Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-23
GEORGE v. watts OFFERS
TO GIVE FUND OF $4,000
Y. i'll Contribute to Ministerial Relief
Endowment if Churches Raise
Twice That sum.
All Denominations Are Taking Steps
to Care for Ministers Who Have
Grown Old In Servicc-Dr. Sweets
Issues Striking Appeal.

l, was on December -. 1915. that tho
announcement was made by Rev Henry
~. sweets. -. H., OF Louisville. score
tary Of the executive committee Of
Christian education ana ministerial 80
lief OF the Southern Presbyterian
Church that one ruling elder at III"
church had offered u give f6S,u"" to
tn" endowment fund for ministerial -.
'inf. or condition that the church con
tributes twice that amount--Sl2s. 900
to that fund within ono yea" from tho
time his offer MAS made. Three weeks
have passed since Dr. Sweets maj" that
announcement. and Inc is now able to
announce that during these thee weeks
The church has responded 10 this otter
OF one Of the leading business men of
the church l." cont,ibutiuG not less
than $4,000 each week.
The ruling elder referred to In Or
sweets announcement is said TO he
George w Watts. OF Durham. y. c..
president "f the board OF trustees OF
Union Theological Seminary. and one
Of the largest contributors TO tn. sup
port Of that institution.
NJ this rate the condition upon which
til" $4,000 il to become part Of the
endowment fund for ministerial relief
VIII bc met in less time than one year
and the promise is that tho interest in
this sacred obligation OF the church
10 provide for the retired minister and
widows and orphans Of ministers viii
increase within the next few months to
the pom, that before the close of .hc
present yea. the contributions OF the
membership of tho church 10 this en-
dowment fund Will reach far heNond
the amount necessary to claim the lii.
Of this liberal laNman.
ENDOWMENT FUND
Is NOW S:.::. 400
The endowment fund OF the So.:thcrn
csbyterian Church for ministerial re
lief had reached S332.00o before this
special campaign in its interest began
and with the addition OF 1900 from
the church and $4,000 from ono lay
man of the church during this year
this fund Will reach sJ36,0Oo. this h. ing
$4,000 in excess of the figure named
hy the General Assembly of the church
several years ago as the total amount
OF the endowment fund for ministerial
relief for the present. 1t IS not 10 be
doubted that the interest ot the church
in this fund will be quiclcned lurinr
TINS campaign to the point that in the
near future much larger figure will
be named as the total to when this
!und for the srpuort Of the beneficiarics
OF the church Will reach; il i not i'm
probable that within few years this
endowment fund will be not less tnan
Sl.e0o000
Other denominations also arc awak-
eninE 10 the responsibility and duty
resting upon them To provide adeuuatc-
~ 'or the support Of retired ministers
ana the widows and orphans OF min
listers. The Methodist Church is now
raising an endowment fund OF sl..-
100000 for this purpose and the figure
set ny the Presbyterian Church, L. s.
y. Northern Presbyterian, and the
/ nj nal
100000 each. More than decade ago
the Methodist Church, South began
raising An endowment fund known rs;
the superannuate endowment fund.-.
this fund has reached a lAtle more
! than 100000 and, tic figure named by
| the General Conference as the total
OF the fund is sJ.000ooo
STRIKING APPEAL
SENT OUT ny DIX. SWEETS
y recent appeal which Dr Sweets
sen, Ia Southern preshytcrians re-
Sardins the support of the benchciar-
les OF this Church contains these earn
est and significant words urdnr the
head ~ business Claim "The any
icty with which minister must look
forward 10 the possible time of need
for his wife and children and himself
brings weakness, and the efforts To
save DESTROY much Of his viror and
:
tions. travel aud vacations that arc
sorely needed for his highest efficiency
\ larger and more sure provision for
our enfeeblcd ministers will effect a
great saving Of men and fields. Re
cause OF lack Of funds We permit our
ministers OF old aSe and declining
health to bear tho strain OF heavy
work too long. Scarcely any Of our
men come OIL the roll OF ministerial
relief until they are completely worn
out-usually confined to their beds FOR
most OF the time. IL relief could he
given earlier and more adequately. the
ripe learning aud rich experience of
some OF our men might be used 10 sun
PIGMENT the labor OF others in the
presbytcrics. instead OF being rapidly
consumed in bearing burdens too siren
uous for their wears. In this way
neither the workers nor tho work viii
he allowed TO suffer-
Another striking sentence used in
th's connection is the following
surely our laymcn--men Of the mar
kei, the shop. the courthouse. the or
ice. and the farm--nred only to look
ut this question in its broad ASPECTS
| I" determine ut once what = square
deal calls for"
IlMf0McHINiicN nnn