THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APIUIj 20, 1011. f
PASTORAL 0 1
The Trials of the Twen
tieth Century Minister
WHY CliKltGYMEX AltE LEAVING
THE l'UOEES.SlON; SOJIE
COM) KACTS TOliD HV
ONE OE THEM.
The report recently given out by
Rev. John llnynes Holmes of the
church of the Messiah, New York
city, showing that 7 per cent, of' the
clergymen of the Unitarian denomi
nation gave up the active ministry
during 1910, causes one to pause and
Inquire into the reasons for the in
creasing tendency among the clergy
to forsake their chosen calling. Ac
cording to Dr. Holmes, the Unitar
ians lost over three times ns mnny
ministers In 1910 through withdraw
al from the active work of the min
istry ns were lost through death.
Thirty-six clergymen out of a total
body numbering only 53S gave up
their work last year and are now re
ported to be devoting their energies
to other tasks in other fields.
The proportion probably does not
hold in other demoniinations; In fact,
Dr. Holmes shows that last year was
an exceptional year in this regard
with the Unitarians. The condition
referred to Is more or less prevalent,
however, in all denominations, and is
said to be increasing. The constant
leakage from the ministerial ranks
of men who have been especially
trained to lead in the work of the
church has probably never been so
extensive as it is at the present time.
When one investigates the reasons
that are back of tills somewhat
alarming condition, ho is impressed
first of all by the fact that a very
large percentage of ministers who
lay down their work in the church do
so for liuanclal reasons. The Increas
ed cost of living is making itself felt
nowhere with more severity than In
the average parsonage. Many a
minister and his good wife are prac
ticing methods of economy that
would cause some of their parish
ioners to blush for shame if only
they could be made to feel their own
responsibility in the matter.
In almost all lines of labor the
wage scale has increased during the
past decade except the ministry.
The Brotherhoods of railway en
gineers and trainmen only recently
s-ecured a 10 per cent, increase in
the salaries of thoir 100,000 mem
bers. The miners in the Pennsylva
nia coal fields had the sympathy of
the entire country to back them in
their winning fight for higher wages
a few years back. And yet the aver
age pay of clergymen, outside the
large cities, is said to bo no greater
than the average wage of the miners
before the strike. The average an
nual salary paid to ministers in this
country, outside the 1150 largest cit
ies, is only $573, or1 less than ?C0 a
month. The average policeman gets
?900; the average railroad engineer
receives $1200. In one church In
Urookllne the pastor is paid $1500,
while the janitor is reported to re
ceive $1200.
The average wage paid to clergy
men becomes more illuminating
when we are told that the average
cost of living per family is, or was
some time ago, $751 a year. Thus,
while the average policeman, en
gineer and mechanic of the better
class receives an average wage which
is considerably above the average
cost of living, the average clercv-
man, on the other hand, outside of
wnat might be called "metropolitan
pulpits," receives an average wage
which is considerably less than the
average cost of living.
Hut it is not alone the small stip
end that ministers receive which is
driving so many of them into other
fields. Ordinarily, in any lino of
worn aside trom the ministry, if n
man seeks another situation ho goes
after it in a fearless, open manner
confident in his own ability to do the
woric in question, and believing that
his worth will bo recognized and
compensated according to its merit.
In tlio ministry, however, a man is
hedged In by certain professional cus
toms and considerations which make
the matter of severing one pastoral
connection and taking up another to
ho a matter not only of great tact
fulness and diplomacy, but also ono
requiring a great deal of time and
annoyance. The modern system of
'candldatlng" la enough in itself to
drive a self-respecting clergyman
Into the Insurance business or cause
him to rent an abandoned farm and
go to raising chickens.
One who has not undertaken to
go into a vacant pulpit as a candidate
knows nothing of the agony of the
experience. The candldato takes
t' f best sermon he has over prepar
ed, knowing full well that every
other mother's son who Is seeking
the pastorate in question will do the
same. Not all candidates are as
frank and plain-spoken as the ono
who. after laying his manuscript on
tlio desk before him. said to his walt
ng congregation: "I want to begin
my sermon this morning by assuring
you thnt while this sormon is bv no
means tlio best ono I havo ever pre
pared, It Is by no means the worst."
