The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16
TWEEN fIETH CENTURY FUND
Or. Mills Tells Of the Grandest Effort
im History Of the Church.

one or the brilliant and lereStlng men
| at the conference is the Rev e. NJ. Mills,
D. D., OF EImira, n. Y, who IS general
| corresponding secretary Of the new twen-
tieth century movement inaugurated
some time ago for the purpose of rails
500, 100000 for educational and eyangelizing
purposes in the next century, It is a
monumental task, but already it is one
Of the most popular movements which the
church has ever taken up. DIR. Mills was
introduced to the conference yesterday
morning and stated briefly some of the
objects Of the movement and its rapid
growth since it has been inaugurated. He
said that already there had been sub
scribed over 5000 coo Of the $50 OOO, 0o0, and
he believed the full amount would De
realized before the beginning of the
twentieth century. The movement is in
the hands of highly perfected ma ehinery
assembled in the Methodist Episcopal
church in America, under the call of the
bishops, for a twentieth century endow-
ment fund Of S20,000, 900 for the church
and her educational institutions, and for
an evangelical movement that shall re-
suit in the conversion of 100000 souls.
These desired ends it is being attempted
to reach by a well directed, systematic
effort simultaneous throughout the coun-
try, in which everywhere, after certain
preparatory work has been done, great
conference conventions are being held at
which the machinery of the enterprise is
fairly put in motion.
At these conventions the ablest speak
ing talent the church affords, clerical
and lay, presents the objects and purposes
of the great movement, and the delegates.
lay and clerical, from every charge in
the country, go home with a profound
idea of the greatness of their church. the
scope Of the twentieth century. and their
own opportunity and privilege in promot-
inE it.
The work is already begun which is
actually to touch the hearv and the peck
etbook Several of the western states,
which began earlier and have progressed
a stage or two farther in the work than
the eastern states have done, have found
this the invariable result and the move
ment is very popular at this conference
Rev E NJ Mills Is one Of the best in
formed men concerning the great move
ment in this country. To a reporter for he
Eagle DR.. Mills said: 1.-THE twentieth
century thank offering movement in the
Methodist Episcopal church began with a
call from the board Of bishops TO cele-
brste the incoming Of the twentieth cen
tury by a great forward movement
throughout the denomination, which
should result in the conversion % 2o0o,-
Coo souls and the raising of Saoo00, ooo in
special gifts"
This fund he continued, is not TO
De used FOR the current support of any
church work now existing or the found
ing or permanent endowinE OF new forms
Of church work. but solely Tor the perma-
nant endowment Of forms Of church ark
now existing. as follows:
l. For education as represented either
by particular schools in this and in for
eiEn lands. or by a general educational
fund for the aid Of needy schools.
. For charitable ana philanthropic I
work as previously set forth.
s. For endowment funds for city evan |
gelizatiou.
4 For invested funds for the support /
of conference claimants.
5. Fer the payment of debts on our
various kinds Of church property.
Before the bishops OF the Methodist 4
Episcopal church issued their can the /
Wesleyan Methodist church IF England /
had already set up the cry OF a g,uaea I
a member" as a special twentieth cen /
fury thank Offering. which has proved I
very popular in England, and the con- /
;ri5Gtions alFea6y approximate the s.
aaooo5 asked
The Methodist church OF Canada has
since eGteva the field and purposes 10
raise $l,Q6o0o as q twentieth century
sift from her 27S.e1o members: and the
Methodist Episcopal church, south, is a-s3
engaged in a similar underta king.
The growth of Msthodism during the
last century has been phenomenal" said
Or. Mills. The church entered the cen
fury with only IS ministers ana e4so
members having but Little church
property and not a single college. IN 10