﻿WAGES OF VIRTUE 
 
There appears to be a great and abiding discrepancy of wages as among the preachers. Here in New York, where the sin is more fulminating, even ecclesiastical, the various rectors get as high as $10,000 per twelve-month while in Clay-Arcadia they get only $50 every thirty days––yea, verily, $150 per month is considered good wages by the hired hands of the lord. 
Now, I don’t know how the lord arranges his schedule of wages, and I don’t blame him, altho I kind of think he ought to kind of out of the kindnes of his blessed heart standardize the wages a little––but this I know, if a preacher combats sin cheaper than another warrior, he’s scabbing. He’s cutting prices. He’s taking an unfair advantage and attracting more than his share of sheepherding––doing it cheaper––a very un-American thing to do, and I blame him. Of course, he’s unorganized––Did you ever hear of ascab that was organized? No? 
Niether did I. 
Now my point is this (I beg your pardon): Combatting sin is all alike––not harder on one preacher than another––I know this because I’ve studied sin early and late and am still giving a great share of my time to the conscientious examination of iniquity––yea, to the extent that my friends when they catch me at it turn their backs to hide their grief (I’m not often caught; so my excelent record is nothing to grow chesty about––it’s just a matter of lack of vigilance). Where are we at, editor, did you notice what I was talking about––where in hell did I put that page 2,––(I want to see what I was writing about,) I’ve got it editor, right here in my hand––You may start the press again. . . 
My point extends itself. I claim the preachers ain’t getting enough wages–– for the work they do. Not only do they combats in but they have to wrastle with the lord, seven days a week, 24 hour shift. . . . Lots of you guys think preaching is a snap. 
So it is––the preaching part of it––sometimes deliver sermons myself (to the tugboat captains). It never hurt me! But when you go into conference with the lord and he start wrastling with you you’ll earn your bread by the sweat of your kneek. 
Holy Moses! There’s my point again! 
Conference. They got to hold sessions with the lord. Alright. Now, who ever heard of delegate to a conference getting only $50 per month? Even the cheap A. F. of L. never think of paying less than 5 bucks a day (for 8 hours; 3, 8, and 2––and overtime). 
And these preachers ought to be setting a good example! Scandalous! . . . I say, if the lord wont come across with decent wages let him step out and save his sinners himself. . . .What’s that––what’s that, editor? You want to stop the press? 
Just a second––with preachers working dirt-cheap, how can we expect to get wages for decent men? 
Throw off the belt. 
T-bone Slim.