The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-09
Another Lot of GUdgeOnS flctIhiiZe"
by n S%O.called Insurance
Company.

The newspapers bring the intelligence Of
the failure of the Mutual Self EndoWmen'
and Benevolent Association" in which asso'
citation quite q number of our citizens bave
recently invested surplus cash. The PreSl'
dent of this collapsed concern, like many
managers of other great swindleS, offers a
faint hope to those who are most immediate
" interested in it's financial status. We re-
produce President Mayfeld's side of tho
ouestion because it will be found extremely
interesting reading to all those who have
been induced to invest their earnings in an
institution which was most fair to the prom
isc, but which could be, in the nature o.
things, nothing but false to the fulhllnicnt.
This grand "Mutual SclfEndowment and
Benevolent Association had a preacher at lis
head. This fact, of itself, we think, was
enough to secure the downfall of the concern
Besides having a neutrality-suspicious., IL seem
ed to provide profitable employment 1or q
host of other preachers as sub-agentS. AS
rule preachers are looked upon By the mem
bcrs of their flockS as the embodiment OF all
that is wise and true in every relation OF lie
Besides this, they, to q greater or less extent
idolize him as their spiritual adviser. 1t is,
we presume, for these reasons that swlndlc!S
of all classes and every degree seek the aid
and countenance not only of the preachers OF
the gospel, but also of the religious newspa-
pers. Swindlers know the value OF the
nreacher's influence, and they are perfectly
aware of the fact that they can afford TO pay
almost any price to get their advertisement
in the religious newspaper.
They, therefore, make it a point to win the
favorable consideration of the pulpit and the
religious press. Honest, confiding preachers,
and the publishers of religious newspapers
who sell space TO whomsoerer may apply, arc
deceived by plausible talk and fair promises.
Rev. Dr.. Mayield, we have no doubt, entered
into the management of this great BeneVo-
lent Association in perfect good faith, and
perhaps aske "a q divine blessing on the enter.
prise. AS a matter OF course a preacher is not
supposed to know anything of insurance.. 1t
is a subject which requires much study. Hav'
ing devoted his life to the study of the plan
of salvation as foun in the Scriptures, his
information on life insurance must have
necessarily been elected. neBlindly accepting
the statements Of others who sought to make
him their tool, and who wanted the magnetic
effect which the sanctity of his p~riestly robes
would give TO the scheme for sharing the ill.,
noeents. In like manner other preachers
Joined this holy gouging company, and pro-
.ceeded to the work of gathering up the mon
ey of their parishioncrs who could in many
Instances, ill afford to lose it.
When thirty dollars were received by the
agent his own family was benefited to the
amount of ten dollars. Then we presume the
chief preacher, the grand cyclops of the con-
Germ, got another big per cent, leaving per-
haps enough of the original sum to advertise
the splendor and excellence of this grand
promising concern. We make no reflection
on the sincerely of the preachers who may
have been connected. with this cheat. They
sike other agents, no doubt were perfectly
sincel e in all that they did. But they as in.
dividuals were doubtless sought ont because
of tie priestly office which they held, and be-
ing unsuspecting, they were themselves de-
ceived.
We would warn the public against all
exclusively secular enterprises which have at
their head preachers of the gospel. OF all
men on the face of the earth preachers are
the most guliable. Being honest themselves,
they do not suspect evil of others.