West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-10-08

promptly met by the managers OF
church enterprises themselves I'm 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-
ncction the following article from
Rev. DIR. A. j. Kynett, OF Philadelphia,
who hns 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 Silver--Their
extension work seriously interfcred
with" In II heated political campaign
oil parties gather all sorts of argu-
mentS In support of their views. This
In well for an educational campaign"
os intelligent people will be thereby as
sisted to right conclusions. This re-
quires, however, that when anything
unauthorized or false appears IL should
be promptly challenged.
An article. under the above heading.
drawing the churches I'm for partisan
uses has been going tho rounds OF the
papers. We now find IL quoted, with
implied approval, in Zion's Herald, OF
August 20, from the New York Sun of
August 92. IL Is too long TO quote, but
We feel called upon to refer to certain
passages in II. 1t saysi
"The Methodists have about 81 900, 900
which is used for church extension
throughout the country, under the tlI-
rection OF Rev. A. j. Kynett, of Phila-
delphia. This money IL loaned on
mortgages on church ediflces through
out the country, at IA low rate OF inter
est. Much OF this money IL loaned In
the west, and the struggling new
churches have, through the hard times
which have followed the agitation for
free silver, I'm many instances been
unable to meet their mortgage oblign-
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 10 tide the new
churches over this distressing period.
The churchmen have not been ut loss
To place the blame for this condition of
affairs. where II belongs. on the free sll-
ver ugitators. or courssn
the proposition TO pay one-hundred-cent
tebts with ffty-three-cent dollars In n
moral question which might we'll
arouse the religious element of the na-
tion in opposition"
Similar statements are made ~ TO the
church edifice fund OF the baptist Home
Mission society; also the Presbyterian
Board of Missions. The Impression
oh IN ka. L. Al
yer Hgitators 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 unchallenRed.
On questions Of fact, as related TO
Methodist church extension, speak of
hciully. In matters of opinion, on
which persons composing the manage.
ment may differ, speak only for my
self
On questions of fact have TO say
that our treasurer's reports for yenrs
past Indicate no grent change in the
condition OF churches borrowing. un-
I'll within the last four years, and, with
the exception of that period, the diff
Guilty alluded To hns been OF gradual
growth. There Is no greater acuteEess
OF the trouble perceptible as result
OF free silver agitation" The interest
received on loans WINS greater in 1895
than in 1904 and the same Is true of
tho amount OF loans returned, and the
present Indications render 10 probable
that the receipts OF lonns returned and
of interest during 1896 will lie about
equnl 20 those OF 1895, and In excess OF
those Of 1894. I find, In the facts shown
by the treasurer's report, absolutely
no justification for the statement TINT
"the blame for taiis condition of things
belongs with the free silver agitatOrs."
Now, az 70 questions Of opinion. speak
solely for myself. The difficulty with
our Methodist churches, Including those
indebtea 10 US for loans, that has re-
suited IN the serious embarrassment Of
missionary, church extension and 9TH
or benevolent work, nrises out of tho /
great reduction that has taken place
within the last 20 yenrs in the
value Of farm lunds and farm products /
and the paralysis Of manufacturing and |
mining Industries throughout the coun- !
try. Churches indebted 10 our loan
fund are chiefly In farming, manu- !
featuring and mining communities, and, !
~ course, suffer IN their ability TO pnv |
iebts or make benevolent contribution.
Whatever may have been t1ie cause OF /
this great reduction 70 has been Co |
Incident with the disuse Of silver and /
The establishment Of single gold /
standard. This general condition Is AZ /
The same time the cnuae OF our ON 4
Darrsesments. and OF the free silver 4
agitation. IL r. an outrageous and cruei /
wrong 10 accuse directly or by irnplica-
lion, the great body Of the people .
thus embarrassed and seeking relief /
With dishonesty, or with q disposition
~ repudiate any obligation, personal, 4
'orporute, or Of the state or nation.
To demand payment Of old Obligations /
n money OF ncyv and hiphcr
standard of value is worse than shy
ock, for 20 Us not $50 nominated In
he hOnd." Thcse debts ore on pnv.
iblc in "coin" OF IN lawful money of
he United States" and tho creditor
has no right 20 demand pavmcnt I'm
,olo. When. in 1893. wc we're con-
trained So borrow e50.O01 to lend
distressed churches. five out ~ the six
= the money Iendiug corpora tons 10