Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-08
Continued from page ~

4
ceeds that of any other of these con-
contributions for the support of Con-
ference claimants it is exceeded by only
one of these Conferences.
1t is sometimes asked why the church
| should be expected to contribute for the
support of its worn-out preachers. The
| answer is not far to seek. 1t is Ill the
| constitution of the Methodist EplScopai
church. No one of its regular pastors,
| or presiding elders, has, or has ever
| had, regular salary. III all Method
| ism there is not a pastoral charge
where the pastor has any claim he can
| enforce through the courts OF law. Ill
| other denominations pastor may SIZE
! the local church and attach the church
property for his salary. This has been
| done in our own State. But that can
| not be done in our church because there
| is no contract. An estimating COM
mittee makes an estimate of what
| ought to be raised to provide a COM
Portable support" for it's pastor for one
year. The charge is expected to sup
port him during the time he serves that
particular charge. When he goes to
| another charge the responsibility Tor
| his comfortable support" is thrown on
| that other charge. Then, when he is
| too old, or too feeble to labor on q
charge, who is to support him? This
| the Conference undertakes to do. and
| this makes him Il Confer cncc claimant.
Some years ago there came before the
| Board OF Stewards. which is charged
| with the distribution of the money
jIN nil M Of 1,o
annuatcs. II good brother who said that
| if we would make him an annual al
| lowdnce equal to the interest of six
per cent. on the sums he had taken
| from his own salary and put into the
building or repairing of meetinghouscs
and rarsonages within the bounds of
| the Conference he would be satisfied.
| But on making the computation the
stewards found that they would have
! to allow him about twice what they
! were allowing the claimants that year,
and so his offer was declined.
Surely 10 one will claim that clergy
| men are oVerpaid in Maine, but if the
! East Maine Conference could raise
| two per cent interest on unpaid pas
tors claims, every year, the matter Of
the support of superannuatcs would be
| forever settled. That is to say, there
| is cow due and unpaid more than two
hundred thousand dollars, Say we
are not right when we declare that
| there is no claim more just and equit-
| able than that of the Conference claim
ant?
Among the many plans for increas-
| ing the amount of money for the sup
port of the wOrn-Out preachers. widows
and orphans there is none that PROM
| iseS better results than the proposition
| to increase the collections annually
made in the public congregation. Tn
fortunately there has been falling off
| in the amounts raised in this manner,
while at the same time nearly all the
| other interests of the church show adj
| vanced. and advancing. collections.
Properly and fairly represented 20 the
| people there is no cause which, more
generally commends itself to their
Syinpathies and their support. A care
| full study of all the conditions causes
me to believe that we can easily rails"
| fifteen hundred dollars next year, ana I
shall recommend that this amount he
appOrtioncd. That exceeds by four hun
. drcd dollars TIE amount raised !ast
/ IL
fund of ten thousand dollars. The
claim is just. the people believe it to ba
just. they are ready to do justice. Let
us give them full opportunity.
At $50. this afternoon, the annual meet
| ing Of the Preachers Aid Society was
held at the auditorium of the Methodist
| church. The meeting was called to order
by the president, L. L. IIanscom of Rock
land
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year:
President, l.. l.. Hanscom. Rockland.
vice PRESIDENT, w. W. Ogier Bangor: sec
rotary. John Timing, Houlton: treasurer.
{. A. Plummcr. Thomaston.
| The bond of the treasurer was increased
I from $500 10 So5sl
| Several other matters of business of mi
nor Importance were also disposed of ut
this meeting
At the auditorium Of the Maine stree,
rec Baptlst church at 3.45. thi.; after
! noon. occurred the annual session OF tn,
Preachers Wives Association.
Inc meeting was called to order by the
president, Mrs. NJ. S. Hill of NewpGrt.
| Mrs. j. w Hatch of Wintcrpurt. wds in
| the Secretiry'S chair.
MI ne wn mee ii, vas very interesting and
/ being comfortably well filled
! The following excellent literary and
musical program was prcscntcd:
Sinsing-Hymn 94l.
| Prayer, Mrs A. l., \utter I-nio,
| Solo. Mrs. ]. w. Day. Damariscotta
| Ianer-"My Industrial Work Among
Girls, Mrs. W. a. Luce. Calais
! Vocal Solo, Mrs. J. T. Moore. iodg,ion
faper-'Some Thoughts on Some Books
Papcr-"Child Life"
Mrs. +. l.. Hayward. Bucksport
Inc seeretary,s report was read and &C
! cepted at the beginning of the meeting
a memoir of Mrs. S. l.. IIanscom was
| read by Mrs. w. W. OSier. Bangor
! AT the business session of this lsSoc;a-
| ton tie following officers We're elected
| Tor thf ensuing -'car:
President, Mrs. d. H. Tribou. Boston.
Mass vice president Mrs. FREDERICK Pal
| Iadin$, Caribou; secretary, Mrs G. M
| Bailey, Camden.
The secretary was instructed TO send
letter of sympathy to each parsonage
home where death has entered during tha
past year.
| The officers. of the Itinerants' Institute
| elected at this session of the conference
are:
! President, Rev. ]. w. Hatch. Winter
i port; registrar, Rev. H. B. Haskell Dex-
: ter; treasurer, Rev. John Timing, Houl-