The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-13
Philadelphia, and related to the work of the

Philadelphia. and related TO the work of the
Board of Ministerial Relief
Dr. Cattell commenced his address by explain
ing the aims of the Board of Relief. the methods
OF Its administration through the standing COM
mlttees appointed in each presbytery. and the
ground of the obligation resting upon the church
to take care of her sick and aged ministers,
tending that what is done for them is not charity
nor aims, but the payment in part of just debt.
10 this fund the Synod of Indiana last year con-
trl0uted only 81 687. while they drew out from t
Sl,99O TOR the support Of the disabled ministers
within its bounds.
Referring to the question sometimes asked
why the minister does not take care of himself
and his family like other people, DR.. Cattell in
sisted that they generally did, but went on to
snow tnat the great majority of pastors in the
presbyterian Church did not receive the pay of
mechanics very many of them, indeed, received
less tnan the poorest unskilled day laborer, and
that there were reasons which made it vastly
more difficult for the minister to sup
port himself and his family than for
others with small incomes, to say nothing
of laying up anything for sickness old age, or
for his family after his death His position in
society necessitated special expenses from
winch the mechanic or day laborer was exempt,
and he was shut out by public opinion from
many ways that others had for making money.
No one, least of all ministers themselves. would
wish to abolish the distinction that happily ex-
lists between the ministry and all money getting
occupations for this would introduce greater
evils than it removes; but" he asked, lis il any
wonder. with such small salaries and with such
hlndrances to saving, or to supplement the in
come by outside work, there are to be found
these homes of Presbyterian ministers, where
the head OF the family, Frustrated by sickness or
bowed down by the inirmities of age, needs help
from the church he has so faithfully served in
the days of his health and strength?"i
"Bear in mind, said he, ''that all these minis
tiers families for whom l plead are poor not
hnao fha~1h -. 81
even careless in their expenditures, nor because
they have been overtaken by those providential
reverses which bring many business men to
want Is 1t not true that they are poor for the
gospels sake9 That these families are poor be-
cause the husband and father is minister /
am far from asserting that he would certainly
have become rich if he had entered one of the
money making professions or occupations bur
DO assert that In choosing the gospel ministry he
gave up all such expectations he deliberately
turned away from all avenues that lead to
wealth or even competence, and gave to the
duties of the sacred Office to which he was set
apart by the church mis- whole time aud strength
at salary so small and with necessary expendi-
lures so great that he could scarcely hope to lay
up anything for sickness or old age. or to make
suitable provision for his family in case of death
The church, therefore, owes it to herself, as we'll
as to her faithful and self-denying ministers to
make at least some provision for their comfort
when they are no longer able to provide for
themselves. Surely the obligation of the church
to its faithful servants is as great that which
the government owes to it's servants, for whom
1t provides pensions"
mo one" said he, 'knows so we'll as do Of
these darkened homes, where Cody, scholarly
men. who have known happier days, now in
their sickness or helpless old age, praying as you
and have never prayed, though we have often
said the prayer, Give US this day our daily
bread. Their sad letters come to me daily
full of tender, touching pathos; letters feebly
traced on sick beds or by the tremulous hand of
old age, all pleading for help One of the last
read before leaving home says: we are living
from meal to meal. scarcely knowing where the
next is to come from These letters are too
sacred to publish. Indeed Gods people hear
with credulity the statement of pitful case
that now and then / have given to the public;
such case, for example, as published in the
Record of October brought to my notice by
member of the last General Assembly who de-
scribed the house in which aged and honored
mlnlster-for fifty years missionary-was liv-
ing with his sick wife; "a house scarcely fit for
the shelter of cattle""
Giving several other cases of extreme suffer
ing and want among ministers who had given
their best years to the service of the church, DR..
Cattell said, in conclusion, ''Surely the noble i'm
pulse of our common humanity, to hasten for
the relief OF the poor and needy, must be quick
ened by Chrst's spirit within u.s. and He yet sits
as of old over against His treasury He points
to His poor, those who are poor for the gospels
sake; in special sense He calls them His breth-
r0Dt auO TO you ana TO ali his people he says:
Tnasmuch as We have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren we have done it unto
me- It verify seems to me that what is done
for These poor. suffering ministers of Christ be-
side its equity and justice, is like giving
directly to Christ himself than any other form
that our benevolence can take"
At the close of the services the elders of the
several churches met and organized a commit
tee composed of General Wright. j. F. Waick,
John g. Blake, Mr.. Foster, Mr. Ballard, Mr..
Pope, Mr. Matthews. Mr.. jackson, Mr.. McPher-
son and Mr.. Somerville A meeting will be held
in the lecture-room of the Second Presby terrain
Church this morning at IL o'clock. The
lnittee will be extended to include one from
every church in the Presbytery. The necessity
of organized intelligent work in behalf of the
society was shown by Dr. Cattell, in his state
ment to the elders, that the receipts of the
board were constantly diminishing Last year
the appropriations were cut down % per cent.
because of the boards policy not to go into debt
and the receipts of the first eight months of this
fiscal church year are $4,000 less than during
the same time last year.