Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17
FOR SYSTEMATIC GIVING
Movement to Be Inapgurated by Methods
Church, North and South.
Organization of missionary COmmft-
jects to Be ,Subserved.

1.-The two great branches of the M. E.
| Church, known as those of the north and
| the south, are preparing to inaugurate a
new movement said a leading preacher of
| that denomination to Star reporter.
1T is however no experiment" he con-
| tinued, "since it has already been tried in
| this country and Canada, and has been
found most successful. 1t has for it's OBJ
| ject: l. The organization of a strong mis-
sionary committee in every chapter of the
Epworth League. 2 Placing of a mission
airy library in every chapter of the Epworth
League. 3. The organization of mission
study class wherever possible. 4. Securing
of signatures to a systematic giving
pledge card.
IF one would understand the movement
| he must remember three facts: 1, The fall
ing off of the missionary contributions of
the church. making it necessary for secre
taries of the board to exDend much time
and energy, not in working for the world $
evangelization, but in raising the mission
airy debt. AS a result the board must not
only refuse to send out the weli-equipped
| workers, but must in many cases retrench,
and even recall the workers now in the
field. 2. The pent-up enthusiasm of the
$50, 900 Epworth Leaguers, If rightly direct
ed, would carry forward the mightiest mis-
sionary propaganda the church has ever
SEEM Yet it must be remembered that the
members of the EpWorth League are today
doing nothing, or next to nothing. in the
way of systematic giving for foreign mis-
sions.
'';s. There are in the college of Method
ism about 400 young men and women who
have volunteered to go as foreign mission
aries under mission board. There are,
in addition, hundreds of students WHO, not
feeling called to go. desire TO send those
whom God has called.
The Missionary Debt.
1.-THE church faces a missionary debt.
hoe ;,
pie, carefully organized and well equipped
Hundreds of the brightest students in Meth
odism-West Pointers-are ready to lead
the forces. 1t is not strange then that the
general cabinet of the Epworth League,
through Vice President William l. Haven,
has issued marching orders
only those students are appointed men,
bers Of the students missionary campaign
who are Endorsed by the presidents of their
institutions, who agree to devote four
weeks during the summer to this work,
and who have had adequate training The
students serve without compensation, other
than their expenses. Each chapter of the
league visited is expected to provide enter
| tainment and its prOportionate amount of
travelling expense. 1t is expected that two
days will be spent at each place visited,
and 1t is suggested that a young peoples
rally be held the first night, and church
rally the second night. The use however.
which is made of the campaign workers is
of course, left to the judgment of the pas
tor. who knows best what will encourage
the church and the Epworth League in
missionary work. 70
Small Contributions, Large Results.
If We remember that about s., 900 900 is
the amount spent annually for foreign
missions by the various American boards,
the following figures may prove suggestive:
l. A postage stamp week from each Ep-
worth League member would mean 81 $50 :
bOO per year for the worlds generalization
, penny a day from each Lacquer would
mean $S,o220OO per year. 3. A postage
stamp week from every member of the
United Societies of Christian Endeavor, the
Epworth League and the Baptist Young
Peoples Union would mean about s.. 800, 900,
L. A penny day from these three societies
would give the enormous sum of $19345 600
or enough to support Is 124 foreign mis-
sicharies. each at salary of 81 200 per
year These last figures win bear a mo-
ments careful thought.'-