ABOUT STIPENDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 131, 26 July 1911, Page 3

ABOUT STIPENDS.

Modern clergy, whether Anglican or Nonconformist, are very moderately recompensed, as a rule, for their parish cares; and modern synods, on their behalf, often call attention" to the low rates of salary. I,hit pre-sent-day stipends are luxurious, indeed, compared to those offered to able and highly-educated inch in days gone by. Wo have a curious , example in a manuscript; letter, dated May 16th, 1763. This is an invitation to a distinguished student at that icademy in Northampton where Dr. Doddridge trained up dissenting -ministers in the intervals of composing religious 1 works. A congregation thus sets forth its need. “Our late pastor, being taken away from this nver folde, and as we he left as shape without a shepard, hearing that you ire a fine man, and your fame is in the churches, we make bold to send for you that we may ho no longer destitute of a pastor.” The idea is, evidently, that a brilliant-youth will be an acquisition to the church—the last man, though sound in faith, “had not the gift of being Poplar among folks, and so did not gather a large intrust as some doq.” Having mule known the wishes of; the flock, the letter proceeds to discuss the licpherd’s stipend. “If we do ower .best we can raise £ls, and we have 25 from London, and we often send over Pastor xvdiat wo have, as 1 (fills, aid the like sort of things, and we ..bird: ministers should not he of tins

,-ovkl.” On this stipend, however, o was to he encouraged to marry. ‘We have a little 'Tabernacle for ower

b-istor trt dwell in, that; joineth to ’.he Sanctuary; it is out of .repair, hut ve will repair it when yew come. It will suffice for a wife, an one of the ’aiders of the land ho given unto row, and as many little wons as yew How an annual in’eorne

ftwonty 'pounds was to j suffice, un!cr those circumstances, it is had o imagine.), even allowing for an ocasional dinner upon a parishioner’s “foul.” i But this rosy future had been foretold by an “aged sister’s” dream. “She dreamed 2 nites together that yew was come, and that ,ow was married, and that yew did build up the church, and so we think yewre call to he clear.” Only one small doubt was expressed, in pathetically’had spelling. “Our late Paj.;r was not toute (taught) of men, md was not accomplished with th; aiming of this world, and as we unlerstand yew are a man of great store >f iittn (Latin), we beg that yew .von’t flee above ower heads.” Also

1.6 was not to read his sermon, “as ./ten times yew men of solastic words md littn doo.” Wo regret wo cannot say whether the brilliant young man settled down there to he admired md half-starved.