Religion: Methodist Cupboard

Old Mother Methodist Episcopal Church went to her cupboard last week to pay her bishops, retired bishops and widows their salaries and pensions. The cupboard was considerably depleted—by 43%. The Church used to borrow money, when necessary, to pay its widows ($1,500 annually), retired bishops ($2,500) and active bishops ($6,000 plus allowance for secretaries and rent). Under a "pay-as-you-go" plan adopted at the General Conference last May, remittances now depend upon the amount of money in the treasury. The treasury is not likely to be chockfull, unless Methodist laymen fill it, before local conferences begin meeting and raising funds late this month. Never before has the Methodist Church been thus forced to scrimp. Three bishops of foreign areas were obliged, lacking passage money, to linger in the U. S., probably until Oct. 1 when payments will be made.