USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 20
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The salaries paid to ministers in former times were nomi- nally less than they receive at the present day. But if we consider the cost of living in those times, with labor at four- teen cents a day, and corn at nine pence a bushel, we must conclude that the earlier ministers received a more liberal sup- port than their successors. Many of them accumulated hand- some estates, and few of them suffered any greater privations than their people.
Salaries will necessarily regulate themselves by the cost of living. They will rise or fall as the value of money is dimin- ished or increased. Few ministers of the present day are ac- cumulating property, and few, we cannot say none, are subject to the privations of actual poverty. They who gather much have nothing over, and they who gather little have no lack. They gather every man according to his eating.
PARSONAGES AND PERMANENT FUNDS.
At the organization of churches, and of parishes or ecclesias- tical societies, in the settlement of towns, it was customary in order to secure a home for the minister, to set off to him a certain portion of land, and aid him in building a house. This was expected to be done as a matter of course, among their first acts with reference to the establishment of the ministry among them. The incorporation of any new town or ecclesiastical society was not only controlled by the Legislature ; it was also made to depend very much on the ability and disposition of the inhabitants to support the gospel, without unduly weak- ening the towns or societies to which they had previously be- longed, since the preaching of the gospel was ever considered essential to the prosperity of the civil state in every community. The grant of land by each town to its first minister, when land was of little comparative value, by vesting the title in him, (as was right, because its chief value arose from the improve- ments he made upon it,) left the people without a home for the next or any succeeding minister. As the great idea they had in mind was that of a permanent ministry, and of course they saw the propriety of making provision for it, the next move- ment for their second or any subsequent minister, was, after suffi- cient trial of his gifts and acceptableness, to offer him a certain sum for a " settlement," wherewith he might provide himself a home besides his regular salary. If this had continued to be the arrangement, as it has in some places, till within thirty or forty years past, it would have been an important check on the peo- ple, against moving for a dismission of their pastors.
After the practice of offering settlements was done away, ministers themselves made arrangements to provide a home from their own,-too often scanty resources, even by run- ning into debt. But their own changing spirit and the insta- bility of their people, have come to make this a useless, an embarrassing and a losing operation. Hiring such dwellings as could be obtained was the next resort. At length the plan
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was adopted of securing a parsonage by the society itself,-in some few cases, by individuals for the use of their successive ministers,-a measure quite consonant and almost indispensable with the too prevalent custom of frequent change and an un- settled ministry. With some pastors there is still a decided preference for the more ancient custom of a minister's having a house of his own; but if the people are restless, difficult to please, and changeable, as they frequently become even after a long pastorate, that arrangement accomplishes little to secure permanency. Until the evils of frequent change are thorough- ly proved, in disaster and decline by many churches, and a re- action takes place, the only convenient course is to have a par- sonage provided, to make dismission and re-settlement as casy as possible. In the present state of things, some are decidedly of the opinion, that parsonages are rather favorable to perma- nence than otherwise.
There are 115 ecclesiastical societies, that own 116 parson- age houses, the aggregate value of which is given in the footing, with the permanent funds.
Some ecclesiastical societies have possessed funds for the support of the ministry from the beginning. In some instan- ces lands were reserved for that purpose at the first settlement of the towns. But more generally permanent funds have been established by voluntary subscription or by legacies. The sup- port of the gospel, partly in this way, seems to be more general in Connecticut than in any other state. To favor this object, ' the Legislature has sometimes incorporated banks with a clause in their charter, allowing ecclesiastical societies a certain propor- tion of their stock if they desired, exclusive of all other appli- cants.
The amount of funds held for the support of the ministry in a few cases comes up to $10,000, in one the value is $50,000. More generally, they vary from a few hundred to five or six thousand. The number of ecclesiastical societies that hold such funds in the state is 197, and the whole amount of funds is $S20,511,34.
This amount of property is owned and improved by all these different corporations, and not by any one ecclesiastical or con- solidated establishment ; it is owned and controlled by the peo-
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ple and not by any association, conference, convention, bishop or pope. It is safe in the keeping of the people, and not liable to be perverted or abused. There are special provisions and safeguards to prevent its misuse. In a few cases some of the funds raised have been lost, by unsafe deposits ; but as the general rule, they are well invested, and sacredly held by the appropriate officers, in trust for their high and noble purpose. A few of the most able churches were far better without these funds, except it be a parsonage ; but in a large majority of cases, they greatly subserve the interests of true religion, by rendering the burdens of annual expense lighter, and by increas- ing the annual salaries, asthe increased expenses of living and therefore the real wants of ministers require. If the more able churches could and would part with the most or all of their funds, and bestow them ou the weaker, or make some provision for more generous salaries, and for proportionate contributions for benevolent objects, their funds would still do good and not evil.