The congregation subsequently de
cided that it wnnted a preaehor
whose average hointletlcal effort
was higher than the sample offered
them.
A candidate usimlly fools Justified
In tnklngVthe best sermon ho is cap
able of producing before a strange
and highly critical nudience. Ho
needs the confidence that his best ef
fort lends him to offset the nervous
ness which comes over him us he
sees the members of his congregation
taking note of his hair-cut or tho cut
of his clothes. The general compar
ing of notes among the people In the
pews, as ho goes from one part of the
services to the other Is anything but
reassuring. Tho uplifted brows or
the negative shake of the head as
some elderly splnlster In the front
row listens to some remark of her
next neighbor, adds nothing to his
composure, and certainly lends no
spiritual zest to his message. For
the time, being he feels himself an
automaton, going through his paces
for the edification of his hearers. Is
It any wonder that when a man re
turns homo from such an experience
having learned on his visit to the
vacant church that he la only ono
of 87 applicants, many of whom are
yet to bo heard that he is in such
a frame of mind that n proposition to
become n book agent or almost any
thing else becomes alluring?
The ministerial profession Is un
llko almost any other business on
enrth In that a candidate Is always
kept In tho dark in regard to the
condition of the church In whoso va
vant pulpit ho has asked to be
heard. In business life, a company
seeking a manager thinks It only
proper that before he accepts the
position In question he should have
free access to the hooks and learn
about the condition of tho business.
This is especially true If the com
pany Is seeking a man to take full
charge of n plant, as a minister is ex
pected to take charge of a church.
But the minister must accept the
cnll, If It Is offered to him, blindly
and "for better or for worse," ac
cording as fortune favors him. It is
not unusual for him to find after
ho is on the ground that the church
Is hopelessly In debt a condition
that is not infrequently concealed
from him or that conditions are
such that for some other reason suc
cess is not possible.
A clergyman always gropes in the
dark on a candldatlng trip, and lie
comes at last to feel, after he has
mnde two or three vain attempts to
better his fortunes, that "It's heads
you win, tails I lose" in almost every
venture he makes of this kind. The
churches are usually looking for
bargains in ministerial timber, and it
sometimes pleases them to conceal
purposely the real difficulties of the
situation until they have landed high
and dry the ministerial fish who has
snapped at their bait.
One clergyman recently told of
how he accepted a charge in a largo
city of the middle West, bellevini:
that the location of the church was
such that success was bound to fol
low. The trustees pointed out the
fine residence neighborhood in which
it was located, and impressed It up
on him that It was most fortunately
situated in this regard. After he had
been on the ground for some time,
he found to his dismay that 95 per
cent, of the families who lived witnin
half or three-quurters of a mile were
Jews. They wore Jews of the better
sort, to bo sure, but not available
material for "neighborhood support'
in a Protestant church. And yet the
appearance of the neighborhood lent
itself easily to the misrepresentations
of the trustees, who had only one
thought in mind namely, to secure
a. minister lor a church that is, and
always will be, a forlorn hope until
u is pickou up bodily aud moved 2
miles away.
Lack of proper financial support
and tho soul-trying experiences of
seeiving pastorates through tho "can
dldating system" are not the only
things that make men turn from the
ministry. Some one has said: "Onlv
Ciod and the pastor know the heart
breaking, faith-destroying crimes
that are committed by some churches
against their pastors; men perfectly
able and willing to do the work the
church needs to have done, but who
are simply not allowed to do it be
cause ot some crafty, wire-pulling, ec
clesiastical uoss, who assumes to
know more in a minute about run
ning a church than the pastor does
in a lifetime." .Many a church lias
boon wrecked by a boss, and that
doss not always a man. Tho church
boss can usually put to shame the
political boss when it comes to un
derhanded aud treacherous methods
of administration. "Many a minister
has learned this to his sorrow. Is it
any wonder, when a minlstor finds
himselt compelled to shape his work
and his message to please some busy
oody of a church official, that he
loses rami in the callinc to which
ho was ordained and turns his back
upon it
n layman was returninc roni n
church meeting at which matters of
importance hnd been under consider.
