Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-08
BISHOP BREWSTER ON
PENSIONS FOR CLERGY,
Getting New System on lite Feet Will
Be Supreme Task of Episcopal
Church for 1916, He Declares.

In his sermon Sunday at ST. PauPs
church, Wallingford, Rt. Rev. Chaun-
cey Bunce Brewster, D. D., bishop OF
Connecticut, said in part:
The Episcopal church has determined
to undertake the largest single enter
prise in its history, namely, to insti-
tute system of pensions for it's retired
clergy.
Before entering upon this policy the
church did two things: "a Made a
careful census of the salaries now paid
to clergymen, and ca had calculations
made by expert actuaries of the cost
Of maintaining q system the permanent
success of which there could be no
doubt.
The census of salaries, now comp1et-
ed, shows the following principal facts:
There are 4,42e men in the active
service of the Episcopal church in the
United States. Their average salary
is $1,000 year. This is not all cash,
but includes the value of a house,
when provided. More than $500 Of
these ministers, over one-half the to-
tai number receive less than $500 a
year. Only 237, including the 125 bish-
ops, receive $4,000 or over
More than 700 men are paid less
than $1,000, and many of these 700 are
the older clergy, with very hard tasks.
The church now is virtually carrying
out a scheme of retirement at the ex-
pense of its older men,
These meagre salaries are paid to
clergymen serving what is often as
serted to be the richest church mem
bership in America. Those men are
dress well, to live and move among
people where rents are high, keep open
house, always appear cheerful, and
preserve their physical vigor. They are
men of devotion, who often exercise
leadership in their communities. and
whn J711Sf HTInnnrf Themselves their
wives and their children on the SAL
aries paid them, with little or no
thought of outside interests.
The ministers do not complain. But
the church itself must be efficient. Eff
fciency consists partly in being equip
ped to fight at the top notch of en-
thusiasm and vigor. The minister can
not do this If, with all his sacrifices,
cheerfully made, while he is active, he
has no assurance of a competence in
his old age.
Railroad companies seek efficiency
| and enthusiasm from their men
through promises of a pension 1t is
| in the broadest interest of society that
every church should do the same.
The Episcopal church has passed the
| exact vital statistics of the whole body
| of her clergy through the laboratory
| of the best actuaries and has adopted
a pension system which is modern and
sound.
| 1t is a contributory system whereby
| upon the payment by the parish each
year of an additional per cent,
! speaking roughly, of the minister's sal
| airy, he will receive on retiring at SO a
pension equal to one-half his average
salary during his active service. At
death, his widow and minor children
will receive annual pensions; if dis
| abled in active service, pension fol-
| lows.
e. Thus in the full tide of active SER
vice he can throw himself into his work
with the complete abandonment of an
| officer who knows that whatever hap
pens to him, his dear ones will be
| cared for, and he if living to old age,
will go to his grave with dignity and
self-respect.
In order to take care of those who
! should be pensioned Immediately, and
| to give the contributory plan time to
move permanently on IT'S own wheels,
an initial sum Of $5,000.0Oo is to be
| raised
To direct the task of obtaining this
reserve fund, Bishop Lawrence of
Massachusetts will, during 1915, sus-
| pend active work In his own diocese
and devote himself wholly to this great
| enterprise.
| The cooperation Of leading life In
surance officers and business men has
| been obtained 70 establish the scheme
Local committees will be appointed
| throughout the United States. To get
| this splendid undertaking on its feet
| will be the supreme task Of the Epis-
| eopel church In 1918.
L