"A SCANDAL OF THE CHURCH."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 841, 13 June 1910, Page 8

"A SCANDAL OF THE CHURCH."

MINISTERS' STIPENDS. At the Methodist Conference, held at Adelaide recently, the Eev. Dr.' Morley (Vic.) presented the triennial Teport of the Board of Treasurers of the supernumerary ministers and ministers' widows' fund. The Rev. V. Colwell (N.S.W.) pointed out that in his Statc'many ministers (including quite a number of married men) had to maintain their establishments on a- salary of from .CIOO to .£l5O a year. It was a hard struggle, nn<l- tbo Board of Treasurers should bo lenient and exercise discretion in deserving cases. ■ The Eev. C. T. Newman (N.S.W.) said that in view of tho increased 'Cost of living, ministers should receivo a minimum stipend of ,£3OO per annum. How could they, on their' present salaries, rear families and avoid tho temptation, to speculate? (Cries of disapproval.) It was just as well to let u little light on Hie subject. The Eev. Dr. Ktehett (Vic.) said one of the scandals of their Church was their underpaid ministers. It was eventually resolved:— fnat the tims for payment of contributions to the supernumerary funds should be extended to May 31, before a fine was imposed; ' failing that, the fine bo 2s. (id. a month or part of a montli, with a maximum forfeiture of 10s., and that if, at the end of the year (December 31). the amount due still remained unpaid, it should boar compound interest at the rate of i\ per cent."