Arizona republican., 1902-12-29
A Remarkable Achievement by the
 Methodist Church.

ground for believing that the masses are taking less interest in religious af- fairs than formerly. Not long ago reference was made in these columns to the enormous sums which have been raised in the last year or two by the Catholic church and by the various de- nominations of the Protestant faith. and the showing is remarka ble. dis patch from Syracuse to the New York Tribune a few days ago quoted the Rev. Dr. Edmund M. Mills as saying;
 Ut is my intention at midnight os the night of December 3l, 1902, to an- nounce from the pulpit of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, in Spring field, Mass, where the movement was started. that the last dollar of the $20.- 100000 Methodist Episcopal Thank Of fering Fund for the new century has been raised"
 Dr. Mills is the corresponding secre- tary of the great fund, and the man to whom the credit for the realization ot this tremendous enterprise must De given. On the date mentioned (Dec. 22) he was further quoted as saying that and that by the night stated the re- mainder vii be subscribed, in the na- ture of a surprise. All of this immense fund. he says, has been raised from the rank and file of the Methodist church. and as far as the educational fund Is concerned, represents in three years more than has been accumulated in the whole of the church's first one hun dred years of existence.
 Of this fund Dr. Mills says that ST. S5G, -5S has Teen raised for cduca tionai purposes. and of the total more than $500. 900 has come in within a month and half. More than eighty-six churches and schools will be its beneficiaries. Syracuse university leads with gifts amounting to s1,176, 800, and Ohio Wes- leyan is next with s1,O92. .SO6.
 There are several of our college presidents said Dr. Mills. "who have not been doing their duty in the mat ter, and now. when they begin to real
 
 moving heaven and earth to keep from losing their positions next year."
 For the purpose of paying off church indebtedness sS,OOO, GOO will be devoted. and it is the expectation of the direct ors of the fund that not a Methodist church in the United States will be in debt when the payments are complete. The plans for the charitable side of the movement are no less remarkable. Since the fund was started three years founded. Two of them have been founded outright by wealthy laymen, one being located in Mason City, Iowa. and the other in Mattoon, III. Within the last month Mrs. Clement Stude- baker. of Indianapolis, widow of tne we'll known wagon maker, has paid off the rest of the $6O, 900 debt on the Ep- worth hospital in that city, in which another one is soon to be erected at d cost of $1OO,OO0. Of this sum s7O,OO0 has been subscribed by Dr. Halsteac.
 Thirty years ago." said Dr. Mills, the Methodist church had not one hos pital in the world; now we have twenty"
 It is the aim of Dr. Mills to secure s1,5OO.OOO which will be devoted to T permanent fund for the support of worn out Methodist clergymen. Over $500. 900 has been subscribed, and on Sunday. January 4. a collection will be taken up in every Methodist church in the country toward swelling the fund. In New York City John F. An drus, the wealthy son of a Methodist clergyman, has offered $50.OOO if the conference will raise $1OO,OOO. and it is understood that s7OOOO of the amount needed has been subscribed
 The watch night meeting in the church at Springfield will be one of the historic events in the career of the Methodist church in this country. The committee of the general conference which issued the call will be present. It is composed of the following men: Bishop Charles H. Fowler, w. D. Mac bOHCAi' SGCIeldIy OI lne DOaTQ or eau cation. and Rev. Dr. Mills, the secre- tary of the committee. Bishop An drews. the remaining member, cannot be present. it is said.
 The task of raising this immense fund of $2O.0O0,O00 in three years time was or stupenoous magnitude. The minis ter upon whom the committee at first pitched, Philadelphia man, declined with haste. Dr. Mills was then sc> lected. He was presi ing elder in the Elmira district, and at the conclusion of his great task has made arrange ments to step back into his district a. quietly as he emerged from it. He has visited every conference in the United States from Maine to Oregon, and ha. written and received hundreds of thou sands of letters.