Church Economics [pp. 325-338]

CHU2RCH ECONOMICS.
a sacred memory connected with it, suggestive to its inhabitants
and to its visitors. "Here is where Alexander," or Hodge, or
Mcllvaine, or Bacon, or Payson "studied, prayed, and talked
with many a soul about Christ and eternal life." The minister
who would not feel an inspiration from rsch a memory must be
exceptionally constituted. In time a library belonging to the
manse might spring up, and the minister's dear study companions, instead of being flung around at his death for half their
worth from an auctioneer's bench, go to his successor. Property
is increasing in value over four fifths of this continent, and as a
rule money laid out in such ways would be a good and profitable investment. A man settled in a house where his children
were born, whence, perhaps, some of them went to the mansions above, where his wife's hand and taste were conspicuous
in a thousand little arrangements and practical ingenuities, would
be less of a bird of passage than a lodger, boarder, or tenant,
and something would be done toward longer pastorates, which
in the end will be found a gain in a settled and orderly community. But even on the rotating plan, as our Methodistbrethren well know, the official residence would be a prudent investment, and an increase of power for good to the congregation.
If it be alleged that in some instances ministers, being unmarried, would not require homes, it is sufficient to say that a celibate clergy is never encouraged in Protestantism, and that in
many instances the temptation to this undesirable and incomplete state of existence would be diminished by the providing
of a home in which "the Bishop" could set the example of a
blameless home-life with his helpful wife, and their children in
subjection.. One pure and godly home, in the nature of the
case under the eyes of a whole district, is itself an elevating
force'that is not to be despised. One other consideration only
we shall indicate as applying to the newer regions of the country. When a minister goes to a town, hires a "hall," and boards
at the hotel, the average townsman looks on him as making an
experiment, and holds aloof till he sees how the thing is going
to work. But if the minister and his adherents set about
the erection of a church-building an official residence for the
pastor-there is a very articulate language in the step. It is
practically to say to the citizen: We have come here, and we
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