The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-02
s20,OOO,O00 IN
METHODIST FUND
Great Totals IN Twentieth Con.
tury Thank Offering.
LARGE WATCH NIGHT GIFTS.
Philadelphia Sends sI,7Oo,O0o for Char.
tiles and Church Deots, and New
York Follows Close.
LARGE WATCH NIGHT GIFTS.

Springfield. Mass, Jan. e-"on the au.
thcrity OF the written reports OF the rep-
resentatives OF our various institutions
and organizations. declare that s2O.O OOo,-
600 has been pledged in good subscriptions
10 the Methodist twentieth century
thsnk-offering
Clear as "a clarion note was this an
nouncement made in Trinity Methodist
church by the Rev. DIR. Edmund H. Mills,
secretary Of the Twentieth Century
Thank Offering commission.
For moment there was silence, and
then was heard from the audience fer
vent Amen" Again and again 1t was re-
peated.
The race between New York and Penn
sylvvania for leadership In amount of
contributions Ia neck and neck. Each
state has given in excess Of 5000 .00o. and
so close are the totals that the results OF
the thank offering which will be taken at
midnight In practically every Methodist
church in the country. will determine
which leads.
New York led easily until Wednesday
night. when Or Mills received a telegram
from Philadelphia announcing that the
Philadelphia conference wished 70 add TO
it's previous contributions si,i5ooOo for
philanthropic charities, and 100000 for
church debts
AT this hour the church could not ask
or expect a complete or final report"
said DR.. Mills. "But that you had an
abundant entrance through the gates OF
success. let me further declare that II the
magnificent gifts OF the Methodists, OF
Manhattan. were not 10 be included.
could still say s2o000.o00 has been paid or
pledged"
Nine million dollars has been reported
paid or pledged for the liquidation OF
debts on church property. The Method
ism of New York. Chicago and Cincin-
natl will soon be free from church debt.
The sS,0SO.Oo0 raised for Methodist church
schools Is more than the Methodist Epis-
copal church gathered for its schools In
the first hundred years OF the history OF
Men as they think OF this movement
Syracuse university leads with s.. 1877, 900,
Ohio Wesleyan comes next with 81. .09s. sos.
We have collected 81, 10000 for philan-
thropies and charities and $4,000 for
the conference claiments. A little over
s3S0.oOo has been raised 10 build churches
I'm destitute communities.
Men as they think Of this movement
will find reply to rebuke and silence
the prophets OF indecson. seliShness and
unbelief. AS long as this thank offering
is remembered Il will be argument
for trusting God for great things and an
inspira ton TO attempt great things for
him..
Leaders OF national prominence were
present. greetings being extended by
Bishop Fowler. Rev. DIR. S. +. Cpham,
Of Drew university. and Rev DR.. w. +.
Mcdowell. secretary o ( the Methodist
Episcopal board of education.
To a reporter DIR. Mills said that
while the successful completion Of his
task was undenlably source of salts
faction he should return to his duties
as presiding elder of the Geneva con-
ference OF the New York Central district
without regret DR. Mills. who Is 81 years
old. was graduated from Wesleyan unl-
versity In 1872.