The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-10-08
ENDOWMENT FUND
CONFERENCE
Rev. Mr. Sharp, Senator Daniels, Field
Secretary Bass and Editor John T.
B. Smith Meet Here Today.

4 conference was held this morning in
the Brooks House by Rev +. " Sharp.
district superintendent of the Montpelier
district, representing the Vermont Con-
ference Claimants Endowment fund OF the
Methodist church; Senator Sanford 4
Daniels, state treasurer OF the endowment
fund; Or G. f. Bass Of Providence, r
I.y field secretary Of the New England
Southern conference, and Rev John +
B. Smith of Chicago, editor of the Vet
Gran Preacher, representing the board Of
conference claimants of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
1t was decided to mobilize the forces
Of Methodism for big drive for preach
els pensions in the Vermont conference
to hold three group meetings this week
The following teams We're announced to
press the work Immediately
st Abans Revs. w b. Dukeshire. St
Adams: " r. Best, MorrisvilIe; ". T.
Douglas, Enosburg Falls: John d. Me
Gee. St Albans; f. A Woodworth. Swan
tom @ J Anderson, Richford. G. w
Turner. Sheldon; v L. Smith. Water
bury
81. Johnsbury -Revs. J. 5. Grassland.
cabot: 4 NJ Hewitt Plainheld: c. A.
Martin, St Johnsbury; w J. McFa1-
land, Newport Center; G. H. Redding
Hardwck; f. A. kracllhardt. Island
Pond; J L. Morgan, Lowell
White Biyer Junction Revs George
W Burke, NolthGeld: w r. Davenport,
Springfield; d G. Guest, Brattleboro. Io-
sepb Hamilton, Randolph: s. 6 >uitor,
Randolph; b. b. Hanscom. Windsor
Rev Nh Sharp reported enthusiastic
meetings throughout the state and that
in the publicity campaign over 3o0p
pieces OF literature and 1900 personal
letters had been sent into 300 different
homes in Vermont
Senator Daniels, treasurer, reported
that there were % refined ministers and
p widows being cared for bv the pension
funds of the Vermont conference Last
year these claimants received S6,00o This
gave an average of ~ cents day for the
lretitcd ministers and 25 cents a day tor
widows OF deceased ministers.
The Vermont conference needs $500. .000
ta properly care tor its conference claim
ants, sand Dr, Smith of Chicago There
has been >4a.ooo subscribed to the per
manent fund and this campaign j. to Sc
cure the remainder of the 5000 .0l0 needed
The conference minutes show that there
are deferred payments ON salaries since
its organization. oi Sl25. 900 These de
ierted payments al interest at forr per
cent would make debt TO the old preach
crs oi S27n0o0 The conference Is only
asking ITS members to do justice to Its
|Ietued ministers and their widows
( All the Protestant churches are feel
! ing the need of pensions for preachers
and are scouting a S65 0o0,0o0 fund The
Ipcnsiou idea is To be advertised in the
public press and the Protestant churches
IviI spend Slooooo for advertising pr
Ipase~ The Episcopal church sought So
I0H90oo for its fund and secured $500
! |U0p The Presbyterian cehurch Is seeking
iSIoooo.ooo. Of which il has SG,ooo0oo The
+ Congregational Baptist. Christian, He
/ brew and other Protestant churches are
/ ina a campaign for preachers pensions
The Methodist Episcopal church has
four million adherents; it has S300,00o
too worth OF property, 1880 preachers
$4,000 of whom are active. $3.50 retilee
ministers, 1000 widows. 44l children dc
pendent upon the pension funds.
The Methodist church Is in cam
paign Ion S200oU, ,o0o. 1t has at present
81 ,2oo,ooo at the main office and 81 800,
.ooo in the annual conference treasures il
the states.
Vermont is now in this campaign TO
100000 \ report came from Detroit
Michigan. recently saying that they Ina,
just secured 100000
Meetings viii be held this weel
Throughout the state in the interests O
the aged preachers.