Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-09
LARGE FUND FOR
RETIRED MINISTERS
Methodist Protestant Conference
Launches a Campaign
for 100000.

Baltimore. Md, April 9.-An innova-
,ion which was launched at yesterday s
session of the Methodist Protestant
Conference In Broadway Church, and
which WAS well received by the entire
body of ministers and laynen, provides
for the beginning of a movement to raise
the sum Of $4,000 as an endowment
fund for the benefit of retired ministers
and wives of deceased ministers
The popular plan was presented in an
eloquent speech by Rev. DIR. A. Norman
Ward. pastor of the church in Salisbury.
Md, who spoke ieclingly of the dire need
of such additional amount with which to
supplement the present endowment fund
of Sl25,000, making the total fund S225.-
900 DR. Ward pointed with emphasis
to the fast-lncreasing membership of the
conference and also TO the increasing
demands that are being annually made
upon the fund ,6and insisted that in justice
to the men who spend the best part of their
lives in the itineraney and rs n matter of
honor and duty to the conference some
thing ought to be done at once to add
TO the present fund.
he plan struck a sympathetic chord
and 1t was heartily cheercd. A committee
will he appointed to canvass the field of
the conference district with instructions
TO make a detailed and comprehensive
report st the session of the conference
next year. The matter came up, follow
ing the report of the Superannuated
Fund Society, which revealed the fact
that the present fund of sl25,000 was
inadequate TO meet the requirements and
10 pay the beneticiaries of the fund the
amounts to which they are entitled,
although the last few years the fund has
paid ITS claimants their full quotas.
Rev. DR. Ward also presented a reSolu-
tion, which was passed unanimously.
The paper was aimed at the saloons IN
Baltimore and vicinity, and was addressed
to President Woodrow Wilson, asking
that as war measure he close the saloons
in Baltimore and vicinity during the period
ot the war. particularly on account OF the
close proximity to the city of the various
training camps for soldiers. and believing
II would be productive of good results IN
keeping the highest possible standard
the morale of the men camped about the
city. The provisions of the resolution
were Incorporated in a telegram and for
Warded at once 10 the President.
The report Of the committee on increased
salaries for the pastors in Cluded the
suggestion that the minimum salary of
the married men be $500. with 81 900 as
the higher goal Rev MIR Bryan stated
that st present some of the ministers
were getting less than $500, and that they
were being paid salaries that were dis
heartcning and not at all commensurate
with the service which they are called
upon 70 perform. The secretary OF the
conference was instructed TO communicate
with ( he official boards OF the small charges
urging them 10 bring the salary Of their
pastors up to the prescribed minimum
William b. Baker. Jr, addressed
the conference for few moments on the
Importance of the ministers urging their
members to subscribe to the Third
Liberty Loan Fund. while Alfred 5. Day
spoke in behalf Of the food conservation
and production plan OF the federal govern
ment.
The conference held its first night |
session last night IN an effort to speed up
The business, with the hope OF being able |
to adjourn by this afternoon should |
President Warner be ready with the plan
Of appointments. At the session special |
consideration was given the annual Sum
mer Conference held at Westminster, and
the conference decided to appropriate the
sum of $500 to meet its expenses and TO
relieve he ministers OF the usual registra-
ton fec. The matter OF missions was
discussed and strong effort was made
TO greatly increase the assessment for
foreign missions due TO the exigencies OF
the war. Up TO last night II was appaT-
ent that there would be few changes
among the ministers at this session.