Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-01-03
BIG CENTURY PLANS.
EVERY CHURCH HAS AMBITIOUS
PROJECTS.
Religious Denominations Asking for
: 100000, Observation-Disclosures Have Four
Movements, the Financial One Being
Far Toward Success.

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With the exception of half dozen,
every religious body in the United States
aud England has on hand some new CEN
tury forward scheme. Methodists of
England set the pace, and Methodists of
the United States brought the idea over
the Atlantic. The start was made along
finances, and SO it has come about that
the religious emphasis of the new century
observances is, on the whole, monetary
rather than spiritual. Smaller religious
bodies, and also religious societies, have
copied the idea, and there is, at mod
crate estimate, 100000, 900 asked by the
religious bodies of the United States on
the hinge of the advent of a new century.
Methodists have mo fewer than four
new century movements on hand. The
principal Of these is the raising Of $780,
100000 with which to pay debts on
churches, to strengthen charitable efforts,
to endow colleges, and to help the funds
for aged ministers. TO date almost ex,
actly $1O,0OO,O0O has been subscribed,
the largest part for church debts.
Churches in different cities are organic
ing, some have already done so, and with
the advent Of the new year they will
make combined efforts to raise fund
with which to pay off debts on all
churches within the respective city linn
it's. About $3,500,000 has been subscrib-
ed for educational purposes, and nearly
$1,OOO,OO0 for philanthropies. In Eng
land the Wesleyans have raised practi-
cally all of their 100000 guineas.
Among educational institutions the uni
versity that has gotten the most to date
is the Ohio Wesleyan, and the American
at Washington has done next best. To-
gether these institutions have raised over
81, 100000. Methodists have also a mis-
sion fund in hand. The Missionary So
ciety will try to increase its receipts
from $1,3OO,OOO year to 100000.
Me+hodists South seek to raise a fund
of 100000, to be employed in man
ner similar to the $20,0O0O0O fund of
Methodists North. The general confer
ence in Chicago last summer authorized
a spiritual movement, which aims to get
1000, 600 new members as new century
task. 1t placed Bishop Thoburn at the
head of this movement, but his uncertain
health throws much of the labor upon
others.
Presbyterians Want Money.
Presbyterians North and South have
financial new century schemes on hand,
and the former have Sunday school
plan. The moderator of the
General Assembly North, the Rev. DR..
Charles A. Dickey of Philadelphia, is
spending his entire time in the interest
of money raising. Presbyterians seek to
pay church debts, provide for local inn
help the work of the synods,
endow colleges and mission boards, and
increase offerings for work in China and
other foreign fields. There is a Sunday
school movement which seeks to get 5OO,-
600 children into Presbyterian schools in
addition to the 100000 already there.
Congregationalists have not entered
heartily into new century scheme either
here or in England. The only plan in
hand is the raising of $25O,OOO with
which to strengthen the American board.
The suggestions made by the Baptists
Of the North are being adopted by Bap-
fists, white and colored, in the South.
These suggestions have a slight se4erence
to money matters. The only reference is
to greater system in giving to all denomi-
benevolences. During the open
ing week of the new century many Bap- |
list churches will hold all-day prayer
and the fourth Thursday in
January will be kept as day of pra. er
for colleges. On the third Sunday in
April Baptist ministers will preach on
progress during the CEN
fury, and at the anniversaries next May
one day will be given to speeches on Bap-
list achievement in all the world.
Two years or more ago Roman Catho-
les discussed the plan of taking census
If numbers and property throughout the
world, with view of publishing early in
he new century the impressive facts or
lata in mass and so making before the |
world such tremendous showing as only |
he Church of Rome could make, of mate |
'ial and spiritual achievement. The holy
year has been observed and the census
dea seems to have been forgotten. At
my rate the American churches are not
ret in the work of taking this census. On
he closing night of the century mass
vas said in all Catholic churches, dis
)ensation having come from Rome au-
horizing it at this unusual hour.
Episcop 1Iians and Lutherans.
Episcopalians and Lutherans are not
making much of the new century coming.
The former will make much Of the APP
,roaching Lent, not alone in religious
.ense, but also in the Sunday schools.
Lent will see more services than ever be-
ore, and the children in the schools nam
ID will push their combined offerings for
MISSIONS beyond the 100000 limit, a
tint which they have had for several
Tears, but have never yet reached. The
lew Brotherhood of st. Andrew Presi-
lent is trying to put new life into that or
,anization, and part Of the plan is the
folding of a summer instead Of an au-
umn national convention next year.
Lutherans are getting ready to observe
With much formality the 400th anniver- |
AIRY Of the birth of DIR. Martin Luther. |
They talk of founding a Lutheran univer- |
ity as a memorial of the occasion. The
late is 1917
Christian Endeayorers take note of the |
lew century by recommending all State
conventions during 1901 to hold celebra- |