Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-25
TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND
Proposed Thank 0faring of the Methodist
Episcopal Charch.
Comm iSsiOn Organizes by the ic:ec-
ton of Permanent Officers and
Issues Address,

The twentieth century thank offering
commission Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church has been organized by the election
of the following officers: President Bishop
f. G. Andrews; first vice president John
f. Andrus of New York; second vice pres
ident, William Deering Of Evanston: third
vice president, Rev. DR.. Warren of Boston:
secretary, Chancellor Mcdowell of Denver.
BY an unanimous vote, at a meeting ne d
in New York few days ago, the follow
ing address was issued to Methodfsts
throughout the United States:
We recommend that the executive COM
mittee shall be composed of three bishops,
three ministers and other than bishops and
six laymen.
We recommend that a corresponding
secretary be elected by the executive com
mittee: that he be paid salary and en-
abled to give his entire time to this work,
under the control and direction of the ex-
ecutive committee. The committee shall
also elect 4 treasurer.
We recommend that the executive COM
mittee be requested to secure from friends
guarantee fund to cover the necessary
expenses, until such time as funds may be
provided by gift or ordered by the general
conference.
Suggests Organization.
We recommend that the commission in
struct the executive committee to proceed
as rapidly possible to provide for the
organization of annual conferences pre-
siding elders districts, churches EpWorth
Leagues and other bodies, as opportunity
offers, 70 carry out the purposes Of this
movement, and all forces necessary to
reach every pastoral charge and congrega-
lOn in our church, and, If possible, secure
a contribution from each member of our
church for some one or more of the inter
ests represented by this commission.
we recommend that the executive COM
mittee be directed to furnish literature, in
formation, etc, to papers, churches, con-
ferences, pastors, boards and Others and
as far practicable to provide speakers
TO assist in the work proposed.
I'VE recommend that every one of our
sixteen thousand pastors be requested to
preach sermon on the earliest practica BILE
Sabbath. setting forth the thank Offering
idea, explaining the plans of the commits
sion and urging the pre-aminent claims of
our schools ard colleges, that the cause
and claims of Christian education be fire.
quently presented from every pulpit in our
connection during the year 1899.
That the executive committee be in
structed to cOnfinc all its appeals to the
particular objects specified in the call
under which the commission has been
constituted, as follows: That over and above
al ordinary contribution for the mainte-
nance and spread of the kingdom of Christ
which certainly ought not to he diminished,
a sum of twenty million dollars be sub
sorihed and paid within the period of three
years, beginning with January !. 1899, for
the purposes hereafter named. OF this we
recommend that S10,0O0OO0 should he given
for the benefit of our university, theologi-
cal seminari2s. colleges and other schools
and $i0oep,01o for our hospitals. orphan
ages, homes for the aged and other chart
table institutions of the church and for the
payment of debts our various church
properties. This shall include all special
gifts for all educational institutions in the
church at home and abroad over and above
their ordinary income for current expenses,
the payment of debts upon the various
kinds of church property.
Special Character of Offering
TO emphasize the special character of the
thank offerings asked for and continually
to urge upon all contributors that such Of
ferings ought by all means not to be al
lowed to curtail by a single dollar the sup
port of any of our benevolent societies.
ITO invite and encourage all boards Of
trustees and managers TO attempt large
things for the purposes named in the appeal.
TO aid in every possible way the man
ayers of those societies of our church which
are in charge of colleges, schools, orphan
ages, deaconesS' homes and other insttu-
lions of education or philanthropy at home
or abroad to make special appeals for such
institutions.
I'VE call special attention to article in
the call and statement issued by the bish-
ops as follows: That each contributor shall
be az liberty to designate to which of the
above named objects his contribution shall
be applied
We recommend the executive committee,
as far as practicable. to urge upon our people
as the principle which should guide them in
their giving not the contribution of fixed or
average amount from each member of the
church, but the principle of proportionate
giving, according TO our vows: and in view
OF the amazing mercies of the century now
closing and of the unparalleled RESPONSE
bilities and opportunities of the twentieth
century, to urge very large increase in
the benevolent contributions of our people.
That the commission urgently requests
the editors of all our church papers to aid
in promoting the objects of the twentieth
century movement by furnishing informa-
ton and by appealing to all our people to
make generous offerings corresponding 10
the greatness of the OCCASION.
An executive committee was elected. COM
posed of Bishops Andrews, Foss and Fow
Ter. Drs. Payne, Goucher and Raymond,
and Messrs. John E. AndIus, Alden Speare,
James N. Gamble, f. w. Tunnel, S. W.
Bovine and D. S. Gray.