ation. He was In a most unchristian
mood because of tho unchrlsMnn
wrangling lie had listened to on the
pan or tnoso who sought to dictate
tlio course of affairs in the cnurch.
"It tills mo with something a good
ueai notter man righteous Indlgna
tion, lie said, "to see a whole church
minister, trustees, elders, and all
the rest, bowing down to two or
three old bundles of crape In tho
middle aisle just because thoy clutch
the strings of certain mighty purses.
I am ready to resign mv nositlon in
tho church after every such meet
ing." And yet, the minister, if he
would Hold his job. must cheerfully
tolerate those "bundles of crane."
and show a smiling countenance to
all other disagreeablo members of
his parish, whether they find fault
wun mm ror doing a thing or find
fault with him for not doing It. Ho
must show his own Christianity,
whether others do or not.
"Tlio game isn't worth the can
dle," said a clergyman recently to a
sympathetic friend. "I am no lon
ger needed as a spiritual leader. I
am only an ecclesiastical 'jack-at-all-trades.'
1 must ongineer the finances
so that thoro will bo money enough
io meet running expenses. I must
bo present at all tho sowing circles
and missionary meetings. 1 must
plan this and plan that; must dovise
now nnd unthought of ways of en
ticing stray nlckles from the pockets
of the unwnry, and must ovolvo
'miles of pennies or dimes' to raise
money for a new furnace or a carpet
for tho ladles' parlor. Then there is
the calling that's the big bugbear
at my Hfo the nevor ending social
chit-chat that passes for a pastoral
call, I don't object to calling on tho
sick, but this running hero and there,
with no other reason than to be seen
in the homes of my people and make
tehra think I am earning my pay, this
Is tho worst of it for mo."
The day of tho old-time pastoral
visit is past and gone, and in its
place has come a meaningless social
call. The coming of tho minister is
no longer a time of prayer or of
questioning in regard to the state of
one's spiritual welfare. These days
have cone. Tho pastoral call Is now
usually n little chat upon the weath
er, or at most concerned with church
or local gossip of a friendly, social
nature, "l in not paid for preach
ing," said ono clergyman. "That's
the least of my duties. I'm paid
largely -for attending thlmblo parties
nnd pink teas, and for leaving call
ing cards around tho parish."
Many clergymen no doubt turn
their backs upon the ministry con
vinced in their own minds that thoy
can serve God nnd their fellow men
just as acceptably In other ways-and
place's. Still others labor on year
after year upon meager salaries that
permit of nothing being laid by for
age and declining years facing tho
certain retirement to smaller and
moro obscuro fields as their years in
crease, it is the age of young men
In the ministry, as it is the age of
young men in business. The "dead
line ls.no longer GO; it is creeping
steadily down Into the 50s add 40s.
"Wo want a young mnn who can
hold our young people," Is the cry
going up from, countless pastorless
churches. In medicine and law age
and ripened experience bring the
larger demand and tho better com
pensation. In tho churches the half-
baked theologue is at a premium.
When he becomes seasoned and
knows full well how to minister to
the sorrow and sin he finds every
where about him, ho becomes a past
number, an "antique," ready to bo
laid on the shelf. He lias crossed
the dead line. Now let him go to
keeping bees or raising chickens. He
Is no longer wanted save in excep
tional instances so exceptional that
it proves the rule.
Just how raw and inefficient the
average "thelogue" is apt to be upon
graduation is evident from a recent
statement by President Hamilton of
Tufts college to the effect that of tho
1 0 students now in the Crane theo
logical school of that institution, four
were admitted conditioned, arid four
more wore so far from having com
pleted a high school education that
t iey could only be admitted as spec
ial students.
