Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/387

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE REV. JOHN COX EDGHILL, D.D.
337

“There are four classes. The Chaplain-General ranks as major-general; the chaplains in the first class rank as colonels; in the second class as lieutenant-colonels; in the third class as majors; and in the fourth class as captains. Perhaps you would like to know something as to the incomes received. The chaplain on probation, i.e., before he is commissioned, gets £182, 10s. per annum. When he is commissioned he gets for the first five years £275, 5s. 2d.; for the next five years £321, 17s. 8d.; for the next five years £393, 7s. 5d.; from the fifteenth to the twentieth year of service in commission he gets £448, 2s. 5d.; for the succeeding five years £517, 1s. 3d.; and for a further five years £562, 13s. 9d. Those salaries include all allowances; but the chaplains are allowed forage if they have to keep horses.”

“From the facts you mention the Army chaplain is comfortably provided for. But he must eventually retire under the age limit. What then?”

“Then he gets a pension, as is the case with other officers in the Army. After twenty years service the pension amounts to 10s. per day; after twenty-five years, to 13s. per day; and after thirty years, 17s. 6d. per day. The average length of service is from twenty-seven to thirty years. The chaplains must retire at sixty, unless specially recommended to keep on. For exceptional service while in office the men may get promoted from