The Meaning of "Pension."

The earliest authoritative definition of pension that I can find is that of Dr Johnson, which appeared in all the four editions of his dictionary published during his life, notwithstanding his own acceptance of a pension in the meantime:—"Pension—an allowance made to any one without an equivalent. In England it is generally understood to mean pay given to a State hireling for treason to his country." the whole point of the lexicographer's sarcasm is that in theory a pension was then what it is now, when our dictionaries define it as "a stated allowance to a person in consideration of past services." A pension, in its true sense, is a reward of merit; an old age pension, in its true sense, is the reward to be given to those attaining old age in consideration of their meritorious services to the State on their progress to that age. A part of those services may or may not be a specific contribution of money by the individual to a State pension fund; but whether or not this pecuniary element enters into the scheme, the pension is merely supposed to represent what he fairly earned. It is not a gratuity or a dole, but stands for "good consideration and value received"; it is the public recognition and remuneration in old age of the individual's previous contributions to the common weal.