The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08

the pastors and elders, encouraging here, incit-
ing to new exertions there, and prodding the lag
CARDS. if need be- with the sharp stick OF official
entreaty.
The denominational papers were, of course,
called on to help IN bringing the plan to the at
tention of all the Methodists in the land, but
Chaplain McCabe was not satisfied with their
limited efforts, and schemed to utilize the secu-
lar press. In every conference !district he APP
pointed one person to take care of the local pa
pers. TO him or her, as the case might be, are
sent all the news items about the progress OF the
contributions, and by the correspondent these
are furnished to the press, to be used according
to the discretion of the editors. This is by no
means the least important of the Chaplain's
ideas, and it has been found thus early to be Of
great service. No Methodist will be able TO
plead in extenuation for his failure to subscribe
to the fund that ne had never heard that any
money was wanted
The crownirg feature of the Chaplain's plan,
perhaps, is letter TO the laity. Having made
all kinds of arrangements after the good old
Methodist manner for raising money-the issuing
of nickel and even penny subscription cards to
be presented by children; the incorporation into
the Sunday-school catechism of questions and
answers relating to missionary work; the taking
of contributions in every church and chapel In
the country; the stimulating to giving through
appeals to the clergy and the manipulation of the
press-new, said the Chaplain, let US see what we
do with the laty, not the ordinary. responsive,
impressionable laity, but the business men and
capitalists. who need stirring up to better view
OF their duty in the direction of missions Is
would be most interesting to disclose how the
Chaplain, persistent, unremittiug. picked out the
men who needed stirring up, but that is
forbidden. That is a Missionary League secret,
and it is good one. But he picked out upwards
OF 10, 600 laymen of means and sent to each one
a copy of the chart a blank subscription card,
and letter This letter is shrewdly couched in
far different language from that to the clergy.
1t abounds not so much in impassioned exhorta-
tion as in practical reasoning plain statement
and direct request. Toconvince the hard-headed
capitalists of the practical nature of the work an
appeal from native Hindoo is given which is a
striking example of Eastern eloquence. Here is
a part of it, Broad gaps and deep fssures
shake the hoary edifice of Hinduism to its foun-
dations. 1t must fall, and the absorbing, re-
sounding question is not when, but whittier.
Shall 1t splash into the dark, seething waters of
Nihilism which cape at its feetg Shaken from
the moorings of their ancient faith, from their
traditional customs, shall the millions in India
oe given over to a Saharan skepticism whose
dust is blindness, whose sunbeams are death9
Hasten to the rescue, ye men and women OF
God"
The subscription card accompanying this let
ter is a characteristic invention. 1t bears, in
big letters, the watch-word, IA Million for
Missions" and has around the margin figures
representing sums varying In amount from So to
So. 600. Whoever signs his name pledges him.
self to give the amount which he marks in the
total of all contributions and promised sub
scriptions shall be $1,000,000. So the chaplain
has burned his bridges behind him; il he cannot
raise million, he'll none of it, The card is in
duplicate form, and numbered. The duplicate
is sent to the headquarters for record, and the
original kept to remind the subscriber of his
promise.
Chaplain McCabe is in demand everywhere.
He is now in the West making three addresses
day and helping by his fervid eloquence to bring
the fund away above the million dollar line. In
nearly all the places where he is secured to speak
the church not only meets its apportionment,
but contributes more, and in some cases has
even doubled the amount. 1t looks as il
the money would be more than raised Many
churches have taken their contributions, and re-
ports received at the Broadway Office here are
uniformly encouraging. One Of the secretaries
was asked to what he attributed Chaplain Nc
Cabes success as money raiser
more to the mans personality than any
thing else" he said. He is magnetic in the
highest sense. His general plans are original
and bold, but his speeches are perhaps no more
able pers uasive in themselves than those of
many a lesser man; but his manner is wonder
fully effective and never fails to tell in the de-
sired direction. We haven't the slightest doubt
here that he will raise the million"