The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-20
Want More Pay For Pastors.

Three reports were rendered the con
ference for consideration by the respec
tive committee on benevolence. civic jus
tice and sustenation, the latter a specia
committee consisting of Rev. 8. F. Blom
field and Rev. c. A. Adams, appointed a
the conference year ago in Rutland
The benevolence committee, which me-
at Bellows Falls last fall, reported thai
| it had decided that the amount allotted
to the Vermont conference, $4,000, b,
/ the National Commission on Missions
should be apportioned to the Is associa
| tons within the state, the apportionmeni
being made after careful investigation as
to the record of each association i'm cur
rent expenses and benevolence. This sys-
tenn of distribution of funds was adopted
because of complaints as to former meth.
DDS used. The committee reports total
gain in benevolence in 1914 over the pre-
ceding year of 81 ,45l, but loss in gifts
to the treasures of the benevolent So
cieties of 81 Ol6, the gain being wholly
in undenominationsl gifts. This was I'M
questionably caused by the urgent ap-
peals put forth in behalf Of those suffer
ing from the European war, which di-
yerted many gifts from the usual chan
nels.
The committee recommends that the
every member canvass. already widely
adopted and proving of marked value,
receive central emphasis in the plans Of
the church; that pastors earnestly en-
deayor to hold gifts made TO the church
to strictly UNCONVENTIONAL work. despite
other causes OF appeal; that pastors and
missionary committees adopt systematic
plans TO keep the people informed on the
subject of the mission; that the confer
ence name a representative to join with
one chosen by the Vermont branch and
one by the Woman's Home Missionary
union in forming a committee on mis-
sionary education to promote among
schools and young peoples So
cieties plans for imparting missionary
and to secure therefrom more
regular and ampler gifts. The chairman
Of the committee is Benjamin Swift.
The special sustenation committee re-
port an extended investigation. believ-
ing that the problem of minister's salar-
les is closely related to the welfare OF
the churches and welfare of the state.
fractlcaiiy every denomination u
with the problem with some
of success. The report tells OF
ways in which other denominations raise
money for the particular purpose and the
attempt IS years ago of the Congrega
.ionsl state body TO do something to.
ward creating fund. 4 table OF salaries
raid to the ministers is given as follows:
Thirteen ministers are paid not exceed /
NC $500; 10 not exceeding 5000; 40 not
'xceeding $500; 6T not exceeding 81 900;
u not exceeding 81 600 or more; II not
Needing 81 800 or more. DIR. c. II. Mer.
III. in reviewing the figures of to-day
nd those of 40 years ago, says that the
resent salaries of ministers are actually I
ar below those of two score years ago.
he committee observes that. the salaries
cling far too small, the efficiency Of Con.
Is impaired, due TO ne
,ression and sense OF defeat from bar
enness Of labor, from lack Of study IA.
ilities and uncertainty Of income.
The committee recommends that the
roblem Of raising the salary Of every
Minister in full charge 90 a minimum OF
500 and parsonage should be the immc-
late concern Of tho conference. The en-