The daily Republican., 1902-12-30
METHODISTS SURE
OF S2O,OOO,OOO.
Twentieth Century Fund Will
be Completed With Close
of the Old Year.
USES FOR THE MONEY.
Magnificent Victory For an
Unassuming Man. Clergy
mems Sons Free
Givers.
TIT is nv intention at midnight

- TIT is nv intention at midnigh,
On the night Of December 3lst, 1902
to announce from the pulpit o
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
in Springfield, Mass, where the
movement vas started, that the laS
dollar of the $50, OO0 600 Methods,
thank offering fund fer the new
century has been raised.
This statement was made bv the
Rev Or. Edmund NJ Mills. CORES
ponding secretary OF the great fund,
and the man to whom the credit
for the realization of this great en-
terprlse must be given. At present
ne says, more than SO. 900, 900 has
b:eu raised and that by to morrow
The remainder will be subscribed, ,
In manner the nature OF which will
be surprise.
All OF this immense fund. he saws
has b en raised rom the rank and
tile of the Methodist church, ana as
Tar as the educational fund is con
cerned represents in three years
more than has been accumulated IN
The whole Of the church S first one.
hundred years of existence.
DR.. Mills is now busIly preparing
his reports, employing for that pur-
pose many assistants and stenosraph,
ers. The work embraces returns
from every State and territory in the
Union and is in itself Of nature not
unlike the business conducted by a
bank.
Uses FOR TIE FUND.
OF the fund the Rev. DR.. Mills says
that s., 500, ,75S has been raised for
educational purposes, and of the to.
tai, more than $500, 900 has come in
within month and u half. More
than eighty six universities and
schools will be its beneticiaries. Syr-
acusc University leads with gifts a
mounting to 81, 17G, 800 and Ohio
Wesleyan is next with 81 o92, ,S0G.
There are several of our college
presidents, said Dr. Mills. who
have not been doing their duty iu
the matter. and now, when they be-
gin to realize what has been accom-.
rlished. are moving heaven and
earth 10 keep from losing their po-
sltions next year"
For the purpose Of paying off
church Indebtedness s., 900, 900 will
be devoted. and it is the eXpecta-
ton Of the directors Of the fund that
not methodist church in the Unitel
States Wi! be in debt when tho pay
meute are complete.
. The plans for the charitable side
of the movement are no less remark
able. Since the fund was started
three Years ago, ten new hospitals
have been founded. Two of them
have been founded outright by
wealthy laymen, one being located
il Mason city, la., aud the other
III Nation, III.
Within he ast month Mrs. Glenn
snt StUdebaker, OF Indianapolis,
wife OF the weIl-known wagon max.
Ell. has pad OF the rest of tn. $O0,-
900 debt on the Epwor.h Hospital.
dn that city, III which another one is
,,aoon to ue erected at cost OF 500.
GOO. OF th.s sum $70, 900 has been
subscribed b! DR.. lIalsted.
W"EN l.IEENED TO GAMBLING.
E"lt was ,cmantic work, Dr. Mills
SAID, almost like gambling, |
should imagine tor | never felt sure
1Ust where The next dollar was
coming rem 10 make sone desired
fund complete. one feature Of the
work which has struck me with
peculiar force i, The wonderful part
played by Ihe sons Of Methodist
c:e!syme",
The ialEer Of one man who gave
US $lnV "Yt Wis poor Methodist
clergyman. "Aose largest salary was
$400 Il YEA! The son is worth $50.
900, 900 today und with one stroke of
the pcu has gwen to the church what
h.s father M;.!.d have earned In ], 900
years,
Another Interesting thing is the
tact tha, averaged up, the fund has
not tec; ncre7sed by any great gitt
or series 81 gif's. 1t has come from
tie ann and li'c OF the church.
"Th"rr WILL Of course, bo great re-
-1irIng Try al the millions of Metho-
dlsts Wien ,hc great Accomplishment
Is ann"un e BY the last census
there are ever 5000, 600 in tho
church NritI and more than 900
900 III Ike church South. The vast
amount q! !!uney thus collected
will h" use; f." various purposes,
slrh H. -! instance, education, |
work at home aud
abroad. ,DN!NeLh Of church debts.
etc Wee. lie Sew Year bells are
ringing It VIII be thehour Of supreme
4atjsiacU,l :'g' the Methodist Church
IA Amr'Ir;