Ye gods! Is it any wonder men
turn from the ministry nnd seek a
living in other fields of activity?
Springfield Republican.
ELUSIVE JEWEL,
Diamonds Have Peculiar Effeol
on Nervous Man.
As Harry Klein. George Gardner'.
Ellas Nathan, Frank Miller nnd Juke
Mintz were seated about a little table
at luncheon time recently It was the
day before Christmas Mr. Nnthan tool;
from his pocket an exquisite diamond
necklace and passed It around for in
spection. 'While those nbout the tabVe
were praising the beautiful sparklers
the necklace suddenly disappeared. Mr.
Nathan's concern over the loss was not
nearly ns great as was that of Mr.
Gardner, in whose hands the necklace
was last seen.
"Well, it's gone; let it go," said Mr.
Nathan. "There are more whore this
came from."
"And there is one where this has gone
to," said Mr. Gardner. "Waiter, an
other cup, please."
When the cup was brought Mr. Gard
ner proceeded to pour off his coffee,
nnd there In the dregs at the bottom
of the original cup was the necklace.
"My fingers trembled so when I took
tiie necklace In my hands," said Mr.
Gardner, "that I lot It fsll. and it dis
appeared in niy ruii of coffee. I had
never seen anything so beautiful lie
fore. Walter, one more. The cigars,
please."
And the incldnt was closed. Cleve
4i ml Leader.
He Was Propa'red.
Mrs McTurk Mr. McHougall. up
stairs, fell over his window sill an'
was kilt lust night, sir. The Minister
Dear, dear, how sad! I trust he was
prepared for tho end? Mrs. McTurk
Oil, I'm sure he wuz, because when he
passed oor window I heard him say,
"Noo fur the bump!" Dundee Advcr-
Iv-
THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF MILWAUKEE, WIS.
AKency ut Honesdale, Wayne Co.,
FROM Till! G3d ANNUAL, REPORT.
Total admitted assets 273,813,
i oiui uusuiuucu in ioicu
Total number policy-holders
New Insurance Reported anil paid for
Increase In Insurance In force over 1U09
Total Income for 1010
Total payment to policy-holders
ltntlo of expense anil taxes to Income
iuu nijij .-u.Mvi. rsu .uioiaivp; iv
Is the place where you can save your
styles are ready. The best styles of
(Iron's clothing.
Remember we have
to-date, worth $15, $16,
the next 10 days at
Breostein
So come early ana see for yoursolf. Watch our windows and see tho
bargains.
A full line ot Youths' Suits from
$1.50 up to $8.
Men's underwear B, N. D. Balbrlggnn Foroskhlt neckwear to fcult
everybody. Full lino of dreos shirts,
trunics, uress suit cases, nana Dags.
use a iuu line oi ucnts- uriusiuim uootis. iiomemuer the place.
BREGSTEIN BROS.
$2,495 IN OLD LOUNGE.
Cart Horss Backed Into It and th
Money Fell Out.
Glistening coins nnd crumpled bills
to the amount of $2,405 greeted the
eyes of Peter .1. Pitts, n teamster, when
n restless cart horse backed a wagon
over a discarded lounge which hud
been thrown out Into an East Boston
street.
Pitts was In the act of loading refuse
from some old buildings which were
being torn down when n wheel of the
wagon broke the lounge to bits. A
bundle wrapped In cloth fell out. Pitts
opened It carelessly, but when his eyes
rested on the coins he gave tho labor
ers a share of the money, and a boll'
day was at once declared on the whole
Job.
Use Auto For Plowing.
Tho first nutomolille for ngrlcul
tural purposes In New Jersey has been
Installed on the Lester Collins farm,
near Moorestown. The mnchlne will
be used for plowing and harrowing
and many other purposes. Collins Is
assured thnt he will be able to plow
fifteen acnes with his automobile
while' a team of horses Is plowing
three.
