The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17
ALMOST FORTY MILLIONS
AMOUNT RAISED By CHURCHES BY
ORGANIZED EFFORT.
Twentieth Century and other Funds
Larger than Expected in Some Cases
MIR. M~cCOnaughy's Work.


kTecidl 70 the lnQlana EOlf1 journal"
NEW YORK, Aug. 16.-AlmOst forty mil
lions OF dollars have been raised by the
churches Of the United States. Canada and
Great Britain as the result Of the efforts
entered into in the closing years Of the
nineteenth century. 1t was intended 10
signslize the opening OF the new century
by the raising OF special funds for the re-
moval Of church debts, the endowment of
educational Institutions. the extension OF
the church foreign and home missions and
other phases OF religious activity. More
than half Of the amount named has been
raised by three religious bodies Of the
United States; the Methodist North, Meth
Odist South and the Presbyterian North,
the first named leading all other bodies
with a fund which now amounts to $780,
GO. This sum has been raising since
March. 1899. when the plan was approved
by the General Conference. Twenty million
dollars is the goal. and it is stated by the
Rev. Dr. E. NJ. Mills, who has been in
charge Of the movement since it's incep-
ton. that the fund will be closed, with the
full amount raised, before the close Of this
year. OF the S17.O 900 already raised near
ly 100000 goes toward the removal of
church debts. 100000 TO church colleges
and seminaries. and the remainder for the
support Of aged ministers and TO various
church charities.
The twentieth century fund Of the Pres
byterian Church North was in~augurated at
the General Assembly of 1900, where a COM
mittee was appointed 10 present the matter
10 the churches and to secure their cooper
alton in the raising of a special fund for
the furtherance of various denominations
objects. No sum was named as the goal
OF the endeavors of the committee, the
purpose being TO secure as large an amount
"a nnGGfhlp without imnarlnU the regular
incomes OF the churches and the benevo-
lent boards The committee reported to
The General Assembly in New York in May
last, that II had secured a little over $500,
600. The Methodist Church South set out
TO raise S~1,500,00O and the entire sum was
secured several months ago. Canadian
Methodists and Presbyterians have both
been working on twentieth century funds.
and both have secured the sums desired,
The Methodists aimed at the raising of
100000, but succeeded in getting Sl2JO,-
600, and that before any other branch of the
Methodist Church In the world had com
pleted its fund. Canadian Presbyterian
also set the sum of 100000 as a goal, but
met with such success that their fund now
reaches nearly H.500.0OO and may pass that
amount before the end of this year. About
$4,000 of this sum goes TO aid the educa-
tiOnal and missionary work of the de-
nomination, and 100000 will be used to re-
duce church debts.
The largest special funds raised by re.
ligiOus bodies I'm Great Britain are those
OF the WESLEYAN Methodists and the Con
gr~egationalists. the former having secured
$500, 600. and the latter $3.50. 600. The Bap-
lists completed their fund a few months
ago with 81. 2j0. 900, and the United Methodist
Free Churches secured $4,000; $4,000 more
than they We're working for. The Calvin
istic Methodists of Wales are striving &c
secure $4,000, OF which 100000 is already
pledged. A few other religious bodies, bOtf
here and abroad. have smaller specia
funds. but those named are the most i'm.
portant. II IS the common testimony OF
those in charge of the raising Of these
funds in all the denominations that no ef
fort in years has met such hearty response
or has had so marked an effect in unity.
ing the members Of the different bodies
Without exception, the twentieth century
funds have been secured without reduc-
Ing the regular contributions for de-
nOminatiOnal causes.
The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis-
siOns is TO undertake the work of enlistine
the interest Of the people of the denOmina-
tiOn in the cause which II represents along
somewhat different lines from those here
tofOre followed. Tn new work is a result
Of the interest taken in the work of the
board by John II. Converse, of Philadel-
phia, and +. A. X. Hackett of Fort Wayne
Ind. for these men. knowing from theil
own experience the interest that can b,
aroused in the mission cause when properly
presented. instructed the board TO secure
suitable man who should give his entirt
time, as a special representative of .thI
board. 10 the work of interesting individual
men and women in the work of the Presby
terrain Church in foreign lands. The boar.
has therefore secured David McCOnaughy
well known as a successful Young Men
Christian Association secretary in thi
country and in India, and Mr.. Converse am
Mr.. Hackett are TO pay all his expenses in
cident to the work. The work which Mr.
McConaushy will do is planned along sim
liar lines TO that of the famous none,
raiser Of the international committee o
the Y. NJ. G. A., W. +. Lougee. with tn
difference, however, that while Mr.. Louge,
labors almost entirely TO obtain gifts from
individual contributors. the main obiec
which will be kept in view by MIR. McCon
aughy Will be the arousing and enlistinJ
of interest directly in the pouEa Of unisSionS
as Ii is felt that increased contribution
Will follow increased interest.