Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

THE GREEKS IN AMERICA 123the fondness of the Greek mind, for theoretical andphilosophical questions. Consequently both ideasand diction are often above the heads of the audionce.There are among them men of ability, cultureand spiritual power with simplicity of faith. Butunfortunately, there are also men full of greed andworldliness, using the office of priest simply as ameans of material gain. Some are even disbelieversor sceptics and yet they defend the minutest detailsof the ceremonials of the church as a national institution.Others are well informed and in full sympathywith the reform movement in the Greekchurch. They are very friendly to Protestant ministers,organizations and churches. They use opportunitiesto attend services and other meetings. Theytake notes from the sermons and preach them totheir people, and are studying the various vitalproblems and questions in the churches. A numberof them are members of the clergy club, in New York.The Greek priests especially in large cities are verybusy. In addition to the regular services of thechurch, there are many calls for baptism, funerals,marriages, visitation of the sick for prayer and unctionand communion to the dying.Salaries.—The priests in Greece and Turkey areunderpaid and are poor in general. But those in theUnited States are well paid. In addition to a salarythey get fees for the various rites they perform, e. g.,weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc., and the fee iselastic, left to the discretion and social standing ofthe giver. It is customary while the guests congratulatethe bride and bridegroom at the end of themarriage service for them all to place contributionsin a plate. This collection goes to the priest. Apriest in the Middle West in 1918 sent $140 as hiscontribution to the Greek Eelief Committee, representinghalf of the collection at the first wedding heperformed in his new charge.