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PERMANENT FUNDS.
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BY REV. G. A. CALHOUN, D. D., NORTH COVENTRY.
No doubt the system of Permanent Funds for supporting the gospel, in connection with the churches of our denomination, originated in a sincere desire to render enduring the institu- tions of religion, and to perpetuate the usefulness of benefac- tors beyond the short period of their generation. But in the inauguration of the system in Congregational churches, two mistakes were committed. First, the application of the funds to the specific objects designed was not sufficiently defined and guarded against perversion. They were often instituted without designating what system of doctrines they were given to support ; leaving those who should have control of them, to apply them to the promulgation of truth or error according to their pleasure.
And in the next place, funds, especially parochial funds, were formed where they were not required. Large and wealthy ecclesiastical societies are better without permanent funds for the support of the gospel than with them. It is no favor to them to be entirely exempt from pecuniary expense in sus- taining the institutions of religion for themselves, and the com- munities with which they are connected. As a general princi- ple, that which costs nothing is lightly esteemed. It is be- lieved that there are churches and societies in Connecticut which have been essentially injured by being freed from care and effort in supporting the ministrations of the gospel. They have not had imposed upon them the care and exertion need- ful to awaken interest and efficiency in ecclesiastical matters ; and hence their inactivity and indifference have reared a bar- rier against benevolent exertions and spiritual progress. His- torie facts in connection with our large churches and wealthy societies lead us to expect a clearer manifestation of the spirit of Christ where there are pecuniary sacrifices annually made,
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than where they are not demanded for sustaining religious in- stitutions among themselves. They who have necessity laid upon them of looking to God for their daily bread, in conse- quence of this necessity may be brought nearer to God, have a deeper sense of dependence on Him, and of their obligations of gratitude, than if provision had been made for an abundant supply of all their wants. We would aid poor churches in sustaining religious institutions among them, and we would do it in the way which will best subserve their permanent inter- ests ; while we would be sure to let the wealthy churches enjoy the favor of making annual provision for themselves, be- lieving that permanent funds are rather an injury than a bene- fit to them. As the Congregational churches of this state have been kept thus long from a forfeiture of their evangelical char- acter, so funds consecrated to the service of evangelical religion have been wonderfully preserved from a perverted application. As no original Congregational church in the state has fully changed its denominational character, we know of no funds which have been taken from our denomination and applied to the support of a church of another name, or to the promul- gation of fatal error. But the history of Congregational churches and institutions out of Connecticut admonishes us of danger, and the need of much caution. And close corporations entrusted with treasures consecrated to the service of the Lord, are invested with a power to do great evil whenever they prove recreant to the trust reposed in them. The ecclesiasti- cal history of New England, for the last half century, is proof of this, without going further back, or to a greater distance. But the churches cannot be supplied with well qualified pastors and missionaries without the endowment of literary and theo- logical institutions.
Theological instruction must be gratuitous, and even be- yond that ; students in theology must be aided in their self-de- nying, struggling efforts to enter the ministry. The question has long been settled, even from the first planting of Congre- gationalism in New England, that a system of permanent funds must be adopted for the education of Christian ministers. And this system has become imperative and more extended since the establishment of theological seminaries. We have no
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desire to see these seminaries so richly endowed as to present a strong temptation to worldings to become occu- pants of their professorships. A chair of gold, in process of time, would probably be in the possession of a thief. A Judas " had the bag and bare what was put therein." But profes- sors in these institutions should be relieved from distressing anxiety in reference to their pecuniary support ; and they and their pupils should be supplied with accommodations and means requisite to the most efficient and successful prosecution of their appropriate work. This end cannot be attained without permanent funds. And if there are permanent funds for the support of professors, for the provision of needful buildings and large and well selected libraries, a field will then he left open for benevolent exertion in aiding indigent students in meeting their necessary expenses. The danger of a perversion of funds in con- nection with our theological institutions is probably greater than from any other quarter.
It is a singular fact, that most of the theological seminaries of New England, established by Congregationalists are, in their organic form, more thoroughly anti-congregational than those of other denominations. They have been committed to the management of self-perpetuating bodies, over whom neither the churches, nor their pastors have any control. In these seminaries, so long as they are held in reputation, centers a powerful influence for or against evangelical religion. And instructors in them are in circumstances most favorable for swaying public sentiment according to their pleasure. As it is expected that they will take the sons of the churches, im- press on them their own views of the revealed will of God, and send them forth to be pastors and missionaries of the churches, a godly jealousy in reference to the kind of instruc- tion given in these seats of learning, is not out of place. The influence of universities in Europe in opposition to evangelical religion, as also that of one planted by our Puritan Fathers, admonishes us of danger from these needful engines of great power.
