Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-24
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
Appeals for Poor and Disabled Ministers
Reports OF Committees

Appeals for Poor and Disabled Ministers
Reports OF Committees
DETROIT, May 23.-After prayer in the
Presbyterian General Assembly this morn
ing ten minutes were assigned, between
the first and second order of the day, to the
representatives of the Evangelical Church
of Italy.
Dr. McCook, of Philadelphia took up
the first order-the report of the Commit
tee on Seal for the Assembly. He de
Tended the serpent on the cross against
those who regard it as ugly and symbol
of Satan. its further consideration was
made the first order for Monday morning.
Rev. Mr.. Luigi Angelini, the representa-
! tive of the Evangelical Church of Italy,
and formerly priest, was then introduced.
He began with the salutation of St Paul
They of Italy salute you.n The Free
Church of Italy, he said, originated from
Bibles smuggled in by travelling tradesmen
when its open sale was unlawful. He then
gave facts showing the health and vigor of
the churches, in their poverty giving over
- per member
The Moderator hoped the period of per
secuton in Italy was passed, and bade Mr..
Angelini God-speed.
The order of the day, Ministerial Relief,
was then taken up. The commitle ee report
ed balance instead of a deficit, as was
usual heretofore, in the treasury of Sl9,-
09149, the total receipts being Sl70, AIS 40
The maximum sum per minister was fixed
by the Assembly at $780, and the average
paid was nearly $3.50.
Rev. Dr. Cattell, Secretary of the Board,
made an eloquent appeal for this object.
He alluded with great feeling to the former
habitual and very remarkable neglect of
this important work. Not more than half
of our churches take collections fer it. He
protested against its being regarded as a
charity 1t is the absolute demand of JUS
tice and honesty that we should not
leave faithful ministers, worn out or
disabled in our service, or their be-
reaVed families, 10 actually. suf-
fer for food and shelter. And it is not
always the poor who neglect, but often the
rich. He contraSted with them a poor
widow who divided fifty cents, that she
had earned by hard days work, and gave
half to prevent such a shame to our great
and wealthy church. The average of the
years of service OF our tifty-eight aided
ministers is nearly forty-nine, and their
own average age is over seventy-eight.
Suppose they were here on this platform,
would Lot we all rise to do them honor!
Why should we, in sheer thoughtlessness,
allow them to bear the bitter modification
of our apparent lack of respect for their
heroic half-century of sacrifice. He drew
a pathetic picture of the sufferings of a
family of one of the most honored and use
full of these, who had faced every kind Of
privation in the early days Of Wisconsin. Q
Elder George j. Junkin, OF Philadelphia,
made a strong argument, saying that we
should not let our action depend upon the
accident of our feeling being stirred up by
the patriotic features of the situation. We
must act on principle in this matter If we
want God TO give US the great blessing OF a
sufficient supply of qualified ministers.
What would be our present condition but
for the work done by ministers and their
families! Think of the maximum, $500.
Is that enough for men who must spend
ten of the best years in getting an expen
sive education, and all the rest OF their
working years in arduous work in which
money cannot, as rule, be laid up!
We must get this whole matter laid
on our conscience. 1t is a point
of honor to pay honest debts, and this is a
debt of honor if ever there was one. Min
isters arc somewhat sensitive in pressing
for collections for this subject. 1t ought
not to be so, but it is natural. Now. here
is aduty for us. We ought 10 see TO it that
the truth about this matter is put before
the business men with whom we are asso-
ciated. Study this subject as it is present
ed in this earnest printed report | have
studied it, my heart burning more and
more over it, for % years. If am hot
about it, that is my apology. Begin an ad-
vance all along the line in supporting the
cost of our work by putting that of this
Board on solid foundation Of adequate
pecuniary resource.
The Committee on Bills and Overturos
recommended the reference Of certain
overtures to their appropriate committees,
and that generally overtures that clearly
belong to particular committee should, by
a vote Of the Assembly, be given by the
Stated Clerk directly to the Jhairmen Of
these committees, without being delayed
by passing through our hands. Adopted.
Elder Lyman, of Washington, ID. c..
said that in his Presbytery there had
been Il necessity of getting ministers
and sessions educated up to the idea of
affording every member an opportunity
OF contributing to everyone Of our
boards, with full light as to its claim.
believe that when you do this people will
give. He deprecated the omission of con
for particular board just be-
cause we don't like its management for the
time being.
A long standing matter of pecuniary OBJ
legation to church at Jacksonville, Fla,
was referred to the Financial Committee
with instructions to report early next
week
The Assembly then adjourned until Mon
day at Ia. II.
This afternoon the delegates went on an
excursion to Ann ArbOr.