The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-08
RETIRED PREACHERS.
Their Better Support Discussed by
ReVs. Wells and Lasby.

1.-THE Better Support of the Worn-out
Preachers" was the subject of the discourse
of Rev. NJ L. Wells, followed by an appeal
by the pastor, Rev. Lasby at the Central
avenue Methodist Church Sunday morning
The subject has been agitating the men,
bers of the Indiana Conference for the past
three or four years. This agitation has
taken shape in the organization of the Vet
Grams Home Society of the Indiana Con-
ference. The object of the society is to
aid the church in paying to the conference
claimants the amount needed for their sup
port. The society is incorporated, and six
of it's trustees are residents of Indianapolis
The plan for helping WORKOUT preachers
by providing residences in which the old
preachers could live free of rent was agi-
tated years ago, but only five years ago
was the first move made towards an organ
ization. Two years ago the first superin-
tendent was appointed by the conference to
solicit help for this cause. The aim of the
association is to raise d large endowment
fund and also to provide residences in which
the old preachers will be allowed to live
free of rent. These residences are the prop
erty of the church. Providing residences
is matter of economy upon the part of
the church.
lie people, Sdlu MI WeIlS, Will give
more literally for a home in their own To-
cality than they will to general fund
Then the same amount invested in a home
VIII yield greater profit to the retired
preacher than the interest on the same
amount would be when loaned. The
churches generally have arrangements for
the life pay OF their ministry, both effective
and retired A life service and life paw
is the plan set forth in the Scriptures. That
the preacher should be supported wholly
by the preaching of the gospel is in har-
mony with the laws of labor and business
There are good reasons why the preacher
should not be expected to make provision
for his own support in Old age. No class
of men do that. Every one should work
on, even in age, for support. 1t ought not
to be expected that the preacher should get
rich and able TO live on the income of
the wealth that he has accumulated The
mind of the one engaged in the soul-Saving
work is turned from the gaining OF wealth.
The great head of the ministry had no
where to lay His head. When He sent out
the twelve He said: Take nothing with
you When He sent out the seventy He
repeated, Take nothing with you When
mtnistry-for 1t was the same call that He
gave to His apoStleS-he said, Sell all that
1t up nor invest 1t. preacher has no time
to look after FARMS nor a store, nor lend
money, nor practice medicine The work OF
saving souls is worthy of all of a man S
time and energies Is this in harmony with
the teaching OF some that the preacher
ought to get rich, so that he could live off
divine plan, which the church in theory has
adopted, is one OF economy. Require all OF
the preachers time and energies, and then
provide for him life support. When ne
is too old to preach he is too old to make
a living in a. new occupation. But the
church takes the choicest of the young men
and uses them during the choicest part of
life and then turns them out and tells them
TO hustle for living or starve No, it is
preachers. The great mass of the church
members will not repudtate the debt to
these old veterans after they have honestly
performed their part of the contract. They
nave preached as long as we would allow
them.
that is thought the retired preacher ought
to have, yet the church has paid only about
one-half of that amount Consequently
there is suffering and want in the homes
of many of these worthy old ministers.
Look at the minutes. See the small amounts
that they receive per year, and you will see
that there must OF necessity be want. They
must lack for food and raiment. No Won
der the preacher prays let me cease at
once TO labor and to live. The regular col
lection of the church furnishes but a very
small part of the amount needed to pay the
conference claimants = about one-ffth.
Therefore some other plan must be devised
by which 10 PROVIDE Tor them a support.
This work requires large donations. We
are hoping ana praying that the hearts of
the wealthy will be moved to give by the
hundreds and thousands Of dollars. This
cause needs an endowment fund of $500 000
The church is amply able to pay these
Old preachers, and the Lord will not hold us
guiltless while they are suffering tor the
necessities of life
DR.. Lasby followed in strong appeal in
behalf of this work. He spoke of the
preacher being incapacitated for accumu-
latng property. He cannot be a. skllful
financier. His work is to preach and bring
souls to Christ. Addressing DR. Wells, the
superintendent he said: God bless you in
your work. Go into all the counting rooms
into the offices, the places of business and
the homes Get all the money that you
can for these worthy old veterans of the
cross.