The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-01
PENSIONS PROVIDED
 FOR PREACHERS IN CJNTRIBUT0RY PLAN
Presbyterians and MethOdists Raising S1O,O0O,OOO, Epis-
 copalians $5,0OO,0OO.

So general as fairly to be called movement is the present activity of many, or most. denominations in es- tablishing the pension system for their veteran clergymen. Within the last few years the various projects for ca ring for ministers who are no longer disappearing have tended to crys- talize into plan for pensions which x1persedes the old idea of "ministe rial relief" The latter is objected to because it has about 1t the flavor of charity, and provides funds only to those who proclaim themselves in need.
 Millions of dollars for the endow- I1ent of pension funds have been raised within the past few years and ether millions are in sight The Philadelphia Episcopalians alone have contributed more than half million dollars within recent weeks, and are pledged to as much more to complete their apportionment. This sum in- dudes several $50,O0O gifts.
 Summarized, the situation in its out standing features is as follows: The l'resbyterians, in addition to their reg il,lar contributions for relief, are rais- ing an endowment fund Of $1O,0OO,- 900. The Methodist church is seeking the same amount. The Episcopalians lave fixed their endowment at $5,000,- coo and the Congreeaionalists at $3,- 100000. All this is in addition to ex- f5ting forms of ministerial relief. The routhern Presbyterians and Methodists IS well as the Baptists of both bodies, 70 at the discussion stage. of the pen rion project. All the constituent Presbyterian bodies in America were urged at recent meeting in connec- ton with the pan-Presbyterian coun- cil to put into operation some plan by which the preachers would participate by yearly payments from their sal- aries.
 A Fence or an Ambulancco
 for decades operated some form of re- lief for aged and disabled clergy, bas- cd on need. There have been count less pitiable cases of men who have come to utter want at the end of a Lifetime of Christian ministry. The very pathos of this situation has been the basis of the appeal for relief. Less than sufficient for proper mainten- ance has been raised by any of the de- nominations on this old basis The case is put into the form of figure of speech by the Rev. pr. William Hiram Foulkes, who gave up the pastorate of n leading New York City Church in orde~ to become secretary of the Pres byterian Board of Relsf and Susten- fation: "Mipiste:ial relief is an ambu- lance at the foot of the hill to care for the victims; sustentation is a fence at the top of the hill to keep men from Ialling."
 The new zeal for the case of the re- tired clergymen is of a piece with the whole question of the ministry, which has of late years been acuteIy before the churches. All dehomina- lions were alarmed by the impending shortage in the supply, of preachers. This anxiety has been somewhat re- heved, although there has been pri- vltely expressed a good deal of con- cern over the quality of the recruits In these days of growing economic pressuNe, alert young men are 1nwil- ling to risk their future in so preca- rious calling, finapcially considered as the gospel ministry. The denom- nations have felt themselves forced to provide some assurance for the old age of their ministers
 Certain larger aspects of the case which cannot be entered into here have also influenced the new move ment. The example of the Carnegie Teachers Pension Fund, which an Episcopal clergyman lately accused of practical insolvency, has set the churches to doing actuarial work. The contributory pension idea has been