South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-31
CAMP BELL PLEADS
PENSION FUND FOR
AGED CLERGYMEN
Speaks Before M. E. Confer
enCe Urging Annuity For
Superannuated Ministers as
Reward For Itinerant Service
Stan Special.
BY LAURENCE VAUGHN.

Campbell of South Bend. the only
Indiana layman To talk at the big
Methodist convention being held at
Tomlinson hall. was the principal
speaker at the morning session, Fri
day.
Mr.. Campbell was also hOnored as
being the only Indiana man appoint
ed 70 the committee on resolutions, to
meet for final arrangements Friday
afternoon. He arrived in Indianap
oils Thursday with Col. G. A. Car
Isle, also of South Bend. For his
subject Mr. Campbell talked on a
plan suggesting a fund for the better
care Of superannuated clergymen.
The superannuate of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church should have
and can have full annuity recon-
mended by the discipline" said the
speaker, in his address.
For every five electives there is
one superannuate and about the
same number of widows The inter
est Of the five electives is so closely
allied TO the two claimants as TO be
almost inseparabIe.
The one superannuate and the
one widow are as surely entitled TO
payment as are the five effectives.
There is no higher duty than the
honest payment of honest debts. The
discipline allotment to the claimant is
a debt, debt for ministerial support.
We have no religious right no honest
right. To refuse payment unless from
absolute inability. We have the abil-
ity both as to wealth and lberality.
We have not vet demonstrated ability
as to organized and systematized
method. 1t is. however both fair and
gratifying TO say that we are in bet
ter, much better, condition than four
years ago.
The law gives the superannuate
more consideration than the effective.
but he does not get more considera-
ton.
For Intinerant Service.
rAnnuities paid are for ministerial
support. Necessitous payments are
in spirit and fact benevolences, COM
mendable but nevertheless in spirit
benevolences. The annuitant should
not be taxed for benevolences they
should be met from other sources.
The spirit of annuity Is not reward
for having been a preacher but for
having continued a preacher until
untitled for the intinerant service.
I'VE can dispense with tall steeples,
ornamented windows elaborate dec
orations, carpented aisles. rich toned
organ paid choir; We can dispense
with any or all and still with a
preacher have church. Indeed we
can dispense with the entire build
ing, and with a preacher hold meet
ings in school houses, public halls.
parlOrs kitchens. We can do with
out everything else but we cannot do
without the preacher. He is the one,
and the only Indispensable factor in
the organic church.
Without fair assurance that they
Will not die pauper, the time may
come when we will have a dearth of
preachers, indeed L am not sure but
il has come. The average salary will
permit no savings.
we easily evolve that the budget
for ministerial support in which is in
Guided both effective and superan-
nuate is the most important fund of
the whole church. because IL secures
and insures the one and the only in
Gispensible factor in the organic
church The most important fund,
the one indispensable fund in the
whole church.
Business prudence, common JUS
tice. respect for the church law. fidel-
ity to the old fathers In Israel, all de-
mand a full and dependable annuity.
Then why is sufficient fund not pro-
vided?
Lack Method.
Indiana Methodists will illustrate
the average. They are listed as pay
Z
various benevolences. Shortage due
claimant. $4,000. about $3.50 deficit.
\ membership that pays $500, 900, in
various and some of them remote
benevOlences, can and Will play the
$23, goo debt IL brought 10 their no.
tice with anything like the insistence
or system of the secular world.
question the religious right 10 pay
the 100000 until the $4,000 debt
* Maid hlr all Can q Maid
We do not lack money. we do
not lack loyalty To the church, we do
not lack solicitude for the superan-
nuate. We do lack method. ] repeat
it. we lack method. Win YOU take
that fact home 10 your annual con-
ference with its autOcratic power and
tablish method >"
Before the big convention closes.
Friday night the policy which will
be followed by the Methodist
churches of the nation will be care
fully outlined and adopted. Accord
ing 10 a tentative report, submitted
20 the floor of the convention for
suggestion. the policy being drafted
will cover every phase of Methodist
doctrine.
Every detail VIII be considered IN
the makeup OF the big doctrine.
Regulations in handling social prob
lens. questions involving contribu-
tons FOR benevolent purposes and
legislation OF the church Will be
outlined.
Advocate Benevolent Fund.
Chief among the big measures that
will enter the document will be a
plan for raising and advancing the
missionary benevolent funds.
4 plan TO start a big fund 10 raise
$25.00O.0O may be inserted for the
purpose of meeting all benevolent de-
mands. Bishop William F. Anderson,
/ OF Cleveland. and Secretary 4. +.
Cory. missionary for the Diciples OF
Christ. urged in two big addresses
that the church set out 10 raise a
large sum. Both suggested that an
effort be made 10 extend the work By
putting the standard OF giving AT
the highest notch.