Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/59

 A most promising congregation, now comprising 130 families and about 400 souls, has been gathered at PrèlaucPřelouč [sic], out of a population of 4000, mainly through the efforts of a retired railway official, an elder of the Reformed Church. A small church, manse, and burying-ground have been secured at a cost of 7800 florins—1900 florins of which however, remain as a debt on the buildings. On the congregation applying to the Imperial Church Council for permission to call a pastor, they were told they must first raise 4000 florins as a guarantee for the stipend. The people already contribute 400 florins per annum for church purposes, and they would contribute more if they had even the hope of being formed into a regular congregation of the Church. The station has been reported on by Seniors Janata and Szalatnay and Pastor Kaspar, all of whom are much satisfied with the spiritual work which has been going on among the people.

From Herman Mestec, a small town nestling in the hills in the neighbourhood of PrèlaucPřelouč [sic], in the year 1874 a request came for a Protestant pastor; Mr. Paul Nespor was sent to preach there occasionally while the negotiations about Kuttenberg were pending. He reported that for some time previous a few of the people had been holding little meetings for prayer and reading of the Word, and that in this way a desire to have regular Protestant worship was fostered. Thinking that it would be useless to apply for a preacher until they had made some preparation for him, they purchased a building which they propose to convert into a church, at a cost of nearly £300. Eight years have passed, and this zealous and longing little flock are still waiting for a preacher.

The circumstances of these places, Kuttenberg, PrèlaucPřelouč [sic], Herman Mestec, selected out of many, may suffice to show the ripeness of the fields at present open throughout Bohemia, The great obstacle in starting new congregations is the clause in the Edict of Toleration, which permits Protestants to call a pastor only when they can pay what the Government considers a suitable salary—£60—without endangering their power to pay the Imperial taxes. A few years ago an effort made by Pastor Cisar to collect money for a new church 4em