The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
HOPES OF METHODISTS
THREE MILLIONS A YEAR FOR MIS-
sIONS Is EXPECTED.
Contributions This Year Increased
Over s15O,oOo-wcek of Prayer to
be Observed by the Y. w. c. A.

Church North meets on Nov. IL in Omaha,
there will be reported TO 1t the most sue
cessful year, financially, through which the
Missionary Society of the body has ever
passed since its organization in 1928. The
increase in missionary contributions this
year over those OF the previous fiscal year
markable in view OF the fact that the re-
ceipts of the last fiscal year were $4,000
ahead of those OF two years ago. Missionary
leaders of all bodies are watching the
Methodist situation with the greatest in
terest, and the opinion is freely expressed
that that body will very soon attain its
ideal of 100000 annually contributed by
Methodist people for Methodist missions.
Methodist leaders say that this amount,
while larger than that raised by any other
one body, is within reach. Gifts TO the Mis-
sionary Society and the Women's Society
last year were s2,2SO,OOo. Leaders claim that
the s., 100000 mark will be reached this year.
The increases of the past few years are
credited to the educational policy Of the
Missionary Society, which systematically
aims to interest all Methodists in the mis-
sion cause, and also 10 the work Of the
Open Door Emergency Commission. which
led in the forward movement for missions.
XXX
The Omaha meeting OF the missionary
committee will cover full week, with three
sessions daily. The committee is composed
OF the bishops of the church, the officers
of the Missionary Society, and fourteen rep
resentatives each OF the General Confer
ence and the board of managers OF the Mis-
sionary Society. Most OF the sessions will
be closed to the public, but evening meet
ings will be open as a rule and will be
devoted to the popular exposition of mis-
siOnary topics. While the feature OF the
meeting will be the financial report already
indicated, much interest will be conferred in
reports OF the work on the field. This has
not been extended during, the year, but the
additional resources have been used in the
especially, has this reinforcement been ex-
ercised. Buildings destroyed during the
Boxer troubles have been rebuilt, and in
Picking, Asbury Church, Durbin College and
Hopkins Hospital, the latter said to be one
Of the finest missionary buildings in the
world, have all been completed within the
year. The policy for the new year, so far
as ii may be indicated in advance of the
Omaha meeting. will be to increase the
number of workers in the field, which have
long been needed.
XXX
The approach Of the Omaha meeting nat
urally gives rise to conjecture as to the
action of the General Conference next year
regarding the Methodist Missionary Society.
Whole partial consolidation OF the de-
nominations benevolences have been dis
the subject appears to have died out. Lead
ers who have expressed themselves public
ly on the subject do not favor consolida-
tion. The subject Of additional bishops, to
be decided by the conference. affects mis-
sionary interests. because there is "a ques-
ton as to whether the present missionary
| bishops, Thoburn, Warne and Hartzell,
shall be continued as such or made equal
with the other bishops of the church. The
latter course is said to be the likely one,
and the men named may then be given
residence in this country. new bishop
will doubtless be named for India, while
Bishop Vincent, now resident in Europe,
will probably return to America by right
Of seniority.
The Young Women's Christian Associa-
| lions OF the WOrlQ are TO observe the week
beginning Nov. a week of prayer for
the continued maintenance and extension of
their work. The observance will be general.
and in America alone several hundred city
and student branches will hold daily serv-
| ices and take the offering OF the worlds
nickel TO extend the movement. The
Worlds Young Women's Christian Associa-
tion, with which the American committee is
| federated. has supervision of 1000 branches,
covering every quarter of the globe. Some
| of these are parochial branches. as in Great
Britain and Germany, and have but a small
membership. Others, including some in
| this country, are great educational and
| economic institutions, such as the branch
| in Pittsburg. Pa. which has membership
| of 2,490. The Worlds Association head
quarters are in London, England Mrs. G..
| w. Campbell being chairman. The general
| secretary, however, is an American wom-
| an, Miss Annie NJ. Reynolds American
young women are doing much to extend the
| work OF the associations I'm distant lands
| and four new workers are going to foreign
| associations from the United States this
| fall Radcliffe College will support a sec
| rotary and Bible teacher in the schools Of
| Calcutta, India. A New York woman goes
| to Bombay to become general secretary of
| the branch there. The Pacific coast as
| sociations are TO support a secretary in the
| Women's University at Toxic, Japan, and
Michigan association are to support a sec
| rotary among women of Shanghai, China.
|
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