The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-20
BISHOPS APPEAL
FOR MORE FUNDS
Debts Must be Paid and Schools
Sustained.
EIGHTEEN NAMES SIGNED
To the Document-Twentieth Century
Fund Will be Created and People
Everywhere Are Asked to
Contribute Literally
EIGHTEEN NAMES SIGNED

Cincinnati, May 19.-The Methodist
bishops in their recent semi-annual meet
ing in Syracuse received the committee of
the Freedman's Aid and Southern Educa-
ton society which had been appointed by
the managers at Cincinnati to devise a
plan to relieve the society of indebtedness
and provide needed endowments for their
fifty schools in the southern states. 1t
was agreed to create a twentieth century
fund for the schools. The corresponding
secretary, Rev. J. w. Hamilton, today an
nounced the plan and the appeal of the
bishops. The fund will consist of one
million dollars.
The plan provides for the payment of
the debt of two hundred thousand dollars
as follows: Loans will be accepted for
one-half this amount on which interest
will be paid semi-annually during the life
of the lender, and at the death the money
will be used to pay the debt. The other
hundred thousand dollars will be paid by
collections from churches and donations
from individuals. Eight hundred thousand
dollars will be used for the endowment of
the southern schools.
Following is the appeal of the bishops:
1.-THE Freedmens Aid and Southern Edu-
cation society confronts facts too stubborn
to be neglected. Its achievements are
monumental it burdens most weighty, its
duties appalling. The four millions OF
freedmen have become ten million wards.
Push them out into the sea of liberty, they
have reached the surf line where 1t Is TOO
deep for them to walk, and they are not
yet able to swim. They seem to be neither
citizens nor serfs, having the difficulties
of both conditions and the full blessings
of neither. Their almost hopeless struggle
presents picture nearly as pitiful as any
in the long story of their wrongs and
sorrows Added to these wards are the
helpless multitudes providentially COM
mitted to our care by our new possessions.
Now our wards number more than 25OO0,OOO
Their destiny and ours are inseparabie.
Justice under the law and the spirit OF the
Christian school is the only force given
under heaven among men whereby they
can be delivered and elevated
1.-The board of bishops in the spirit of
earnest prayer and unhestitating faith rec
ommend the board of managers of the
Freedmens Aid and Southern Education
society to make a comprehensive and per-
sistent effort to utilize the Twentieth CEN
fury thanks offering movement for raising
one million dollars, not for current ex-
penses but for the obligations and for
the endowment of the schools under their
care and of schools which must be opened
in our new possessions and in the home
fields.
1--WE ask our people to remember that
our work for our old and new wards is
not completed, but rather only fairly COM
menced. The sympathy and liberality of
the past must be greatly increased. Pray
for these millions and give for their evan
gelization and enlightenment
sSigned: Thomas Bowman, Randolph s.
Foster, Stephen M. Merrill, Edward g.
Andrews, H. Warren, Cyrus D. Foss, John
F. Hurst, w. x. Ninde, John M. Walden,
willard f. Mallalieu, Charles H. Fowler,
John H Vincent, James Fitzgerald,
Isaac w. Joyce, John p Newman, Daniel
IA. Goodsell, Charles C. McAbee, Earl
iCranston."