The system of Permanent Funds in supporting the gospel should not be applied to our charitable institutions but to a limi- ted extent, especially to voluntary associations. We do not ob-
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ject to the Foreign Missionary Board possessing their mission house, and funds to support their secretaries; but the spirit of mis- sions would not be sustained, much less increased, were it not for an annual application to the churches for means to continue the work of faith and labor of love. And to secure permanency and efficiency to the other great charitable societies, they should be intrusted with property sufficient to give them a local and convenient position for transacting the business allotted them ; but we would have them dependent on annual contributions for means to sustain their operations. We should deeply re- gret the loss of the fund created by the missionary societies of Connecticut, or what is denominated the " Everest Fund." There are metes and bounds set to the application of these charities, and the General Association of this state is constituted the almoner. We do not discover ground to fear, that they will not be hereafter, as they have thus long been, a means of great good to the destitute.
But while we would be thus cautious in adopting the sys- tem of permanent funds for the support of the gospel ; we would by no means discourage the benevolent, possessed of property, from making friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that they may be doing good when they are dead and received into everlasting habitations. There are churches in the hill towns of New England, sound in the faith once delivered to the saints, long since planted, and often watered with the dews and showers of grace, which are in pressing need of perma- nent funds to aid them in supporting the gospel. Their necessi- tous condition has not resulted from any marked neglect of theirs, but from the providence of God in taking from them their members to form in part churches at the west, and in man- ufacturing villages, or to give additional strength and efficiency to wealthy churches in our own state. Most of the thirty-two churches in Connecticut, assisted by the Home Missionary So- ciety, were once, not only self-supporting, but were efficient members of our ecclesiastical community. They have made great sacrifices to the spirit of cmigration and to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ. Compared with wealthy churches, theirs has been a double sacrifice-of helpers in the good cause and of pecuniary ability. Indeed to many of our wealthy
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churches it might be said, that though they were rich, yet for your sakes they became poor, that ye through their poverty might be rich.
We understand it to be the purpose of our Home Missionary Society to prevent, if possible, any of these churches from be- coming extinct, and eventually to repair all the waste places of Connecticut. Great good has been accomplished by the assis- tance granted ; but is an annual appropriation of a small sum to each of these churches to keep them from becoming at once defunct, the best method which can be adopted for effecting the purpose formed ? There are some evils attending these annual appropriations, and particularly to the old churches in our rural districts ; it is an annual proclamation of their pau- perism, which is dispiriting to them, and gratifying to their en- emies. A church receives from the Home Missionary Society an appropriation of $100, for which they are truly grateful. It may enable them to eke out the small salary of their pastor for the coming year ; but what will become of us, it is said, if this aid should hereafter be withheld, or if some of our mem- bers should be taken from us? And then, the unfavorable in- fluence which this state of things must have on the pastor, can well be imagined. A bright boy in the poor house to-day, may be at a future period an honor to the pulpit, to the bar or to the congress of the nation ; but an old pauper, who will con- nect their interest with his ? An infant village church may be annually assisted by the missionary society, with the pros- pect, that when old enough it will take care of itself. And this assistance will not consign it, in public estimation, to hope- less pauperism. But facts disclose a reluctance in many men to becoming members of societies, connected with these old feeble churches, who would not hesitate to unite with them were their pecuniary condition fair and promising for the fu- ture. Were the system of permanent funds for the support of the gospel adopted so far as to give weak societies strength to sus- tain the institutions of religion without charitable assistance, and without a heavy burden to be borne by their members ; and also so far as to make the impression on friends and ene- mies, that these churches are to live while generations pass away ; their condition would be at once vastly improved.
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The correctness of this position has been tested by experiment in the Consociation of Tolland County. When many of the churches of that Consociation began to decline in pecuniary strength, in consequence of emigration and the operation of other causes, six of them, aware of their tendency to weakness, secured each a permanent fund of some four or five thousand dollars. With the assistance thus derived, they have been self-supporting, and the prospect is, that they will continue to be thus independent : otherwise they would have ere this be- came beneficiaries of the Home Missionary Society. Neighbor- ing churches, in like circumstances, not improving their oppor- tunity, are now receiving charitable aid ; and we fear the amount now annually bestowed will not for many years eon- tinue unto them the stated ministrations of the gospel. They need each of them a fund of five thousand dollars, to awaken in them hope and expectation of good, to gather strength from the population around them, and with the blessing of God, to win souls to Christ. So do other churches in similar cir- eumstances. And we know not where the system of perma- ent funds for the support of the gospel ean be applied with less danger of perversion, or with a fairer prospect of lasting good. And we know not where emigrants from these churches, or other persons who have property to bestow in charity, can find objects more worthy of their generosity, than our feeble churches.
