Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1877 — Donation Visits. [ARTICLE]

Donation Visits.

The custom of making donation visits to thopastor, or “ pounding” him, as it has oetne to be called, seems to be growing. vWe like these tokens of love—provided that the pastor is first paid f(not promised) a sufficient salary. But as a substitute for a salary they are a heartbreaking performance. When the minister has not bread for his children, when he has long been suffering for the want-of necessary books, when his wife has-not a decent dress, it will not tend to soothe his feelings to present him with handsomely worked slippers, pin-cushkaa and tidies, or even with a gold watch and chain, which he cannot sell,, and is ashamed to wear aver a shabby vest. Let the salary be paid first—a salary sufficient to meet his wants—before presenting him with tokens of love. Let justice be fLret-ttone, then let affection be displayed. 'Give-the workman his wages before insulting him with a gratuity. When the Church Treasurer has the pastors receipt in his pocket it kdinie enougk to think of arranging a donation or a pounding party. When the salary is Eaid, and & large enough salary to meet is wants, then, kind reader, add to it whatever is in your heart to do, that you think avill make the pastor’s lot more cheerful or happier. At heat, it is net an easy life, when he does his duty. There may be sections whore it is difficult or impossible to raise the salary in money-t-is it not in such cases allowable to supplement it with a donation visit of those things of which farmers and oountry housewives have an abundance, and the pastor and his family need ? In this case aisotthe business course is the best. Let the pastor select what he and his family reauire, and let it be reckoned .as a part of hie salary at the sums which the farmer could get from his commission merchant—not at the highest retail prides. The pastor can suit himself better/than others can i suit him. He and his wife know the wants of his family better than the congregation do, and can make his salary go farther, if they indicate what 4s needed,' than if he is robbed of half of it on the pies dhat he has had * donation party. See ghat the salary is first paid -in money or its.equivalent, and the* and not till then, begin to think about giving a dona ion party. —Christian Observer.