Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-23

was $2S5.47. Some ministers on the honor
ably retired roll, did not ask for the full
amount to which the honorably. retired
total amount paid to honorably retired
ministers last year was $3S,S25. In 1889
the rule was adopted, allowing ministers
been thirty. years In active service in the
ministry Of our church to be placed on
the honorably retired roll of the board, to
be granted, without being annually renew
ed an annuity of $500, when they certify
that they need that amount. Since then
2o4 ministers have availed themselves of
this this privilege a TWENTY-FIVE names have
year; Is ministers whose names were on
this roll have died during the year. Dur,
ing the past year we have had 100 honor
ably retired ministers on the roll and their
average active service has been 44.2 years;
43 OF these men were over so years of age,
and eight of them We're over 90. Whilst
the honorably retired roll was $685.. Al, the
average amount paid annuitants not on
the honorably retired roll was only $3.50.
During the past year we have added Id
new names to the roll of annuitants: 81
ministers, A widows, one woman mission.
airy and eight orphans. Sixty-s of
those who were a on the roll have died dur
ing the year; ~ ministers, 26 widows, 3
orphans, five of these We're guests at the
Westminster House at Perth Amboy, N. j.
Several of these formerly receiving aid
have withdrawn their requests for further
assistance and others have, not been re.
newed by their Presbyteries Notwith-
standing these facts we have had 931 fam
lilies on the roll during the past year, be-
ing - more families than we ever had in
any previous year.
Receipts for the year 19O0-19O1:
Contributions from churches and
Sabbath schools ..............$ S6,S36.S7
Contributions from individuals. 9,304. go
Interest from permanent funds. Sc, 257. 20
Interest from special funds held
by the Synod of Ohio and 9TH
er trustees ........ .64
Unrestricted legacies transfer
red from emergency fund.-. 1855
I've. have received during the past year
collections from 1922 churches. This Is
the largest number of contributing
churches We, have ever. reported in any
churches than contributed to the board
last year. Three thousand one hundred
and sixty six churches have failed to send
any contribution to this hallowed cause
during the year.
Besides the cash contributions to the
board from churches and individuals, the
ladies' aid societies of our church have sent
boxes of clothing and groceries amounting
to the value of $5.103.50, which is an in
crease in the value of such gifts over
| those of last year of 81 ,529. %.
1.-THE members of the board. of relief
have .endeavored to administer the trust
committed to them as economically as 1t
can be administered consistent with eff
cheney. and during the past year the cost
of administration has been but 4.94 per
cent of the receipts of the board"
The board submitted tables showing the
contributions from the churches In the va.
| rious Synods, and the amount drawn out
of the treasury of the board for the per.
| sons under the care of the Presbyteries In
| the respective .synods from 1888 to 1901.
| Attention Is called to the fact that since
| 1883 when the churches gave more to the
| current fund OF the board than ever be
fore or since In any one year, church col
| lections have steadily decreased. Unless
there is a vast increase over the $s6.S3(
collected In 1901, the board says it twill
be compelled to make the most painful
! cuts In the amounts asked by the Presby
teries for the deserving ones under thei,
| care.
Concluding this subject the report says
1.-THE board is satisfied that If every SEES
sion would appoint standing committee
on the board of relief. composed of repre-
sentatives of the various church organi
cations as previous general assemble.
have recommended, such committed
| could devise ways and means to raiss
more money for ministerial relief than |!
generally raised in the most of oul
| churches"
Board of Aid for Colleges.