The Life of Sir William Hartley

The support of the ministry in Primitive Methodism is for the most part the responsibility of the individual circuit. But in some cases it is necessary for aid to be given from other sources. There are Home Missions Stations under the direction of the Missionary Committee and largely supported from its funds. In other cases help is derived from a Sustentation Fund. Naturally as Missionary Treasurer Mr. Hartley had his part to play in such matters, but this calls for no special reference. I may, however, quote one incident which is of interest as showing that he did not wait till consequences forced themselves on his attention, but anticipated them. After a Welsh strike he wrote on September 14, 1898, to the General Chapel Fund Committee of the denomination, pointing out that help would be needed for trustees in localities dependent entirely upon colliery work, and to make up deficiencies in ministers' salaries. He suggested that the Committee should make a grant and raise a Fund in addition. To this Fund he promised to add 25 per cent.

Among the difficult problems created for the Churches by the war that of ministers' salaries was one of the most urgent. It may be well to explain that the Methodist principle can be summed up in the phrase, "Not payment but support." When the denomination accepts a man for its ministry, it takes responsibility for him. He receives his salary, a furnished house when he has completed his probation, and some help for his children. Everything is on a very modest scale; indeed the story of the Methodist manse has often been one of heroic sacrifice and brave unremitting struggle to maintain on inadequate resources the expected standard. On the other hand the Connexional system secures a minimum below which a minister's salary is not allowed to fall; and although there is no maximum which may not be exceeded, the range of inequality is far less than in communions where the salary is settled by an autonomous local church.