1897.] FIELD — THE SPAN OF LIFE. 423 



The result of the study of these shows : 



Two hundred and ninety-three members enter- 

 ing at an average age of. 48.5 7 



Two hundred and ninety-three members living 

 after election a total of 6253 years, averaging. 21.34 



Two hundred and ninety-three deaths of mem- 

 bers living a total of 20,484 years, or averag- 

 ing 69.91 



Even this small number shows a fairly close agreement with the 

 tables. 



This shows practically the same result as that given above. 

 This result bears out the mortality tables and the " Biblical idea." 



The table shows that people aged 4S.57 years 



Might be expected to live 22.00 " 



And reach the age of. 7o-57 " 



which is but sixty-six one-hundredths of a year longer than this 

 actual ''experience," a variation easily accounted for by the small 

 number making up the ''experience." 



Some years ago 1 had occasion to look up the " experience " of 

 clergymen in connection with some of the different Protestant de- 

 nominations. In this study the records of eight denominations 

 were consulted, involving seven thousand six hundred and twenty- 

 two (7622) lives, who lived 495,967 years, or an average of 65.07 

 years. 



The average age at which a man enters the ministry is from 

 twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) years, averaging, say, twenty-eight 

 (28) years. 



By looking at our "American Experience Table" again, we find 

 the " expectation " 



For those entering the table at twenty-eight 



years is 37 years 



If we add the entering age to this 28 " 



We get 65 years 



which is almost exactly the experience of these ministers. 



Returning to the records of the Society we find that on Decem- 

 ber 31, 1894, the longest term during which any one still living had 



