The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-16
PRESENT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.
r. G. HOgate Cites Figures to snow
Lustice of Laymen's Claims.

r. G.. HOEate Cites Figures To snow
Justice of Laymen's Claims.
e. G.. Hogate's address on the subject.
''Will Better Business Management Be the
Result of Equal Lay Representations" was
an exhaustive presentation Of the subject
and was carefully listened to.
The laymen are now complaining Of the
burden of supporting the church enter
prises, continued Mr.. Hogate, but If def
icit is created they would like to be In po-
sition to know the reason, and not only
make the inquiry but to enforce an answer.
I'm her business affairs the church is not
different from other enterprises. 1t will not
be governed by the prayer test any more
than will the business Of the rolling mill or
the railroad be so controlled"
After recounting the various enterprises
of the church and expressing the thought
that those who furnish the capital should
furnish the brains to guard it, Mr.. Hogate
said:
IMMENSE SUMS HANDLED.
For the fiscal year ending Oct. 81, 1896,
there was raised for missions, by appor-
tionments made on conferences, the sum of
81 ,149, 1861; collected for Freedmen's Aid
and Southern education, June 80, 1896, $2l4,-
714.65; received for church extension, $685.
1928. BY the report of the book commit
tee at their meeting at New York in Febru-
ary 1897, the Book Concern had sales for
the year of 81, S44,O13.S6. For these four de-
partments alone the receipts were $780,
07.51. A colossal sum of money, you will
say and all cheerfully given by the lay
men of the church for the most part.
How much voice do the laymen have IN
managing, controlling and overseeing this
money? The board of managers of the Mis-
SlOnary Society consists OF elghty-one men,
bers-tifty ministers, including all the biSh-
ops, and thirty-one laymen- That is, 62 per
cent. are minister's The officers of the So
ciety consist of a president, who is a min
lister; twenty-five vice presidents, of whom
nineteen are ministers and six laymen; three
corresponding secretaries, all or whom are
ministers; " treasurer and assistant treas
urer, both of whom are ministers, and a
recording secretary, who is minister. That
is, - per cent. are laymen and 81 per cent
are ministers.
do you believe if of the eighty-one men,
bers of the board of managers forty-two of
them had been good solid, business men;
or, if, of the thirty-two officers of the board,
sixteen had been laymen, instead of six
that when the collections for missions rose
from $50O,OOO to $,225,OOO there would have
been debt of nearly $1SSOO0? To SO believe
this would draw on ones credulity."
Mr. Hogate showed that the receipts or
the church extension fund had been IS, 725-
556.1S, and asked the question II those who
made this fund possible should not have a
potent voice in controlling its destinies OF
the fund given, 1897, 1887 is a fund made
by individuals for the benefit of strength
ening churches, the donors to receive an
nuities on the sums they loan. AS the in
terest has not been closely collected, the
general fund has been drawn on to pay an
nuities. Said the speaker. Can you think
of worse business management" The
speaker then paid his respects to the Freed
mans Aid and Southern Educational So
ciety, which has now an indebtedness OF
1929 900 drawing interest The solution for.
the financial troubles of the church, the
speaker held, was to be found in equal lay
representation. He said the present system
smacked of monarchy and tyranny.