The Washington herald., 1913-08-24
merely an equitable right deferred. and
therefore a species OF property"

merely an equitable right deferred. and
therefore species Of property"
Already in discussion Of this proposed
pension plan by church authorities some
alarm is expressed lest money be divert
ed from the support OF other institutions
of the church. Thus, an issue is square
| ly Joined. Which is the more important
| institution. some missionary or beneyo-
lent organization, or the living, working
clergy. who make the other institutions
possible? There is, besides, the question
! of efficiency. A clergyman who is re-
| lieved from the anxiety which attends a
meager salary is likely TO be more eff
cient worker when he is enabled 10 give
himself more fully to the spiritual labor
for which he is ordained contented,
/ unhampered clergyman is the best in
stitution parish can have.
The particular criticism OF any such
proposed pension plan is that 1t does not
touch at all the question of inadequate
salaries. A clergyman on meager
stipend must still struggle along. His
pension, admittedly "an equitable right
deferred" and "a species of property" /"
he cannot enjoy until he is sixty-five
years old, and his widow and children
cannot enter into the benefits Of this
right until the man himself is dead. The
pension prospect becomes a lure TO keep
up the clergyman's tagging energies and
TO inspire him with hope. A sustentation
fund for the purpose of equalizing or Of
augmenting inadequate salaries to the
living point would meet the need OF many
minister. Both a sustentation fund for
his active service and a pension for his
old age would seem ideal
Things are bitter in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. what remains of IT,
and seemingly growing more bitter The
quarrel is not an internal one, but is
directed against the large Presbyterian
Church, North. which in 1906 and 1907
effected a union between the Cumberland
body and itself. It was part OF a unity
plan that has actuated the large North
ern Presbyterian Church and still does
so. 1t Is charged by the Cumberland
people. who are still opposed to union,
that the Northern body has sinister de-
signs, but the charge is. of course, stout
ly disclaimed
1t is the Judgment of those on the spot
where the controversy is hottest that the
union was forced out of time. The North
ern body is charged by them with over
zeal. They say that Cumberland leaders
opposed 10 union and now struggling to
Church together. spend most of their
efforts and time at denouncinE Northern
Presbyterians. Tennessee courts have
upheld the property rights OF the Cum
berland Church. but in other States on all
important points the courts have sus-
tanned the unionists. Financial affairs
enter into the bitter strife.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
originally 10000 members. is now just
about an even century old. II was and
still is strongest in Tennessee and the
Southwest. Presbyterians North reported
1T5O00 as coming to them in 1907, but the
following year they reported the loss OF
5000 OF them. The old Cumberland or
Ganization remains intact, and Cumber-
land leaders, with newspaper organ and
new mission board, claim they are
growing and will be able 10 save their
church.
Trinity Parish. which always has a
large baZasr with accompanying features,
will have one in the fail of this year as
usual. All preparations are being made
looking 10 that end. The members of
the parish are asked to begin work now
to make IL a success. Both money and
articles for sale will be gratefully receiv-
ed by the members of the committee.
A meeting will be held early in the fall
at which reports will be made for work
done along these lines during the sum-
rner. At the meeting held on July 10. the
date of the bazaar was finally decided
upon, from Monday 10 Friday. Novem-
Der II to q. inclusive. = big dinner will,
as usual. be a feature.
A committee will soon be appointed TO
take up the plan of making the main
organ a memorial to the late senior war
den OF Trinity. Mr.. Theodore o. Ebaugh.
In the meantime those who wish to par
tiCipate in the movement are asked to
kindly communicate with some member
OF the vestry.