Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-02-09
Beln,ul1t Chronicle.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 9, 1855.
PRESBYTERIAN PENSIONS.
New York Mail and Express.

PRESBYTERIAN PENSIONS.
New York Mail and Express.
At the close Of the war Of the rebel
lion it was recognized by all the people
as only right and just that the wild
ows and orphans of soldiers who had
given their lives for their country should
be pensioned by the government. In
all countries it is regarded as only decent
for the government TO continue to pay
certain sum yearly to the officers who
are honorabIy discharged from the ser
vice by reason of years or of iniirmities
contracted in the service of the country.
The receipt of such pension is not dis
honorable, surely, and the bestOwal of it
is only simple justice.
If this principle applies to the soldiers
of nations and governments, why should
it not apply to the soldiers in the army
of the church? These captains, the
preachers of the Gospel, give their lives
to the cause of the church. They re-
ceive, during active service, an average
salary of 800 to 500 a year barely
enough, in the overwhelming majority
of cases, to keep soul and body tOgeth-
ct. When, by reason of years or of in
firmitieS, they are laid aside from active
service, why should not the church do
for them at least as much as political
governments do for their servants?
In recognition of this principle the
n 4.
to raise 100000 as a fund from which
its honorably retired ministers shall re-
ceive pensions. For many years this
church has supported a Board Of Minis
terial Relief, but it is desired now to
place the support of veterans Of the
church army beyond the contingencies
of a yearly collection and to establish a
permanent fund which will insure the
support of every veteran.
This wear is the centennial year of the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States, and no more favorable time could
be chosen for such an offering as is pro-
posed. There is no doubt that the fund
can be and will be raised. Gov. Beaver,
of Pennsylvania, one-legged veteran
of the late war and a Presbyterian elder,
urged this matter upon the great gath
ering of solid Presbyterians that was
held recently at the new Presbyterian
House on Fifth avenue. Such plan
appeals to his soldierly spirit, and it is
not likely that the words of this veteran
of the volunteer army of the United
States will fall to the ground unheeded.
A mass meeting of PresbyterianS, in
aid of this Centennial Fund, is soon to
be held in this city, and at that meeting
action will undoubtedly be taken that
will convince the Presbyterians of the
whole country that their New York
brethren will at least do their share in
helping to care for the disabled captains
of the church's army. The Presbyterian
is one of the wealthiest churches in the
land. 1t raised 100000 in the reunion
year 1t gave last year over $2,OOO,O0O
for missions In this centennial year of
its existence it can address itself to no
nobler work than to provide adequately
for all those who give their lives to its
service.
1t is too much to expect that all the
churches can do the same thing, as yet.
Most of them are not so rich in this
worlds gear as the Presbyterians. But
this example will be powerful one, and
will doubtless stimulate other churches
to do more toward giving an adequate
financial support to their spiritual lead
ers. The influence of such movement
will not be confined within the bounds
of one denomination; it will be an in
spiration and an encouragement to all
in this broad land who profess to follow
the same Master.