Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-01-01
RAISING Pension FOR
episcopal CLERGY
Churches All Over Country
Working Hard TO Provide
Needed $4,000 900
HAVE POWER TO
LEVY ASSESSMENT

l1piscopalians all over the country
are interested in the proposed church
pension for ministers, which for some
time has been debated by the mem
bers OF the denomination. and which
It is hoped will be an accomplished
fact within the next few weeks. Min
listers of the high" and the "Iow"
churches, and their respective congre-
cations. have agreed unanimously
that the retired or incapaoltated rec
Tor should not be left to his own re-
sources especially in old age, and
that some means should be provided
to assure him respectable living.
The pension having been decided on
the collection of a S5,00O,000 fund in
the United States for this purpose is
under way.
II was only after the other Pro-
testant denominations had taken radi-
cal stops TO provide for aged and
INDECENT ministers that the Episcopal
Church saw the need of such fund
and for more than a year the subject
has been discussed at the various
diocesan and general conventions.
Many OF the more conservative rec
tors, especially Of this district. were
opposed TO the pension fund for the
reason that II made the retired min
lister an object OF charity and gave
him a humiliating position IN his old
age. They favored rather an increase
Of the salaries % ministers. In order
that they themselves could provide
for their old age.
Pension Plan Adopted.
The advocates Of pension contend
ed that the church would not be dis
pensing charity, but simply reward
ing her ministers for faithful and long
| services. With the introduction OF
plan OF taxing each parish thereby
enabling the minister's themselves TO
collect the desired quota, the ohjec-
lions we're Withdrawn and the pension
system was formally approved by the
General Convention in st. Louis, ON
October 20.
The pension fund, which, It Is OK
pected will be put in operation on
March J. viii be kept up by assess
ments on the various parishes, each
one giving 10 per cent, of its in
come Many of the churches have
already donated more than that
amount because Of the number of
large personal contributions. The
fund provides that each Episcopal
minister. reaching the age of 65. will
receive annually one-half OF his
average salary during his ministry
the minimum income being $500 anC
tho maximum $4,000. Provision i.
also made for the widows and children
OF ministers.
The trustees OF the Church Pension
Fund are 40 be elected by the Genera
Convention. six every three years. TIN
General Convention of 1916 elected IN
entire Is trustees The fund is alsl
to receive the royalty on the nov
hymnal.
Power 10 Levy tsSessccnts.
The Pension Fund is TO have the au
thority. in accordance with the canon
of each diocese. to levy an assessmen
on every parish and other eccleslasti
cal corporation, based upon the salar
Of ifs clergy. In other words. tn
/ parishes, etc, must pay the natiOna
church a tax for the privilege of en-
joying the services OF clergyman
the tax 20 be the amount necessary I
enable the national church, throug
) the Church Pension Fund, to supper
, the clergyman in old age or disabil &
and his family after his death.
} The new canon definitely puts III
> pension system upon the resorv
basis; that is. the money Is TO be re
= ceived first and the pension granite
| afterward