The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-05
Fund Provided for Christian Edu-
cation and Ministerial Relief
Is Inadequate.
BY NAME BAYS.

Among the many interesting and i'm
portant reports to be submitted to the
General Assembly OF the Southern
Presbyterian Church, during tho meet
ing or that body in Atlanta. Ga, begin
ming on May Is, none will be presented
more forcibly and none will be char
acteriZed with more earnest appeal
than VIII be true of the report of the
Executive Committee OF Christian Edu-
cation and Ministerial Relief
There Will be additional interest at
tached to this report on account of the
fact that during number Of years
past there has been a marked lack of
young men entering the ministry of all
Protestant denominations, and coupled
with this fact there has been n grow
ing realization upon the part OF all
these denominations that the fund pro-
Vided to aid worthy young men who
are studying for the ministry and the
fund provided as n means of likelihood
Tor ministers who have been retired
from active work as the result OF age
or in-health are far from adequate. 1t
Is probable that the funds provided for
these purposes by tho Southern Pres
byterian Church are larger than those
OF number of other denominations
In the South, but this church is re-
minded from year to year that they
are not what they should be.
During tho past twelve years the
number of candidates for the minis
try In this church has Increased stead
| lily from year to year, but the contri =
buttons from the church to aid large
number OF these candidates who are in
need OF aid to complete their educa-
ton and fit them selves for the work
of the. ministry have been 1uctuating.
and these contributions have at no
time kept pace with tho needs OF the
work. The requirement Of all candi-
dates for the ministry in this church
ic hnf hoy oh,
OF four years and course of three
years In theological seminary before
beginning the regular work OF the
church as ordained ministers.
In Need of Assistance.
During tho present year 303 OF the
young men who have appeared be-
fore the presbyteries as candidates for
the ministry and have been examined
carefully and received as candidates.
have been recommended for aid In the
work of the completion OF their edu-
cation. this recommendation being
made to the Executive Committee OF
Christian Education and Ministerial
Relief. a signed statement that each
of these candidates is in actual need
or this assistance accompanied every
request for aid from the Executive
Committee. Each candidate is prom
lsed aid to the amount OF 500 a year
until his education has been completed,
but the amount of money received from
the church by the committee this year
for this purpose has not been sufficient
to allow the committee TO provide each
candidate with more than $40 The
committee. however. Is making special
appeal to the church in the interest OF
this fund with the hope that before
the meeting of the General Assembly
contributions sufficient will have been
received to allow the sending of the
full amount promised to each candi-
date OF the church now in preparation
for the ministry.
Rev. Henry II. Sweets. d. D., of
Louisville, Ky, is secretary OF the Elk
ecutive Committee of Christian Edu-
cation and Ministerial Relief, and he
devotes his entire time to this special
work which the church has placed
under his direction. He is ono of the
most popular men I'm the ministry OF
his church, and he Is one whose dis
position and talent have fitted in
special manner for the work OF the
important position which he holds
There have been 492 ministers or
dained In tho Southern Presbyterian
Church during the past ten years, ana