The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-07
WILL CARE FOR
ITS MINISTERS
EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO EsTAB-
LISH A PENSION PLAN FOR
RETIRED CLL1GY
DR.. Gravatt, Bishop of Coadjutor. Of
West Virginia Outlines Plan in
Foreeful Sermon at wake Forest

WAKE FOREST. ". Va. Feb. 6.
IN his sermon today al WAX, Forest.
the Right Reverend William l.. GraVatt
-. II, Bishop Conductor Of West Nir-
ginia. said IN part:
The Episcopal Church has determined
10 undertake the largest single enter
prise in its history. namely. TO institute
a system OF pensions for its retired
Before entering upon this policy the
church did Two things: GD Made a
careful census of the salaries now paid
TO clerEymen. and 90 HAD calculations
made hy expert actuaries OF the cost of
maintaining "a system ehpermancut
success Of which there could be no
doubt.
The census 81 salaries. now complet-
ed. shows the following principal facts;
Ihcrc are ago men In the active ser
vice OF the Episcopal church in the
United states. Their average salary is
$1,000 year. This - noe all cash. hut
includes the value Of a house. when pro-
Vided. More than $500 Of these min
receive less than 81 500 year. Only
235 including the 125 Bisuops-receive
More than zoo men are paid less than
$1,000 and many Of these zoo are the
older clergy. with very marc tasks. The
church now ~ virtually carrying out a
scheme OF retirement AZ the expense of
its older men
These meagre salaries are paid TO
clerEymen serving whar fs often assert
ed 10 be the richest churca membership
in America. Those men are expected to
have good education. To dress well. TO
live and move among people where
rents are high. keep opcn -iouse. always
appear cheerful. and preserve their ply
steal viRor They are men Of devotion.
who often exercise leadership in their
communities. and who must support
themselves. their wives and their chill
dren on the salaries paid them. with
little or no thought Of outside inter-
ests.
The ministers do not complain. But
the church itself must ~ ericient Ef-
nTNUmTg - .sfHH D. N
ped 10 fiEht az the top-norcn or cnthus-
iasm and viEor. The minister cannot
Cd this ~. with all his sacrifices. cheer
fully made. while he = active. Dc has
no assurance of competence in his old
Railroad companies -ecE efficiency
and enthusiasm from fretr man through
promises OF pension e ls in the
broadest interest Of s,r-srN that every
church should dl the same
The Episcopal church has PASSED the
exact vital statistics pf the whole body
~ her clerg, through tho laboratory OF
the best ac'uarics anT ;as adopted a
sound
n BE- "a Contributorv system whereby
uuon the payment nv tho parish each
year OF an additional seven per cent.
speaking roughly ~ the ministers sal
AIRY. Do" viii recciv" ore rc-frinE AZ SIS. "a
pension equal 60 nn-hnlf lsaVerage
salary during his active service. At
death. his widow and minor chiidrcn
will receive annual pensions. N disabled
Thus 100 The full tide or active service
be can throw himself into his work with
tho complete abandonment of an officer
who knows that whatever happens %
him. his dear ones VIII be Cared for.
and no. ~ living f1 ola age. VIII 20 90
Bite grave with dignity and eflf-rssus.t
In order 90 take care NJ those who
should he rrurInufd Immediately. and Co
give fle sHrfr|Iufury Vfnu time 90
move permanently on TTe heels.
ON initial 500 moi 5000 600 ls 90 be
raised
TO direct che tack o. obtaining This
reserve FUND. bishop Lawrence nj Moe.
HH rhuerffe vIii during f"fs. eln.rnI
aDffF. wurf In l|u own rfu.t.. and I.-
prise
Tho cooperation o. leading uf. .r-
sur1nre OFFICERS rnf 'ur'..HH mon hHe
l.rr obtained fn establish fIa ..h.....
local rnmwIffrer viii 900 appointed
throughout fH. United gfnf.n Fri. .t
f''. .r'.r..1 rrH. r..f.rE .u .|. |..t
vol. I. fIH .rrrnHr rre. .r H.. rU...
l.UI' church In fHfr