The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-12
THE PLANS COMPARED.


Another printed statement giving COM
parsons between the last seven years of
operation under the old plan and the seven
years that the Indiana plan has been in
operation showed that the average gain has
been 40 ministers. churches. 1861 communi-
cants, 81, 752 for home missions, S6431 for
foreign missions, .479 for education, S,565
for Sunday school publications, 1884 for
church erection. $685. for freedmen and $72,-
C31 CONGREGATIONAL. There has been an aver
age loss of s., 6SS in relief fund and $14,933 in
college funds. 1t Is explained that the losses
are due to the gift of over $1O0,OOO to coll
leges direct by one individual during 1SS4-SO
and in the collections for relief to the CEN
tennial fund for permanent investment For
home missions the tables give the ngures Ior
1885, the last year that the Synod or In
diana was under the board of missions, and
for each of the seven years that the Indiana
plan has been used. The total raised in the
eight presbyterieS In Indiana under the
board plan in 1858 was So, .0S, and the aver
age amount raised yearly during the seven
years under the new plan is $l4,26Su In
1883 the board of home missions paid the
Synod of Indiana S. 60403 and since 1890 has
not paid anything to the synod In addition
to this it is shown that the ngures Ior the
seven years under the Indiana plan do not
include over $4,000 given to the board at
New York by the women's societies nor $20,-
O0O sent there from legacies.
The morning session was Dr1eI Many OF
the members of the committee did not ar
rive until late and the time was spent for
the most part in getting acquainted me
luncheon held the members until O'Clock,
but the committee was in session from that
hour until s. During this time Chairman
WithrOw submitted a large amount OF cor
respondence from members or the cnurcn
throughout the country, giving their views
and suggestions. This was given as val
liable index of the general opinion in the
church Among the letters were communl-
cations from many of the most prominent
and thoughtful members of the church.
The evening session was given up to dis
cussion of the various methods of admin
stering the home mission funds, and the
committee adjourned at midnight untlI
O'clock this morning. To-day 1t will seek
to agree upon general lines and appoint
subcommittee to formulate a report to be
submitted at future meeting OF the full
I'VE discussed carefully" said Dr. Kane.
secretary of the committee last evening,
1.-The different lines Of departure from the
thus far had and the possible future eff
fects of each one The old method was
that each presbytery should take one col
lection and transmit 1t TO the home mission
according to its judgment of the needs of
different presbyteries. There have been
several departures from this, all being
variations of the two general ideas, the
Indiana plan and the New Jersey plan.
The former contemplates taking one collec-
ton, administering ii through the synod
and sending the surplus to the home board.
The latter contemplateS two collections,
one to be administered at home and one
to be sent TO the board. We have thus far
spent the time familiarizng ourselves with
the sentiment of the church as nearly as
we can get at it. and hearing the argu-
ments advanced in behalf of these different
methods In the morning ! think we shall
be able to agree upon some principles that
should be observed in the administration
OF the funds and leave the formulation Of
our report to subcommittee.