The friends of God in their operations to enlarge the King- dom of Christ on earth, would be greatly embarrassed without the aid of permanent funds. These funds to be available of good should be put in the right place, and the application of them to the support of the faith and order of our churches be guarded by explicit legal instruments.
A PERMANENT MINISTRY.
BY REV. TIMOTHY TUTTLE, LEDYARD.
Time was, when the location of a minister in any particular place, as pastor of a church, was regarded as a permanent es- tablishment. Until near the close of the last century, the dis- mission of a pastor was an event of uncommon occurrence ; a thing which gave occasion for much remark, and the cause of dismission was the subject of earnest inquiry. Councils, when called to act on the question of dissolving the connection between a pastor and his church, long hesitated before coming to a decision. That churches and societies then considered the installment of a minister as a permanent thing is evident from the fact, that, in the call given to the candidate, they always offered what they called a settlement, that is, something beyond a yearly salary,-something to begin life with, or with which he might purchase a home. Now, that thing is entirely done away ; and well it may be; for if it were continued, societies would often be subject to pecuniary loss.
The frequency of the dismission of ministers began about the commencement of the present century ; and now it is an uncommon thing that a man continues the pastor of the same church during the whole period of his ministry, unless his inin- isterial life should end at a very early stage. In one District Association, (that of New London, ) there have been, in less than half a century, nearly sixty removals of pastors by dismission alone, not including those who have been removed by death.
Now, if we inquire concerning the causes, or the circumstan- ces, which have led to the frequency of dismissions, it may be observed, that the closing period of the last century, or more especially the beginning of the present, was an era, not only of the commencement of revivals of religion, but was also more distinguished than formerly for discriminating doctrinal preach-
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A Permanent Ministry.
ing. The distinguishing doctrines of Calvinism were brought out more fully and pointedly than they had been, in some of the preceding years. They were dwelt upon by the younger class of ministers in almost every sermon. In many pla- ces, these doctrines were new to the people. By many, they were termed "New Divinity ;" and much opposition to them was awakened. This opposition, becoming somewhat formi- dable, caused some instances of dismission. From that time onward, restless spirits in churches and societies-men of stand- ing and influence, finding that they could worry out a minister whom they disliked, and whose preaching was too searching for them to bear submissively, began to make efforts to accomplish their object ; and now it is not uncommon that a very few, thus rising up, cause a minister's removal. Formerly, it seldom en- tered into the minds of the disaffected, that a minister could be dismissed ; or, if any had such an idea, and attempted to bring it about, they were put down by the general voice of the par- ish. But now, if the people composing our churches and con- gregations manifest more uneasiness under a permanent minis- try than in former times ; if they are more given to change, more fastidious, or difficult to please, more fault-finding with their minister, and ready to turn him off, (especially if he has arrived at the age of fifty years or more, or if not thought to stand upon the very summit of modern excellence ;) the cause of this state of things, is the ease, with which it is now found that he can be removed.
At first, the reason assigned most commonly by ministers themselves, in asking for a dismission, was want of support ; though there might be, and often there were, other reasons un- derlying the request. If now the frequency of dismissions is a subject of lamentation, (and we know it has been by both ministers and churches,) the writer of this article must be al- lowed to express his opinion, that the action of ministers then- selves, has, in many instances, tended to introduce this lamen- table state of things; and on them the blame must, in some measure rest. A minister is justified in asking for a dismis- sion when his health fails ; and so he may be when there is an overbearing degree of disaffection in his parish ; but not be- cause one or two individuals rise up against him. He may
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properly ask for a dismission, and he ought to do so, when it is clearly manifest that his usefulness among his people is at an end. But it must be admitted, that many have sought and ob- tained a dismission when there was no urgent occasion for it, and in cases, in which both the minister and the congregation have been sufferers in consequence.
In further proof that ministers should take a part of the blame to themselves in having prepared the way for the present state of things, when changes are so frequent, we would state the fact, that young men have sometimes consented to be settled in a parish, with the intention on their part of not continuing long in it. Perhaps it is some weak parish, or some obscure place. But they have concluded that it will do for the present. until they can make themselves better known, and rise to some eminence ; and then they " mean to go up higher."
Strong and wealthy parishes also do wrong in inviting a min- ister from one that is weaker. Sometimes they send spies to hear one preach, concerning whom a good report has reached them ; and if the spies, after hearing, recommend him, then a call is extended to him forthwith. This is not acting in ac- cordance with the Savior's golden rule, not doing to others as they would that others should do to them. A small and weak parish needs an able minister, as well as a large one ; it needs such a minister to build it up, otherwise it is liable to remain always feeble. Ministers themselves ought to put down this kind of traffic, and to show that they are not to be taken by the highest bidder.
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