Evening star., 1926-11-18
MODERATOR ASKS
| PENSION SUPPORT
u ~
pr. Thompson, Guest at Ban
I quet, Urges Leaders to
/ Aid Retirement Plan.


Rev. DR.. William Oxley Thompson,
moderator Of the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church, last night, in
addressing a large gathering of leaders
OF the denomination who met at q
banquet and reception in his honor at
RauScher's. delivered a stirring appeal
1or support Of both the general budget
of the church and the new service
pension plan for the retirement OF
ministers and missionaries, for which
q national campaign for S15,OO0.O0O
now Is being conducted.
DR.. Thompson, who was presented
to the audience Of about 800 by DIR.
Hubert Work, Secretary Of Interior,
traced the history of the formation
of the Presbyterian sect, and declared
that never had its prospects been so
bright before, and predicted that be-
fore the next General Assembly of the
church, which meets at San Francisco
in May. 1927, the new pension plan
would have gone into effect.
The meeting was held under the aus
pices Of the Presbyterian Alliance of
Washington, the social organization
OF the denomination, Of which Rev.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor emeritus
Of the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, is president. Rev. DR.. John
G.. Palmer of the Washington Heights
Chu.>>- was chairman Of the program
committee.
Lauds Pension Plan.
1.-THE new retirement plan, which
has been in the process of formation
for more than two generations" the
moderator said, 'is actuarsly perfect,
and will provide an adequate and just
retirement fund for those servants Of
our church who have begun to falter
after So or more years Of continued
service. Had our church in recent
times paid its ministers and mission
aries salaries more adequate to care
for their actual needs, perhaps we
would not be faced with this problem
now. It is only in recent years that
the average Presbyterian minister's
salary was as much as 81 800 q year.
And yet [ challenge any one to Ques-
ton lhe statement that there are no
finer quality Of men in other profess
sions than are tt be found in our min
istry. It has been only the devotion
to the cause that has held them at
their posts"
DIR, Thompson explained that annual
stipends ranging from $500 to $4,000
would be paid beneficiaries of the new
retirement system. who in turn would
pay into the retirement budget PA
surance" proposition.
Protests MateriaIism.
The moderator, who is president OF
Ohio State University, also discussed
educational problems in light of the
activities of the church, and declared
that some students of science and
other phases of higher education
seem to have constructed a social
order all their own. in which there is
10 place left for God" He protested
against the materialism of the modern
age.
Touching upon the present tendency
to formation of new Protestant sectS,
the moderator said he saw no cause
for alarm, for we all are working in
q common cause for the advancement
of the Kingdom of Christ on earth,
and It must be remembered that
Presbyterianism itself is one sector
OF Professionalism that revolted against
the old order. 1.-The essence of
Professionalism" he said, "is individu
alism."
Describing the republican gov
ernment Of the Presbyterian Church,
Moderator Thompson praised its de-
mocracy which gives every denomina-
ton q voice in it's own government, its
conservatis< and its generosity OF re-
gard for others.
DR.. Radcliffe presided and a prayer
was offered by Rev. Dr. Charles Wood,
pastor of the Church Of the Covenant.
In the receiving line with DR.. Thomp-
aon were Rev. DIR. and Mrs. Joseph r.
SiZoo, Dr. and Mrs. Palmer, DR.. and
Mrs. Wood and Secretary Work.
Scienffsts hava not vet learned why