Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-09-02
THE PAY OF PREACHERS

Many years ago, when Tallmadge
was at his zenith, we heard him de-
liver sermon in his Brooklyn Tab
ernacle. His text was "The Burden
Of Egypt" and during his discourse
he alluded to the small pittances
upon which some ministers Of the
gospel are compelled to live. He ask
ed this question, Glow can a con-
gregation expect pastor to main
tain his responsibility upon six
hundred dollars a year," Tall
madge's query was propounded in
1891, when the necessaries OF life
could be procured at about one-half
the rates prevailing now.
A year or so ago we'll known
pastor in one of our. Alexandria
churches rendered his resignation
after the Sunday mornings service.
In doing so he incidentally stated
that he had been existing en-
meagre salary. Last Sunday evening
another well-known minister Of this
city during his discourse referred to
the small salaries paid many preach
ers in this day. He said he made no
references to his cwn allowance. but
was abiding to other wearers of the
cloth, some in foreign lands, who
managed to exist from day to day
unon the small pay they receive
from the home church.
When the average minister of the
gospel reads of Billy Sunday receiv-
ing five thousand dollars for nine
DAYS evangelistic work they natur-
ally fall into re7eries, realizing that
MANY of these who have spent the
larger portion Of their lives in the
service are receiving, in many in
stances. pay below that Of hod-car-
ricrs Of the present day. The ordl-
nary minister, after having been ed
ucated for his profession, spends his
life Studying things spiritual and
making himself an example unto the
flock, and while he is facing the
problem of existence, others, after
passing through scant apprentice
shi@. receive as much pay for nine
days service as the ordinary minis
ter expects in FIVE years.
One of the articles in Chambers
Miscellany is entitled "The Diary of
Poor Vicar" The hero of the
story is described as laboring to rise
SUPERIOR to his difficulties. The
church has given him about one acre
of ground adjoining his parsonage,
upon which he is supposed to raise
vegetables, as his salary is small
While Others were feasting upon the
fat Ct the land he tells of making
his dinner upon boiled turnips-
only these and nothing more.
This matter is attracting some at
tention in Baltimore at present,
many clergymen IN that city are
getting salaries today which would
be considered starvation wages by
any skilled laborer. and which are
substantially the same as before the
H. c. L. took its phenomenal flight
skyward about two years ago.
An analysis of the preachers sal
aries in the Baltimore district of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South
has recently been made by K. G.
Mowbray. layman. and the average
salary given the preachers of this
district is $1,071 q year, fractioni'
less than $1,000 a week. This
amounts to less than So q day. sup-S
posing that :: preacher works seven
days.
At this time s. is regarded as be-
low living wage by the Federation
of Labor for skilled mechanic or
craftsman It is hardly considered
fair wage for unskiilcd labor. and
farm hand WHO gets $3.50 day
also gets his food and usually his
lodgings beside.