The Washington times., 1914-10-25

BY J. X. HlLDEbkANU.
Ten million dollars for a ministers
retirement fund.
Startling. perhaps. but here is the
real surprise Of this campaign. This
money is TO be raised without a sim
gle "hard-luck'' tale, without tear
compelling story, with no vivid pic
lures of ministerial derelicts, suffer
erins widows or penhiless orphans.
And nary an over the hill to the
poorhouse" touch.
The campaign for that fund is TO
be launched in Washington this
week, where Government clerks are
fighting for civil pensions, and where
school teachers are pleading for
retirement fund.
Clergymen and prominent laamen
of the Methodist church will go
about this great undertaking OH
business principles. They will base
their appeal on good business argu-
ments, and pleas for higher efi-
cheney basis. They hope to avoid
any sob efforts to avert any mis-
guided pathos.
BY way of emphasizing this point
they have included on their program
pension experts of several great cor
porations, for example, the Penn
Youngstown (Ohio) Steel Company.
And before the assembled bishops,
leading clergymen. and noted lay
men Of the Methodist church. lead
ers of the ministers retirement
movement will urge the application
of sound business principles.
Narrowing Tales Obsolete.
Talk for a few minutes to the
leader of this great movement,
the Rev. DR.. Joseph B. Hingeley,
secretary of the board of confer
ence claimants, and you will real
ize why this is to be no campaign
of perfervid and lachrymal ora
tory. Dr.. Hingeley possesses the
personality. the forceful bearing,
the concise speech. the penetrat-
ing glance Of the successful busi-
ness man.
The day of narrowing tales Of
superannuated ministers already
has past for our denomination"
he said. "In 1908. in Baltimore.
you know. a system of pensions
was worked out. 1t now remains
sure the fulfllment Of the pledges
under that system.
And we consider those pledges
as binding as those made to an
active minister or an active bishop.
II is as much congregations
man as 1t is to pay the salary or
its acting pal stor.
Before 1908 each conference
was the scene of a long chapter
their widows, and their children.
These men were entitled to pen
sions. Then we merely rendered
them help The man who told the
most pitiful story got the most
The foundation for the present
system was laid in Baltimore in
1908, the system was put into
operation Il, the next general con-
ference in Minneapolis four years
later. and by the time of the con-
ference in 1916 in Saratoga. the
hopes to have funds TO insure the
full payment of every pension.
Average Salaries Basis.
Under the present arrangement
clergymen having served thirty-five
years are entitled to a pension of
half the average annual salary paid
in the conference where they serve.
Washington is in the Baltimore Con-
ference. and the average salary paid
Methodist ministers within that
conference is 31.05N Therefore.
clergyman retiring in this territory
receives s525. Ministers having
served less than thirty-five Years
arc allowed Sl5 annual for each
years service.
The highest average salary is
that in the Northeast Minnesota
Conference, where the average is
Sl.400. The lowest is in Ala bama
conference. $500. II is believed this
arrangement is equitable. because it
takes into Considers ton the cost Of
living in the locality where the min
lister is retired. Widows of clergy
men are paid in the same ratio, and
children under sixteen years receive
one-fifth their fathers former
salary
In special cases the conference has
right to increase these pensions to