An examination of 28,134 clergymen in 5 predominantly white Protestant denominations from 1950 to 1960 showed a more favourable mortality for these clergymen for all causes of deaths, total cancers, & cardiovascular-renal diseases compared with the mortality for U.S. white males, total U.S. males with work experience, & total U.S. white clergymen. Mortality rates were particularly low for cancer of the lung, non-motor-vehicle accidents, & suicide. (25 refs)