The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-27
THE MISSIONARY ALLIANCE.
Charges of Loose Financial
Management Of a Missionary
Institution.
or Interest 20 AsfendaAts at REV DR..
simpsons Holiness Meetings.
(FrOm the New York Indepsncent.)

(trom the New York Indepencent.)
For some time reports have been CON-
ing to this olnce of suffering on the part
Of missionaries sent out by the Csristlan
and Missionary Alliance under the Presi-
dency Of the Rev. A. u. Simpson. They
have come from widely separate countries
and from people In whose Judgment and
fairness we have every confidence. One
told the story of young man of fine
character and earnest devotion. left with
out support in a country where 1t was im-
possible for him TO secure assistance, and
who sickened, became insane, aud took
his own life. Another told of not merely
one, but ssveral who had been left
similarly deserted. had suffered greatly
with sickness in consequence, and life
had been saved only by the RELIEF furn
ished by missionaries Of other Boards.
Similar letters have been received by
others All have been accompanied with
an urgent request for Investigation of the
management of the society, and the ex-
posture of the methods which had resulted
in such cruelties
Every effort, however, was rendered
difficult by the peculiar character of the
society. 1t makes no pledge of support
Tor its missionaries, simply promises to
di stri butte among them whatever funds
are committed to 1t. Accordingly to
every inquiry as to what had become Of
the money, the reply has been. that 1t had
been sent, II 1t had not been received by
individuals, the responsibility did not
rest with the board; besides the mission
aries themselves had agreed to rely not
on the Board, but on God, why had they
lost faithf etc. A call, too, was made for
q publication of accounts In such manner
that the donors of funds might see what
had become of the money. At first there
was no reply, then came partial and
very unsatisfactory financial statement,
and further Information has been Jack
Ing. Under such circumstances any gen.
eral statement seemed .ussless. Douhters
would have their opposition strengthened
but supporters of the Alliance would look
upon it as the victim ofspersecution. MIR.
simpson Is man Of peculiarly magnetic,
almost;hypnotlo, power and seldom fails
to disarm personal criticism.
VI late, however, matters have been
growing more serious. Complaints from
the field have increased, and some mis-
sionaries have come to this city TO see II
some means cannot be found for straight
ening things out. Some who have been
officially connected with the board have
also become very much dissatisfied with
its management, and have left IL In de-
spair at being able to accomplish any
thing to set things risht, while one
branch of the .Alliancs has formally with
drawn from all connection with It,
SfafamQpfg nj tho oka ok,
have been made TO us, and ty those in
whom we cannot but have confidence. 1t
Is asserted that the proceeds OF the great
gatherings at Old Orchard Beach are
handed over to Mrs. Simpson, who de-
posits the money In the bank on her per-
sonRl account; that no report "a made to
the boaid for some time, and that 1t Is
impossible TO learn what relation the sum
reported bears 10 the amounts received;
that some Of the pledges, especially some
large ones, arc never redeemed, one hav-
ing been made by a man who was not
worth ms many cents as he pledged dollars
and one branch having been set down as
plsdging many times as much as it wns
possible for 1t to raise and against the
protest of Its superintendent; that bonds
have been quoted at fictitious values,
these values having been accredited TO
prayer. Mr Simpson praying that they
may have bhat value, and then assuming
sionaries on the Held are persistentIy ig-
nored, Some not even being opened, others
dismissed su:nmariiy as of no moment;
that 1t is with the utxn ost officially that
ordinary accounts can be settled, SO that
the financial standing Of the organization
IL OF the lowest; that there is no means
OF knowing where MIR. and Mrs. Simpson
get their support, OF the money for cer-
tain expenses, as for travelling; that, IN
short, the whole financial mnnaQement
Is an inextricabie muddle which no one
on the board can clear up, while Mr..
Simpson keeps thiugs In his own hands
so thoroughly that one Of the most promi-
nenS men In the Board admitted to a
friend that he was ''only an errand boy"
1t is to be noted, too, that the most seri-
Gus OF these statements come from those
who have no personal grievance at all;
who neither claim noe desire anything
for themselves, but believe that The inter
ests OF the missionaries In the field. and
the great cause of missions. call for refor~
nation Of the msthods OF the Alliance.
While we believe that the whole theory
OF the Alliance Is mistaken one and
that il is not pre-emineut, for it's faith,
It's efficiency or even its economy, we
recognize MIR. Simpsons undoubted right
to carry out his theory and prove its COR
binary laws OF financial prudence be OBJ
served. Those laws demand strict, COM
plete, open account, not merely OF expen-
ditures, but Of receipts. The money con-
trfbuted for the conduct of the work of
tho Alliance may very properly be received
by Mrs. Simpson as financial secretary,
but 1t should not be put in her or her
husbands private bank account, but be
reported in full to the Board aud go on
the board 8 account; aud in its ex pendi.
ture there should be the same conditions
imposed on the president and general
superintendent ms on any other employee
OF the society. 1t is entirely appropriate
that they should receive OF it for their
own support, but what they do receive
should ba stated very clearly. All ao- |
counts, too, whether of receipts or ex- |
penditures. should be opened TO examine |
tion BY expert accountants just as are the |
of other benevolent societies.
As matters stand now, there is certainly |
ground in widely disseminated reports for |
investigation of the charge not only of |
careless management, but also NJ actual |
Misrepresentation. To report pledges |
which are not redeemed as basis for en- . |
couraging donations is to procure money
under false pretenses. That Mr.. Simp-