The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-12-01

people for fifteen consecutive years
that is, hypnotic their poeketbooks,' -
SAID the Rev. A. 3. Simpson of the
Gospel Tabernacle in Eighth avenue
and champion mission collector of the
universe. He was speaking of the col
iections taken up there in the last
fifteen years or so. 1t has been limited
that Mr.. Simpson has hypnotic powers.
A few weeks ago at a Sunday morn
ing service the congregation scontribut-
ed in money and pledges-mostly in
pledges, due for payment within six
| months-the sum of $92,221 At a
money raising convention held at Old
orchard, Me-, last August over which
Mr.. Simpson presided $4,000 in the
same sort of currency was put in the
collection boxes, and in August at Ian
caster, Pa, on a similar occasion, Mr.
Simpson leading, the offering was s37,-
0o0-more than $171 600 in three months,
according to the figures.
Such meetings with similar results
| have been going on uninterruptedly for
more than fifteen years, so whatever
Mr.. Simpsons method may be, it loses
| none of it's efficacy by use. Instead of
diminishing the collection totals at his
church and at conventions over which
he has presided have grown. And
everybody remembers the stories about
how the missionary enthusiasts at these
meetings, lacking sufficient ready cash
for Mr.. Simpson, tore off their jewelry,
pulled out their watches and cast them
into the collection plates.
Mr.. Simpson says, however, that he
has frowned upon this practice as being
| too spectacular. That's why it has
been dropped.
1t all makes many good church people
less skilled in the art of money col
crate materialists open their eyes, II
the Tabernacle congregation was
fashionable or rich there would be less
cause to wonder. But it is neither.
To be sure, it includes few persons
of comparative wealth, but its person
mel for the most part is made up of
plain. Woodworking people. Sweet per-
fumes and the musical frou-frou of
silken skirts trailed UP the aisles any
where from ten to twenty minutes late
are not distinguishing features of SUM-
day morning service there. Late COM
ers if they want to sit down at all are
lucky to get a seat near the door, for
the pew rent system does not go in the
Gospel Tabernacle. ALI the seats are
free, which is another way of saying
that the first to come are the first serv-
ed, and the church is supported by vol
untary contributions.
In spite of this precarious method OF
sustenance, as some think it, the Tab
ernacle has grown in fifteen years from
"a membership of IL to 1,400, and a MORN
ing congregation seldom includes fewer
than 1900 persons. Mr.. Simpson never
seems called upon to face the unfiatter-
ing spectacle of a small attendance.
The building is comfortable enough,
though far from ornate, but evidently
the last thing any one has in mind is
to spend any money to decorate it or
to build a more imposing one. For
that matter, the keynote of the organ
ization might be said to be frugafity
in everything but giving and getting
money. The pastor and the assistant
pastor live almost as plainly as the
poorer members of the congregation.
What is the secret of such big coll
lections and, If they are genuine, what
becomes of the money? These ques-
lions have been asked idly many times,
and there have been insinuations that
Mr.. Simpson was disinclined to con-
verse on the subject. That is a mistake.
This, in brief, is what he says:
Almost all the money we collect here
goes to foreign missions by way of
(,t>..: Alliance. /
We have a training school for mis-
sionaries at sNyack and a rescue mis-
sion in New York, both of which we
take care of, but these are minor con-
siderations. Foreign missions come
first
Mr.. Simpson is president and general
superintendent of the Alliance, which
he explains is not an ecclesiastical body
in any sense, but simply fraternal
union of people from many denomina-
tons. 1t does not organize churches
here nor require its members TO leave
their present church connection. 1t
works through local conventions, such
as those at Old Orchard and Lancaster,
and printed publications, and 1t is sus-
tanned by voluntary contributions. It's
prime object, to quote from a report
is .'the evangelization of the Whole
world by sending out missionaries TO
and neglected fields ana
the work on evangellstlc'
economical and spiritual lines"
Mr.. simpson makes it clear that the
Gospel Tabernacle is an INDEPENDENT
church, not directly under the controi
of the Alliance. The Alliance, however
is practically the outcome of the Taber-
nacIe. and in view of the collections
taken up in the latter from time TO
time. most of which, Mr. Simpson says
goes to the work to which the Alliance
is pledged, it is easily seen that IL the |
Tabernacle is independent of the AM
ance. the Alliance is by no means indie
pendent of the Tabernacle.
Although Mr.. Simpson does not say
so. he has admirers who declare with
out hesitation that he is the head ana
front of the Christian and Missionary
Alliance and of the work it represents
in foreign lands, and that the conven-
xx,h;nr he does not preside