PREACHERS' SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 172, 29 October 1910, Page 4

PREACHERS' SALARIES.

That preaching can be made to pay is shown by the recently-cabled fact that "prophet" Baxter died possessing a very comfortable fortune. A British bishop (Dr. Ellicott) died a year or two ago with half a million. The profession is apparently better remunerated in America than elsewhere. A bulletin recently issued by the United States Government gives a number of interesting statistics regarding the salaries paid to clergj-men in the large cities of the States and the general financial conditions of the religious sects throughout the country. The return, which is for the year 1906, though only published in August last, shows that the number of Christian Ministers of all denominations was 104,830, and that the rate of increase in their numbers was about 4000 a year. The average: salary paid was about £l4O per annum, the total sum paid hv way of salary in 1906 being 09,007,587 dollars. The Baptist and Methodist denominations have more than half the total number of ministers, due principally to the very large number of small churches, especially In the rural districts. In the larger'districts the salaries paid are as a rule high. In Manhattan anl Brooklyn scores of ministers are returned as receiving over 5000 dollars a year. In New York the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church offered in a public call the salary of 18,000 dollars and a free residence to a certain minister, and the call was declined. Several New York ministers receive as much as 15,000 dollars a vear, and over a dozen receive 12,000. ' These salaries are said to be the highest paid to ministers anywhere in the world, and it is further stated that while a minister in London receiving £SOO per annum would be near the top of the list in regard to salary. in New York he would be very near the bottom. The average salaries of ministers in American cities with a population of 300,000 and over are shown to be as follows:—Baptist, 1793 dollars; Congregational. 1938 dollars; Presbyterian 2450 dollars; Protectant Episcopal, 1573 dollars; Reformed,' 1938 dollars; Koman Catholic, (JB4 dollars; and Jewish rabbis, 1491 dollars. It has been estimated on the basis of these reports that this year the. sum of 100,000,000 dollars will be paid to ministers in the United States in personal salaries, and that congregational expenses, extensions and missions will involve a further expenditure of "0(1000,000 dollars. " '