The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-10-10
CHURCH EXTENSION.
Embarrassment Of the Work On
der the Gold Standard


dered ~ the Dtsuss OF silver.
Advocates of the gold standard, In
their attempts to array the church on
their side of the financial issue, are
promptly met by the managers Of
church enterprises themselves in refu-
tation of their claims as to how church
work would he disastrously affected by
the free coinage of silver. We take
pleasure in reproducing in this con-
nection the following article from
Rev. DIR. A. J. Kynett, of Philadelphia,
who has charge Of the church extern
sion work of the Methodist church
throughout the country. The article
is taken from Christianity in Earnest,
which is published by the church for
the special purpose of aiding the
work of church extension.
Churches Affected by Sllver-Their
extension work seriously interfered
with" In heated political campaign
all parties gather all sorts of argu-
ments in support of their views. This
Is well for an educational campaign"
as intelligent people will be thereby as
sisted to right conclusions. This re-
quires, However, that when anything
unauthorized or false appears it should
be promptly challenged.
An article. under the above heading,
drawing the churches in for partisan
uses has been going the rounds of the
papers. We now find it quoted, with
implied approval, in lions Herald. Of
August 26, from the New York Sun Of
August 20. 1t is too long to quote, but
we feel called upon to refer to certain
passages in it. 1t says:
1.-THE Methodists have about 81 900, 0G0
which is used for church extension
throughout the country, under the d.
rection of Rev A. j. Kynett, Of Phila-
delphia. This money is loaned on
mortgages on church edifices through
out the country, at low rate of inter
est. Much of this money is loaned in
the west. and the struggling new
churches haze, through the hard times
which have followed the agitation for
free silver, in many instances been
unable to meet their mortgage obliga-
tions. The result has been that the
work OF the church extension has been
greatly hindered, and the mission fund
will have to remain idle to tide the new
churches over this distressing period.
Inc churchmen have not been at loss
10 piace cne oiaine LOT TINS conaition OF
aHairs' where IL belongs, on the Tree Sill
yer agltators. VI course
the propositlon 20 pay ne-hundred-cent
oepts Win n1ty-tnree-cent dollars Is
moral question winch might well
arouse the reiigious element OF the ma
lion I'D opposition.
Similar statements are made ss to the
church edif1ce fund OF the Baptist Home
MISSION society; also the Presbyterian
Board OF Missions. The impression
sought to be made Is that the free sill
yer agibators are, by these churchmen,
held responsible for the embarrassed
conditions referred to.
Those In charge of the church funds
can answer for themselves, or allow
the statements to pass unchallenged.
On questions of fact, as related to
Methodist church extension, speak Of
fcially. In matters of opinion, on
which persons composing the manage
ment may differ, l speak only for my
self.
On questions of fact l have to say
that otr treasurer's reports for years
past indicate no great change in the
condition of churches borrowing, UNI
til within the last four years, and, with
the exception of that period, the diff
Guilty alluded to has been of gradual
growth. There is no greater acuteress
OF the trouble perceptible as a result
of "free silver agitation" The interest
received on loans was greater in 1898
than in 1894 and the same is true of
the amount of loans returned, and The
present indications render it probable
that the receipts of loans returned and
of interest during 1896 will he about
equal to those of 1895, and In excess Of
those Of 1894. find, in the facts shown
by the treasurer's report, absolutely
ne justification for the statement That
"the blame for this condition of things
belongs with the free silver agitators."
Now, as to questions of opinion, speak
solely for myself. The difficulty with
our Methodist churches, including those
indebted to us for loans, that has re-
suited in the serious embarrassment of
missionary, church extension and 9TH
er benevolent work, arises out of the
great reduction that has taken place
within the last 20 years in the
value Of farm lands and farm products
and the paralvsis of msnufactur;no md
mining industries throughout the coun-
try. Churches indebted to our loan
fund are chiefly in farming, manu-
featuring and mining communities. and.
of course, suffer in their ability to pay