The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
FoR TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
RELIEF FUND.
NJ .
No. 8.

This scheme for the support of the surviv
ing families of the ministers of the Presby
terian Church has some advantages over the
Life Insurance Companies which promise q
similar provision. 1t furnishes the relief fol
a smaller annual payment. And it is enabled
to do this at every age, because the clergy as
a class are free from the vices which injure
and destroy human life, and from bad habits
and dangerous exposures which bring sick
ness and disease and death. This difference
is not large element in human longevity ;
but it is real and sensible, and it is proved
by statistics both in this country and IN Eng
land. Another advantage which enables the
Church to promise relief on lower terms is
the greater economy with which the scheme
can be managed. There are no commissions
to agents or salaries of officers, or expensive
buildings, or newspaper advertisements, or
other outlays for printing and bookkeeping.
There is no danger of fraud, misrepresenta-
sions, deceit, imposture, and false pretences.
There is no loss by speculation, dishonesty,
waste, extravaganza, plunder and robbery.
Everything can be conducted cheaply and
honestly, and much of the work by the vol
untsry labors of disinterested persons who
will receive no compensation for their services.
For these and similar reasons, the church
can conduct this business more faVOrably
than an ordinary corporation; and the ad-
vantages which will result from this will
ensure to the benefit of the widows and the
orphans of her ministers. These advantages
of chespness are accompanied with security,
stability and safety. The contributions to
be made by the ministers are ample to meet
the obligations assumed by the Church, 80
that the past accumulstiOns and the future
payments will provide for the annuities which
are promised. These have been determined
and adjusted by the usual methods of calcu-
lation employed by Actuaries. Aud this
suficiency, Joined with moderate expenses
and honest management are the foundation
elements of all security in every engagement
of this nature. But besides this suficiency
of contributions the promise of the Church
affords an additional element of safety and
stability. The Church never dies. Her
members form perpetual society of noble
and elevated individuals who will not permit
their promises to be broken and their plighted
faith to their pastors and their families to
be violated. They will redeem the pledges
that have been made to the widow and the
orphan. A corporation may fail and disap-
pear and be forgotten. But the Church will
outlive them all and the pecuniary Obliga-
tons which the united body have made in
good faith to the beresved families of their
pastors, will be as sacredly kept as any hu-
man obligation can be. Two elements of
security are thus united in this scheme. The
one is 60 be found in the amount of the an
uusl contributions, which honestly admins
tered and economically managed, will SO &C
cumulste as to meet the obligations assumed.
And the other is the personal promise of the
united body constituting the Church, which
supplements and guarantees the suficiency
of the payments, the honesty and prudence
and economy of the management, and the
faithful performance of the obligations that
nave been assumed.