Honesty.
Judge Did you have a partner with
you when you committed this bur
Clary? Burglar No, your honor. 1
lever works -with anybody. You see,
von i.cvcr can tell whether a chap Is
honc.it or not!
The Home of the
ORGANIZED
1836
gi'essove
Successful!
Will extend every facility
that good banking will
justify.
Accounts of individuals,
firms and corporations soli
cited.
Correspondence invited
OFFICERS:
HENRY Z. RUSSELL-EDWIN K. TORKRY
PRESIDENT. CASHIER.
ANDREW THOMPSON - A. O. LINDSAY
VICK PRESIDENT ASSISTANT CA3Uir.lt.
MRKCTORS:
Henry '.. Ruhskli.
Andrew Thompson-
Edwin I''. Torrey
Horace T. Menner
Louis J. Dorfi.inqeh
Homkr Oreenk
jAMKd C. IlinnsALi,
E. It. llARHKNIlKROlI
Philip R. Murray
l'a.
,063.55
.708.00
i.uaui'J,
' 423,
In 1910 118,7b9,
67,210,
51,070,
32,660,
12.78 per
481.00
033.00
613.00
S02.23
800.00
cent,
iuu listsuici-; with
II. A. TINGLEY, Ascot,
HONESDALE,
I'A.
money as now is the time, Spring
the season for Men's, Hoys' and Chll
250 Men's Suits all up-
$18 and $20 we sell for
.,
?4 to $10; Children's Suits from
collars, Knox hats and caps, also
aB now is the time overybody can
Roll of
Attention is calld to the STUENUTI
il the
Wayne County
The FINANCIER of New York
City has published a ROLL Or
HONOR of the 11,470 State Bank
and Trust Companies of United
States. In this list the WAYNL
COUNTY SAVINGS BANK
Stands 38th in the United Stair
Stands I0t h in Pennsylvania.
Stands FIRST in Wavr.e Countv.
Capital, Surplus, $52r,342.88
Total ASSETS, $2,951,048.26
Honesdale, Pa., December 1, 1910.
DR. E. F. SCAMLON
The Only Permanent Itejddent ltupturo Spec
ialise in r-crniiion.
Ten Years' Success In this Cltv.
CuringRupiure,Varicocele,
Hydrocele
Piles nnd Fistula, Ills-
cases o f Men Cured
forever without opera
tion or detention from
business.
Come to me and I wll
cure you so you will Dr. E. F. Scanlon
not neeu to wear a says: "Trusses will
truss. not cure Itupture."
INTERVIEW OR WHITE THESE
CURED PATIENTS:
Thomas L. Smith, Orson, Wayne county,
l'a. Itupture.
Peter L. Allan, 22 Seventh Ave., Cubon-
dale. Pa. Hydrocele.
Gilbert II. Kniipp. Aldenvllle, Wayne
county. Pa. Itupture. '
J. 13. McConnon, 531 North Lincoln Ave.,
Scinnton, Pa. Itupture.
Davis A. Gaylord, Pleasant Mount,
Wayne Co., Pa. Rupture.
Olllce Hours: 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., and 7 to
0 p. m.; Sundays, 12 to 1 p. m.
Satisfactory Arrangements May lie Mailo
For Credit.
Consultation and Examination Free,
Ofllces 133 Linden St., SCRANTON, PA.
KICK ...THE
Have you a kick coming ?
Is there anything that displeases you ?
Are you unhappy and need cheering up ?
Has any little thing gone wrong ?
Tell us your troubles. Let us help you ?
For each of the three best kicks each week, The Citizen
will give a brand new crisp one dollar bill. , Don't kick too
long. SO words to a kick. No limit, however, to the num
ber of your kicks. You don't have to be a subscriber to be a
kicker.
Open to everyone alike, men, women nnd children, subscribers nnd non-subscribers.
Old nnd young, rich and poor. Iteiuember two cents n word for tho
three best kicks.
