The Portland daily press., 1899-06-28
No Cause for Sensational Criticism,
They Say.
Rev. Israel Luce Ex-
presses His Opinion.
Not the Slightest Doubt Of DIR.
Simpsons Integity.


urEuAE TO THE rRxssj
Old Orchard, June s7.--Thc New York
Independents criticism Of the financial
management of the Christian Alliance,
which has been widely copied In New
England newspapers. has. caused unlimit-
ed discussion among sojourners and camp
ground wershippers at Old Orchard. This
is the birthplace Of the Christian Alliance
movement and the big sums ann ually
raised here for missionary purposes have
made Old Orchard famous. Last Auxust
the contributions and pledges Of single
day aggregated s67. 1000. and in, the preyi-
GUS summer sl1 900 was raised.
The doubters predict tlsat the attack, Of
this New York religious publication will
cause Rev. DIR. Simpson to cancel his en-
gagement this lseason, and that IL he
should happen to come here he would be
unable to raise anything like the receipts
OF his former collections. But DIR. Simp-
sons friends-and he has many Of them
here-declare that the aocusatisns against
him are unwarranted. and that the ALI
ance movement will be eventually
strengthened by this unjust criticism.
Rev. Dr. Israel Luce, formerly OF Port
land, now pastor of the Methodist church.
at South Berwick, was here today, and
was asked his opinion OF the matter. He
Is president of the Old Orchard Camp
Meeting association, and was one of the
eight men who organized the Christian
Alliance here. ~ years ago, being chosen
at that time q member Of the executive
committee. Though most OF his time at
present Is devoted to his denominational
work, he is In close touch with the Aln-
anoe work, and his opinion is therefore
Of public interest.
He said that the Independent article
was but q reiteration of rumors and In
situations that had been thrown out,
from time to time, in previous years, and
that DIR. Simpson had always been able
to satisfy the public of their falsity, as he
would no doubt do In this instance. The
Alliance financial accounts are regularly
kept. and can be examined by any body
VINO Will take the trouble to call upon the
treasurer or auditor. At the annual meet-
ing in New York last April, Dr.Simpson,
Treasurer Crear and Auditor Warren
made their reports, In the presence of an
audience that filed the Tabernacle, and
stated their willingness to answer any
question that might be asked them by
any person present. Nobody accepted the
invitation. At the convention In Boston
few weeks later, similar invitation
passed unheeded.
'Dr. Simpson may have made some
mistakes" added MIR. Luce 'but have
not the slightest doubt of his integrity. II
have great faith In the movement, and In
the men who are carrying it ON. DR.
Simpson has said here on this camp
ground that not dollar OF the funds
raised for the Alliance goes to his person
al support, but that he is able to support
his family on the profits from the sale of
his books Nobody thoroughly oonversant
with the Alliance work doubts this state
ment. He also said on the day of the big
collection last summer that all but an
exceedingly small percentage of the
pledges made at these meetings in preyi-
GUS years had been paid, and that enough
money had come In from other sources to
more than offsst the shrinkAge. No
question Of doubt was raised when he
made that statement.
In answer to the accusation that man
foreign missionaries had been left with
out means of sustenance, and that they
had become dependent upon denomina-
tional missionaries for support, Mr. Luce
said there was time. three years ago,
when for brief period some of the ALI
ance missionaries In India received hel2
from other missionaries, because the
money was coming In SO slowly that their
stipend was delayed, but that was the
only foundation for the story. 1t is n OF
true, he said, that Alliance missionaries
rsceive no stated salaries. They ara paid
regular salaries which, though small In
comparison with what denomiastional
missionaries receive, are sufficient for
maintenance.
Rev. Hezakiah Chase. superintendent
of the camp ground, and prominent
member of the Christian Alliance, made
a general denial Of the laccusations, and
expressed the hope that DR.. Simpson will
feel 1t his duty to make public state
uent challenging public investigation
of the Alliance finances. "I have no dis
position to defend anything wrong" Mr..
Chase added, 'sbut we who are intimately
acquainted with DR.. Simpson and his
work. and have better opportunity than
the outside public to scrutinize, have not
the slightest doubt of his integrity and
fidelity"
Speaking Of the insinuations about AIRS.