SUPERANNUATION: Disqualification for active service by reason primarily of age, then of physical or mental disability. In Germany there exist institutions known as Emeritenanstalten which have as their object the support of superannuated servants of the Church, the basis being the consideration that those who have devoted their powers to this service have a claim upon the Church for support so long as they live, and that it is a duty of the organization to provide for them. But it is considered nothing less than fair that the minister, so long as he holds a lucrative position, contribute an allotted proportion of his income in view of the possibility of his becoming emeritus. There are in many places also funds which are derived in part at least from the income from a parish during the intervals when by reason of a vacancy there is no salary to be paid or from some portion of it. In different parts of the German Empire different ordinances are in force with reference to the proportion thus to be applied. The Roman Catholics have institutions known as domus emeritorum or Priesterhospitale which serve the purpose of supporting aged or disabled priests, in some cases the buildings of former monastic institutions being applied to this end.

(H. F. Jacobson†.)

In England and America the support of superannuated ministers is accomplished by the establishment of special funds, partly derived fxom endowments and partly from collections made annually or more frequently, under the care of boards which form a part of the machinery of the different denominations. Homes are also maintained to which the minister may retire when his service is ended.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES: XIXa. United Brethren in Christ-Bonebrage Theological Seminary: This is the only theological institution under the auspices of the church of the United Brethren in Christ, which now numbers 293,000 members. It is located at Dayton,.0., and was opened for work Oct. 11, 1871, under the name of Union Biblical Seminary. In recognition of a gift of Kansas lands by Mr. and Mrs. John M. Bonebrake of Veedersburg, Ind., valued at $50,000 and upward, the board of directors in Jan., 1909, changed the name. The first faculty consisted of Rev. Lewis Davis, D.D., and Rev. George A. Funkhouser, A.M. Rev. J. P. Landis, A.M., then pastor of Summit Street Church, rendered assistance in Hebrew

575

and homiletics, and in 1880 was elected to the chair of Hebrew and pastoral theology. The same year Rev. A. W. Drury, A.M., was called to the chair of church history, being transferred to the chair of systematic theology in 1895, upon the death of John W. Etter, D.D.

The present faculty consists of Rev. J. P. Landis, Ph.D., D.D., president and professor of Old-Testament theology and Hebrew exegesis; Rev. G. A. Funkhouser, D.D., LL.D., Greek exegesis; Rev. A. W. Drury, D.D., systematic theology; Rev. S. D. Faust, D.D., church history; Rev. J. G. Huber, D.D., homiletics and secretary of faculty; Rev. J. Balmer Showers, B.D., New-Testament exegesis; Rev. W. A. Weber, B.D., religious pedagogy and education. Four courses of study are offered: the regular course, which is substantially the equivalent of theological courses in the seminaries of our country; the English course, offered to persons not having a college diploma, and others who may not wish the Hebrew; a two-years' missionary course and a two years' deaconess course. It will thus appear that women are admitted, most of whom have prepared for mission work or as parish deaconeeses, though several have completed the English course and several have taken the regular course, which includes Hebrew and Greek.

This seminary was one of the very first to introduce studies in Sunday-school lines, and six years ago the chair of religious pedagogy and education was constituted. Prominence has also for years been given to missions. Thirty-eight students have gone to the foreign field, and a large number into the home-mission field of the West. While work has for several years been done in sociology, in 1911 the work in this department was considerably extended, and the authorities are looking to the establishment soon of a chair of sociology and applied Christianity.

Upward of 400 have graduated and as many more have taken partial courses. The effort is to keep theological scholarship and practical training as well balanced as possible. Extensive grounds have been purchased in the northwestern part of the city for relocation of the seminary, the expansion of the institution requiring more room and greater facilities.

The general conference of the church elects the board of directors and a business manager, the present incumbent (1911) being Rev. J. E. Fout, D.D.

J. P. Landis.