ministers who are underpaid.
This condition is disgrace TO the
Christian Church. But they are the
men who believe their compensation in
the ministry is royal, as compared with
any salary business could offer them"
'Preach at Any Cost"
The Rev. DR.. John F. Carson. former
moderator OF the Presbyterian
Church, said: MANY ministers have
entered on business careers, and that
fact should not be subject for criticism.
However, if man believes he is called
of God TO the ministry no condition
should persuade him to give 1t up. lie
Will preach at any cost, any sacrifice,
any suffering. Financial considerations
should not enter into the decision.
Money is necessary, but II IS not
everything. Faith is more. The salaries
paid to many ministers are outrageous
the most severe criticism that can be
lodged against the Church of to-day
There are men in many churches that
spend on Injuries many times each year
the salary paid this troubled young
man, and yet they call themselves
Christians. God save the mark"
Dean Charles Ripley Gillett of Union
Theological Seminary said:
THE problem of this young minister
is one that is mixed up with the sup
port of his family Family require
ments-the education, the clothing, the
feeding of his family make it impos-
sble for him TO live on the miserable
salary. Some time ago an investigation
of the salaries of ministers disclosed
that their average wage was between
800 and $780, Even bricklayers and
plumbers get more than that.
1.-THE minister has no option when he
has a family to support. Even il he
should leave the ministry it does not
mean that he gives up all religious
work. He would attend church and
work for it even as other business
men are doing In fact, have known
of such cases. | have absolutely no
criticism to make against this young
man."
Vocation or Avocation?
whether this young minister should
retire and enter business depends en-
tirely upon whether the ministry is
his vocation or his avocation," ex-
planned DR.. Charles L. Goodell of st.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. "lf
he is in il simply for a livelihood, it
would seem wise for him TO take posi-
ton where he would have larger OPP
portunities for his own comfort and
the bringing up of his family. But if
he is in the ministry because he feels
he could not keep alive anywhere else,
he ought TO stand by his original con-
viction and keep on with his task, at
whatever compensation he may be able
to obtain.
"The highest ideal of life is not to
make a living. We are in the world not
to get out of it all we can for our
selves, but to put into it all we can for
service. Agassiz was so in love with
his science that when they offered him
large fees for outside work he said he
had no time to make money. The divi-
dends which come to a faithful minis
ter of God are better than any paid by
stocks and bonds. At the same time
il is an unspeakable shame that the
Church of God should ask any man 20
give his life and service at the star
Walton rate of $500 year"