The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1919-11-05

While the salaries paid the minis.
tiers of Baptist, as we'll as other
churches in the South, have been far
too small in the past to enable them
to lay aside a competency for old age
a long step in %remedying this situation
is promised in the Baptist rs Million
5 $500, 900 for the relief Of aged minis
ters during the next five years, and
then bring his sum up to s ,00O,OOO
during the two years Immediately fol.
lowing the campaign.
Looking to the adequate care Of hun-
dreds of aged Baptist ministers and,
ministers widows in the ranks OF the
Southern Baptist Convention who areP
now in need of financial assistance.
this body, at a recent session, author'V
lied the creation OF the Relief and
Annuity Board of Dallas, Texas, with
DR.. William Lunsford as corresponds
ing secretary.
Heretofore the average annual SAL
airy of Baptist ministers in the South
has been less thar $500, meaning that
a large number of preachers received
considerably less than that sum, max.
ing it necessary that they engage in
other occupations during the week in
order to support themselves and their
families, and rendering 1t practically
impossible for them to lay aside any
money as a support for their old age
The establishment OF the Relief and.
Annuity Board and the decision to-
raise IS, 900, 900 during the next seven,
years for the relief Of the aged minis
ters already in need OF assistance and
the more adequate care OF the men
who hereafter give their lives to tho
Christian ministry without an oppor-
tunity to save up a competency to tide
them through sickness or care for
them in their declining days, has met
with a cordial reception at h hands
of Southern Baptists, and it Is be-
lived the provision of better treat
ment for the ministers in their retire
ment will not only end to cause young
men to look with greater favor upon
the ministry as a life work, but will
bring the members Of local congrega-
lions generally to see the need Of pay
ing pastors more adequate salaries be-
fore these pastors become old and
helpless.
BY the addition Of an annuity feat
ure it is possible for retired ministers
to receive an annuity of $500 after
they have reached the age Of IS, and
provided they have been in the minis.
for thirty years. II they have
served less than 80 years the annuity
is reduced by a certain proportion.
To participate in this annuity a min
lister must make monthly, quarterly
or annual payments sufficient to bring
in an income of 500 per year when in
vested, on the principle Of regular life
insurance, while this is supplemented
by $4OO provided by the denomination
A minister's participation in the an
; nuitv fund is in addition to his claims
, upon the relief fund.
II the minister is disabled at any
time after joining the annuity fund
/ he will receive a certain annuity
throughout h period Of disability. Il
he dies his widow will receive an an
uuity Of so per cent Of what woult
have gone to her husband as long al
she lives, and should the widow di,
: her annuity will be divided anon
, minor children until they become sell
I supporting. marry or reach the ag'
! of Fl.
The board has received an endow
J, ment Of s100, 600 from the Baptist Sur
i day School Board at Nashville not In
Guided in the 70 Million Campaign
r and this sum will be divided equalf
between the relief and annuity depar,
6 ments. This enables the board to b
8 gin work Immediately and assistano
Is already being given to $50 aged mir
ist rs and ministers widows.