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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 21, 1868

THE MINISTER'S SALARY.

A worthy miller—so Dr. Chaplain tells the story in Mr. Dunbar's memoir—was once pained by hearing that the minister was going away for want of support, the church having decided that they could no longer raise his salary. He called a meeting, and addressed his brethren very modestly, for he was one of the poorest among these comfortable farmers. He asked if want of money was the only reason for this change, and said if they all were united in desiring the services of the pastor, they could still keep him. The pastor was useful and beloved; but the flock was so poor.

“Well,” said the miller, “I have a p’an by which I can raise his salary without asking any of you for a dollar, if you will allow me to take my own way to do it. I will assume the responsibility for one year. Have I your consent?”

Of course they could not refuse this, although they expressed surprise, knowing the miller to be but a poor man.

The year drew to a close. The minister had been blest in his labors, and no one had been called on for money. When they came together, the miller asked the pastor if his wants had been supplied, and his salary promptly met? He replied in the affirmative. When the brethren were asked if they were any poorer than at the beginning of the year, each one replied “No,” and asked how they could be when their church privileges had been so mysteriously paid for. He asked again, “Is any man poorer for keeping the minister?” And the reply was the same as before.

“Then,” he said, “brethren, I have only to tell you that you have paid the salary the same as you always did, only more of it, with greater promptness. You remember you told me to take my own way in this matter; and I have done so. As each one of you brought his grist to mill, I took out as much grain as I thought your proportion, and laid it away for the salary. When harvest was over I sold it, and have paid the minister regularly from the proceeds. You confess that you are no poorer; so you have never missed it, and therefore made no sacrifice. Now suppose we stop talking about letting our minister go, and add enough to his salary to make us feel that we are doing something.

Mr. Dunbar used to say, “Oh, for a miller in every church!”