The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-02

be commissioned as Evangelist among the
negroes The Committee did not feel that
they had a right to make such grant,
without authority from you.
At the conclusion of the report DIR. Viii
son continued:
And now, Moderator, | have memorial
personal, not official, which | desire to pre-
sent 10 the Assembly.
On motion, the memorial was ordered to
be read 1t is as follows:
Memorial to the General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church N the United States
The undersigned respectfully memoriahzes the
General Assembly upon the Importance OF author
ning the establishment of a mutual relief IttA0,
under It's care for the benefit of the families OF
ministers at their deeeaSe. The fund proposed is
not to be interfered with that already authorized
bv the Assembly for the relief of disabled min
listers and for the families OF ministers de-
ceased. 1t is, in some OF ITS aspects, a ylr-
tual tfe assurance but 1t IS to be easier, ana us
bursed on the simplest principles and without any
of the Objectionable features which attach TO
MANY of the schemes of life assurance. In order
to bring the proposed plan fully and distinctly be-
fore the minds of the Assembly, but without guar
anteeing the precise accuracy Of the hgures used,
the following brief outline is submitted to the con-
sideration Of the Assembly.
1t is proposed, for example, that every eongre-
cation, or union Of congregations under the same
paStorate that pays $50 annually to this fund, Will
establish claim for the family Of their minister,
at his deceaSe to a premium or policy OF Sl,OOO,
or if it be preferred, to 4 yearly stipend OF SUI
for six consecutive years No discrimination is to
be made on account OF age, health, or the number
of years that the minister may have been engaged
in preaching the gospel All ministers are to De
regarded as servants OF the Chureh ana tnelr ram
lies, In consequence, as equally entitled to this
benefcent provision. The only limitation that 1t
IS deemed necessary to be affixed to the general
Man. is that no family should be entitled to their
full premium of 81 900 until the congregation, es-
tabishing the claim, has paid its fifth annuity. =
I'm 10 that period the proper data perhaps, should
be as many hundred dollars as the congregation
has paid annuities The feasibility OF the plan
may be demonstrated by a very brief statement
If, for example, 500 congregations VIII 1all INTO
the plan at once, the receipts tor the hrstyear VIII
be $4,000. In the course of five years 1t will
amount to $4,000. Now, Judging IRON our own
past history as Church, or from the general sta
tistics of mortality it is not probable that there
would be more than ten claimants against the
funds in any one year. In accordance with the
limitation above specified, the ten annual claimants
or fifty in the first Eve years, could draw only ~ o.
600, which would leave the treasury at the END OF
the first FIVE years surplus or capltai OF S9VVVO'
After that period, If the claimants should draw
81 900 each. there would be left annually sur
plus of $4,000 to be added to the capital besides
its regular accruing interest. Should the mortall-
ty be set down at two and half per cent. instead
of two per cent, or an average OF twelve ana nan
claimants instead of ten, the annual surplus would
still be $500 to be added to the capital Inc
only contingency to which claimants could De SUP
iected during the first years OF the working OF the
scheme would be that they might have to receive
the annual stipend instead OF the option OIL the
1000 premium at one time
AS the general fund is increased, as 1t undouot-
edly viii be. the premium, by the order OF the AS,
sembly NAV be raised to 81 200 while the annual
stipend may be raised to $3.50 or be made to ex-
tend over larger number OF years. Should q
minister be translated from one Church to another
he forfeits the claim established by the Church
which he leaves, but he viii be placed upon the
one to which he goes If a minister is entirely cut
off from the work of the ministry from the failure
of health he viii still be entitled to the claim es
tablished by the Church where he was laborlng
when his health failed. Any minister not In the
pastoral work, but otherwise engaged in the ser.
vice of the Church, as professors in colleges and
theological seminaries, editors Of religious news
papers and secretaries, may be entitled to all the
advantages and privileges of the scheme by paying
themselves the regular annuity Of $50. Ia cities
might be allowed to pay $50 per annum and secure
premium of 50, 600 instead of $1,000
1t is confidently believed that the scheme would
be received with great favor by the majority Of
eur churches Many of them are predispOSed tC
do something Of the kind. A tax of $50 per an
mum would scarcely be felt to be burthensome to
Indeed, it would soon come TO be regarded as
part of a ministers salary and might be inserted
in the regular call to the minister. AT the same
time that the tax would not be burthensome to the
congregation it would be an immense relief to the
minds of ministers to know that their families
would not be thrown penniless upon the world at
their deceaSe.
The fund proposed might be placed under the
care of the Committee Of Sustentation, or under
a board Of trustees appointed for the special puS.
pose. In either case its funds should be invested
and disbursed underline general direction of the
Assembly.
Ii the plan proposed meets with the appreciation
of the Assembly, the sooner it is put into opera
ton the better. Ministers are passing. from the
stage of life year by year. Some who are with us
now viii be gone before another Assembly meets.
IL would comfort the hearts of many who are
bowed down with infrmities of age and feeble
health to know that some adequate provision was
made for the support Of their families when they
are gone.
Still, however. if the Assembly is not prepared
10 u OuCt, IL -
the Executive Committee of Sustentation, with
such other individuals as the Assembly may be
pleased to associate with them, be directed to ma
ture plan to be laid before the net Assembly
for consideration.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
j. LEIGHTON WILSON,
DIR. Wilson remarked that in offering this memo
rial he did not suppose it was the only plan which
can be presented There is a feeling that the min
l. L. L.
concerning his family BY some method or other
And many of our churches have been insuring the
lives of their ministers in regular life insurance
companies. But this can be done only by few
Another plan is that of the Free Masons, but this
would hardly work among US. The Northern
Church, has a valuable system, but so complicated
with the support of disabled ministers, that it is
hard to carry 1t into execution.
The Free Church of Scotland has plan some
what ike the following An the ministers draw
their annual salary of one hundred and fifty pounds
from the Central Committee, But at the time of
payment portion of the salary is reserved Tor the
maintenance of fund for the benefit Of the wild
ows and orphans But this plan, too, would be
ineonvenient to us.
am not welded to the plan proposed, but think
the subject deserves the attention of the Assem-
bly, aud ask its reference to a Special Committee.
4ut INepOtI VI lut LAAcCUtlNC OOulIAALl6S On GUS
tentation, was referred to the Standing Committee
on that subject
Dr. Matthews moved to refer that part of the
report which concerns our relations to the freed
men to a Special Committee.
Dr.. Girardeau seconded the motion and urged
Committee of one Minister and one Ruling Elder
from each Synod, to take up the whole question
Of the instruction Of the negroes. There has been
great diversity among our Presbyteries on this
subject and it is desirable for the Church to have
a policy in the matter.
DR.. Girardeau presented a memorial on the sub
iect. as follows:
To the Receread the General assembly of the
Preslaterian Church 10 the United States