There must be something you don't like.
Kick about it. What good is an editor any
way except to fix up the kicks of his read
ers? Relieve your mind and get a prize!
!
A few suggested subjects nt which to kick! The weather, of course.
Tight fitting shoes. The high cost of living. Tho hobble skirt and the
Harom trousers. High hats on week days. Suffraglsm, etc., etc., etc. Tho
funnier tho better.
Several people have asked us If the fifty-word letters containing kicks
havo to bo signed. How else will wo know to whom to award tho prizes?
Whether In tho event of tho letter winning a prize and being published,
tho name of tho kicker would appear Is another question. Undoubtedly
tho -writer's wishes would bo followed on that score. Our Idea of the
"Kick Kontest" includes everything except direct and offensive personali
ties. Sit right down now nnd dash off fifty words about anything you don't
like and want to register a kick against. It won't take you live minutes
and you may win a prize. The moro original tho subject the better chance
for a prize. One dollar for less than five minutes work Is pretty good pay.
Of course you can make your kick as short ob you wish. A clever flftoen
word kick may win a prize over a full-length fifty-word one. The shorter
the better.
For the best kick of ton words or less Tho Citizen will pay an additional
prize of ono dollar. Now then, lace up your shoes and let drive!
I'ltOPESSIONAL CARDS.
Attorncvs-nt-Lnw.
H WILSON,
. ATTORNS 4 COUXBELOK-AT-LAW.
Olllce adjacent to Post onice in IMmmlck
office, llonrsrluic, l'a.
WM. II. LEE,
ATTORNEY & COUNSELOR-AT-LAW.
Olllce over post office. All legal business
promptly nttended to. Honcsdnlo, l'a.
171 C. MUMFOHD,
li. ATTORNEY' COUNSELOR-AT-LAW
Olllce Liberty Hall building, opposite t h
Post Olllce. Honesdale. l'a.
HOMER GREENE.
ATTORNEY & COUNSKLOR-AT-LAW
Olllce over Keif's store. Honesdale Pa.
CHARLES A. McCARTY,
ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR- IT-LAW.
Special and prompt attention given to thi
collection ot claims. Ottlce over ltelf's new
store. Honesdale, l'a.
171 P. KIMBLE,
J; . ATTORNEY 4 COUNSELOR-AT-L AW
Office over the post office Honesdale. l'a.
ME. SIMONS,
. ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LaW
Office in the Court House, Honesdale
Pa.
PETER II. ILOFF,
ATTORNEY 4 COUNSELOR-AT-L AW.
Office Second lloor old Savings Brnk
building. Honesdale. l'a.
QEARLE & SALMON,
D ATTORNEYS A COUNSEI.ORS-AT-LAW
Offices lutelv occupied by Judge Searle u-
piiE a. gakratt,-
Olllce adjacent to I'ost Olllce, Honesdale, P
Dentists.
DK. E. T. BKOWN,
DENTIST.
Office Plrst floor, old Savings llank build
Ins. Honesdale. Pa.
DK. C. It. BKADY,
DENTIST, HOKKSDALH, l'A.
Office IIonits-8 a. m. to 0 ,i. in.
Any evening bv appointment.
Citizens' phone. 33. Hesldcnce. No. 86-X
Physicians.
PH. PETEKSON, M. D.
. 1120 MAIN STREET, HONESDALE, PA.
KyenndEarn specialty. The fitting of glass
es given careful attention.
Livery.
LIVKKY. 1'red. G. Kickard has re
moved iiis livery establishment from
corner Cliu.-ch street to Whitney's Stone
Hani
ALL CALLS
PKOMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
FIKST CLASS OUTFITS. 75yl
Certified Nurse,
MRS. C. M. HONESTEEL,
QLKN EYKK, PIKE CO., l'A.,
Certified Nurse.'l. S. N.
Telephone Ulcn Kyre. 17mol
1 Advertise In Tho Citizen?
EDITOR!!!
i- .XL