Smyrna times., 1915-12-22
APPEAL FOR WORKOUT M,
{. MINISTERS TO Be MADE
SMYRNA WILL BE CANVASSED
FOR SUPPORT TO ENOO WMENT

{. n. Dashiell. Secretary Of Conference
Claimant Commission Puts the
Subject Clearly Before the Public
The Methodist Episcopal Church
has done nothing in its history more
worthy than its present nationwide
effort to place its aged ministers
above want. Men of sense and
appreciation. to say nothing Of grace.
have long wondered why he. who gave
his life TO a grest divine-human-
itaTian Cause, should. when enfeebled
by years. he permitted. by those who .
represent and have benefited by that
cause. to die viritul objects Of charity. .
In this prticular the church has been
derelict beyond description; and can
not claim to have reflected either the .
truth of the Bible or the spirit of .
her Lord. The sO-ealled soulless /
eogporatiOn--an institution wholly .
secular in its ends-has far out
stripped the church in responding to
a high sense of duty to its aged ser
wants. And the fact thst the church !
has become restless under the com
parison argues that she is at least
awaking to realize that shs has taught
the world high principles which have
heretofore not been adequately ap-
piled in her own relationship with her
ministers. This failure has not been
due entirely to unwillingness. but to
such absorption in other important
matters as crowded this to the hack
ground. But we are coming now to
see that the rightfUl place of this great
interest is not the back aground, but the
Fore Ground-that the church can no
longer consistently go on ministering
to the poor. while, in her own secret
closet, lies an aged minister of God
hungry and unfeG.
First Definite information of Plan
One of the special occasions of the
Panama-San Francisco Exposition
was Church Pension COngresn Day,
which gave the Protestant laity the
first definite information il has had
about the generous plans that the
churches are making for the care Of
their supersnnuated elergymen.
Among other denominations, Prssby-
terians. Baptists, Disciples of Christ,
Episcoplaisns. Lutherans, Congrega-
tionalists. The Methodist Episcopal
Church and Methodist Episcopal
Church (South,) are all working, each
to keep their old ministers in COM
fort and deeeney. The Methodist
Episcopal Church has set its figures
at S15. 600. 600; the Presbyterian
Church at $40. 600. 600; the Bsptists
at $40. 900. .0o0.; the Episcopal
Church at S5, 900, 600; the Congre-
gAtionalists at 81. 600, 600; sll the
funds together when completed. will
aggregate at least SIC, 600. 600. For
many years the churches have hAd
small funds that they used for th'
purpose. but those funds have beer
pitifully inndegBste. Now thsl
are going to apply the most modern
and efficient methods 70 increase then
and to administer them. Il is, o
course. 9 timsworn truism TO spsal
Of the shsmefully small average salar.
that most Protestant ministers get
We all know that il is less than skille
meehAnies-less, sften. than city bod
carriers receive; but il Is not 90 trit
to think OF what We ask Of them an
What they give.
Relations Of hal=ister Close to HON
The relstions Of the minister to
man who has aAy religious interest
at hll are closer than those Of anyou
else outside the mans own family
II is the minister who bsptizes him
who joins him In marriage with n
woman Of bis choice, who speAl
such words Of comfort as are pOss
Bile to human beings in time Of BEL
eavement, and who commits Il
bodies Of his dead 70 their everlastiT
rest: yet there are men who make l
contribution to the minister's ineon
except their annual pew rent, al
that. divided by fifty-tvo, would u
buy two seats at any good theatr'
There is something ssrdonieAlly hun
orous In calling a man "shephai
of souls" " anc"pastOr Of his Flock.
and then, in his old age, turning b
out to q pasture that his more world
minded sheep have cropped close
his ground. We are glad there
going to be a change.
Few Poorer Than Retired Minister
Few men in Methodism are poo
than many IF her retired ministe
Z There are. therefore, few who cam
.N.a A.. Al