The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-05
MINISTERS NEEDED
FOR WORK OFCHURCH

1853 ministers received from other
churches. making the total gain OF
ministers during that time 681. Dur
Ing the same period of years, 305 min
listers have died, forty-two have been
retired. and seventy seven have been
dismissed. making the total loss to
the church 424. This leaves a net gain
of 23T ministers during this time.
The net gain of churches in this de-
nomination during the past ten years.
has boon 1868. as during this time 6eS
churches have been organized, and
300 have been dissolved
There are 735 vacant churches in
the Southern Presbyterian Church this
year, and there have been opportuni-
ties for organizing ais new churches.
making lO10 the number of churches
at home without pastors this year.
In addition to the ministers needed
Tor work at home, many are needed
also for work in the seven foreign mis-
sion fields OF this church, as among
the number OF missionaries sent TO
these fields by this church this year,
only ninety eight have been ordained
ministers. There Is urgent need for
an increase of 410 men to the minis
try of this church at once, for home
and foreign mission work, 210 for
work In tho home mission fields. and
200 for work in the foreign mission
fields
Will Emphnsize Needs.
The report of the Executive COM
mittee of Christian Education and
Ministerial Relief will emphasize all
OF these needs to the general assem-
bly,.
1t Is estimated that the rate of in
crease OF candidates for the ministry
In this church is one candidate for
every four ministers. seven churches
and $50 members.
While 1t Is true that much force
and earnestuess will characterize that
part OF the report of this executive
committee relative to the need of In
creased liberality from the church In
the interest OF Christian education, 1t
is probable that even greater force
and enrnestness will characterize that
part OF the report which relates to
the support of retired ministers of tha
church. and widows and orphans OF
ministers. Figures will be presented
which Will show that fifty-nine min
listers have been aided by this COM
mittee this year, and that the average
amount each minister has received
for his support has been not more
than $226; that aid has been given to
$50 widows, $1S6 being the average
amount each of these has received: al
so that aid has been given to eighteen
afflicted orphans, 800 being the aver
age amount given to each of these for
the year. The figures to be pro-
sented to the general assembly Will
show also that in the 227 homes OF re-
tired ministers and widows of minis
ters, as named above. thore are seven
ty-four orphan children under four
teen years OF age, and that for these
no special appropriation for support
has been made.
The endowment fund for ministerial
relief requested by the general assem-
bly,, is 100000, and of this amount
$SlS.002 has been secured and has been
safely invested, leaving $1Sl.99S OF the
fund yet to be raised, and the eXecu.
tive committee is making special ap-
peal and using special effort to secure
the completion of tho endowment fund
rs soon as possible.
The general assembly has requested
the church to contribute 100000 for
all benevolences during the year 1913
IL. and this amount will be appor-
toned between the four executive COM
mittees OF the church. all of the work
or benevolence OF the church being di-.
rected by these committees. Four
teen per cent OF this fund, which will
be $4,000. has been requested by the
committee Of Christian Education and
Ministerial Relief, to be used for
Christian education and ministerial
relief