Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 1, 1865

The Ministry. No. 3.

By James White

THE proper support of the ministry is a subject which demands careful attention. That the minister has wants, and that he must depend on the church to supply them while he gives his time to the work of his high calling, no sane man will deny. On this point discussion is unnecessary. "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Luke x, 7. These words were spoken by Christ in reference to the labors and support of his ministers. But the institution of a system by which gospel laborers may receive according to their works, and this is certainly just, is a matter which calls for close investigation. It is as true to-day, as it was eighteen centuries since, that the laborer is worthy of his hire. And we affirm that it is equally true that the hire is worthy of its labor.

In the summing up of the accounts of men in the final judgment, all are to receive according to their works. None will deny the justness of this course then. And why is it not the will of God that it should be carried out now with those merciful exceptions which circumstances may seem to demand, in the support of the ministry?

The plan of systematic benevolence adopted by Seventh-day Adventists for the support of the ministry is complete in all its parts. It is in harmony with both mercy and justice. Its claims upon the poor are so very light, and upon the wealthy so just, that both embrace it, and cheerfully act upon it. By this system all that was disagreeable in raising means formerly for the support of the ministry is done away, and the willing task under the present system becomes a bond of union to the church.

In this matter our people act nobly. And they have a right to demand that their free-will offerings be properly appropriated to those who labor for the advancement of the cause of truth. Our system of raising means is complete. But, up to the present time, for want of system in labor, and a proper and careful regard for justice and mercy in the disbursement of the means so liberally and cheerfully cast into the treasury, great mistakes are made. To illustrate: Eld. Loughborough, during last Conference year, labored in New England, absent from his family at one time about nine months, laboring incessantly, with his worn and feeble strength, accomplishing two strong men's work, received nearly the amount to meet actual expenses. Under these circumstances, and much reduced in strength and flesh, he cheerfully seizes the work in the West, to build up what some of our liberally-supported ministers there have torn down. In the same Conference to which Eld. Loughborough belongs is a young preacher, not yet suitably proved to receive ordination, who did not accomplish last Conference year one-tenth what Eld. L. did, and yet he did receive from the hands of the disbursing committee nearly the amount paid to our active, experienced, and efficient Bro. Loughborough, so that this young man after being well cared for at the homes of the brethren, and well clothed, had a surplus at the close of the Conference year of more than two hundred dollars.

Now we do not hesitate to say that unless such injustice can be prevented, and the means in the treasury be disbursed as nearly as possible to every man according to his work, we cannot longer in any way sustain our present system of raising means. But existing wrongs must be corrected, and our system of benevolence saved from ruin.

We propose, as the best thing that can be done at present,

1. That one or more of the Gen. Conf. Com. attend all the State Conferences; and as they are best acquainted with the labors of ministers throughout the wide field, and the condition of the different State treasuries, and the Gen. Conf. treasury, they act as counsel in the just recompense for ministerial labor in the different States.

2. That as soon as possible there be established equality, in all the States from Maine to Minnesota, in the compensation for ministerial labors.

3. That each minister keep a record of every day of the week during the year, where he has been, and what he has accomplished, and that this record be submitted to the inspection of the financial committee of the Conference to which he belongs, to receive from the Treasury according to his work, and the fruits of his labor. Conference in session need not be detained by these tedious reports.

We think it not enough to count the minister's sermons during the year. Has he labored among the churches? Let his report show what he has done for the churches. Has he labored in new fields? Let his report show how many he has brought to the truth, and whether they are persons of good moral standing in community, who will do honor to the cause of truth, or persons of no standing and influence in community. We cheerfully bid all, high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, a hearty welcome to all the blessings of the truth, to purify, sanctify, elevate, and save them. But we confess ourself thoroughly disgusted with the flaming reports of numbers of those who call themselves to the work, and come down in style and manners to suit the taste of a class who have no reputation to sacrifice, hence, no cross in embracing the truth. That class of ministers can convert more of their kind to the Sabbath than Elders Andrews, Loughborough, Cornell, Ingraham, and others, can convert of their kind. Yes, they will go out with our publications and scrape them up into the Sabbath, then give a flaming report of numbers; but many of those, after disgracing the Sabbath cause for a while, slide out of it as easily as they slid in. Hence we say, in considering a minister's labors, the moral rectitude of the persons brought to the truth by him should be considered.

All competent committees, will, however, know how to take into the account all the circumstances that surround ministers in their labors, and do all in their power for their encouragement. But we may justly appeal to all who cheerfully cast into the treasury of their hard-earned liberalities, that when they hire a man to labor, they not only take into the account the amount of labor performed, but, also, the manner in which it is done. As things now stand, in some States, men are paid alike for building up, and for tearing down; for serving God, or for serving Satan; for active labor every day, or for waiting at home for the storm to subside, the mud to dry, the snow-drifts to be broken, or the weather to become cooler.

We see no reason why ministers cannot labor, sixty hours at least out of every week, as well as men of other callings. We affirm that they can. Having labored more than seventy-two hours in each week for the last fifteen years, we are prepared to judge in this matter. Our manner of life has been to study and preach on the Sabbath, and then during the other six days of the week be actively engaged in the editorial and business departments of the Review Office. We say, Let every minister who desires health, activity of mind, and buoyancy of spirits, work at least ten hours each day. He can study with his might five hours, visit from house to house with his might four hours each day, and each day preach one hour, instructing and arousing the people with living thought from his vigorous and well-disciplined mind. He has then left him fourteen hours for sleep, recreation, prayer and meditation.

The farmer toils all day with the monotony of his work, the blacksmith swings the sledge and hammer, and blows the smutty bellows all day long, the printer stands picking type, as a hen picks up corn, all day

long, the editor sits at his table all day long, as a goose sits upon her nest, till his brain is weary, and his soul disgusted with the papers before him. And so we might mention a hundred and one monotonous callings which require perpetual application, or the toil-worn man is docked in his wages. But the minister knows no such sameness. He can enjoy the luxury of study and regale his mind with knowledge. Then he can visit and pray with the people, and refresh his own spirit with the very bread of Heaven, and then stand before the people and receive heavenly showers of grace as he from a gushing soul waters others.

And yet many ministers dwell upon the hardships of their life till they make themselves believe that the above-described joyous ministerial life is next to martyrdom. My God pity them! One reason why some of them have no more joy in their work is because of the listless manner in which they engage in it.

The sun is up two hours before them. Leisurely they chat with those who entertain them till noon, and spend the afternoon as though time hung heavily upon their hands. And the people from custom mistake this ministerial idleness for the meekness and humility of the Bible.

Now we propose that our ministers fall under the inspiration of that activity in their high and happy calling, which is conducive to physical, mental and spiritual health, and that every man be rewarded from the treasury according as his work shall be.

In the next number we promise to remark upon the proper course to be pursued by, and toward, men who have their eye upon the ministry. J. W.