The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-12

REV. NJ. y. FULLER,
Providence NJ Z. Church.
testamentary dispositions amounting
to $500 and had been credibly informed
that the sum of $4,000 had also been In
cluded in wills made during the year.
making up u total of Si000 for one
years promises. which he considered
blessed surprise. A gentleman in that
city had given sl00 that day. out of
this the sum OF S., 1886 had been paid.
The Elm Park church had contributed
s., 992 81 toward the fund.
For Woru.Out Ministers.
William Connell. of Scranton, treas
urer of the special fund for worn-out
ministers, in presenting his report said
that he was surprised that the question
had not been taken up twenty years
ago, as its Importance could not be
overestimated The preachers them
selves could, with more ability, place
the matter before them, but probably
they were too modest. or, possibly. too
sensitive to argue their own claims.
Let them not look upon the claims
OF their veteran preachers as an appeal
to charity, inasmuch as it was merely
placing the debt where it properly be-
longed. II any man gave dollar
thinking he was doing charitable act
he would prefer that 1t should not be
given as every Methodist was paying
but Just claim. How could they look
at the audience and see those who had
but few years to remain on this earth.
who had devoted years of their life to
this grand and noble work, without feel
ing that they were neglecting a duty In
helping those veterans to pass their re-
manning days in comfort and free from
poverty He was glad that the success
Of the movement was becoming
brighter.
The report was given as follows: In
vestment, SOS, ,S16.23; benefits paid, 1890,
sixty benefciaries, s66759: 1891, fifty
nine beneficiaries, sss4.6O; 1892. sixty
three beneficiaries, 81, 1,052.25: 1893, sixty
three beneficiaries, $l,236.75; 1894, sixty
six beneficiaries, s1,315.s0; total, s5.-
1859. The amount received from all
sources during the year was s4,6S2.O6.
Rev. Stephen Jay, Of Susquehanna,
made a powerful plea on behalf of the
Preachers Aid society. He urged them
not to abandon the fathers of the
church to their fate but discharge the
obligations which they were under to
help them to pass their declining years
in comfort
Captain w. A. May, of Elm Park
church, as a representative layman, de-
livered an eminently practical address
on the subject, and struck the proper
keynote to arrest the attention of his
audience when he referred to the beau
tiful church in which they were as
sembled, and expressed his admiration
Of its proportions, the harmony Of its
colors and its beautiful organ, and
ranked it as a match for the fine edi-
flee of Elm Park, and then asked. But
ought we not to have provided for these
others before we expended so much
upon ourselves|
Having thus placed the question of
aid to ministers In such prominent
and unique manner, he remarked that 1t
must be acknowledged that it appeared
somewhat selfish i'm providing 50 well
for themselves. and leaving those who
required aid to struggle on in life, as
was well known to be the case in many
instances. The reply which arose in his
mind was that they had paid their min
listers, looked after their comfort and
provided for them In q manner that
churches had not generally done In the
past. 1t was possible that some
churches I'm the conference had not pro-
vided the salaries they had agreed to
pay; II so. he would advise them to call
their creditors together and go out Of
the business. An obligation OF this
character. he argued, was more sacred
than one In business. Granted, how
ever. that all the obligations had been
fulfilled, II did not release them from q
further obligation due TO men who had
devoted their lives and abilities to q
work which laymen could not erform.
ligious purposes and could safely be
judged or criticised as corporations Or
ganized for business purposes.
Among the Business Men.
The tendency among the business cor
porations was to provide for the men
employed by them after they had served
certain length Of time. Captain May
then gave many instances of business
firms which pensioned their employees in
their declining years and submitted that
II the system was adopted in secular
affairs and in matters Of business, 1t
should apply in religious corporations
as well, where not only the ethics of
business would apply, but the far higher
obligation Of love Of man to man, or the
great charity which was taught by the
Master.
The argument could. however, be
made that the ministers only remained