The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-25
Says CHURCH FAIRS
VIOLATE SCRIPTURES
REV. DR.. HENN1NGER ENDORSES
THE FORBES PROTEST.
indianapolis Minister Condemns Bazaars
as Unscriptural Church Rows De-
veloped at Oyster suppers, He De-
clares Money Getting socials Do Not
Bolster Credit Of the Church.

Modern methods employed by
churches to raise money for their opera
ton and extension, are strongly OPP
posed by Rev. George s. Henninger,
pastor Of Hall Place M. E. church, In
dianapolis.
DR.. Henninger. has given out an In
teresting statement Of his views.
"There are" he said, ga great many
honest people who sincerely believe
that these sales of things to raise money
is right, My church is not dependent
upon such methods Of raising money
nor do I see that any other church
should be.
"To be honest I am entirely out OF
accord with this modern method OF
financing churches. That the demand
for money is heavy there can be no
doubt. The only argument advanced
for oyster fries, bazaars, rummage sales
and the like is that they increase the
social life Of the church. The truth is
that more church rows have developed
in the modern oyster supper than scores
of preachers can heal.
Fairs Injure Merchants.
"By all means increase the social life
of the church, but that may be done in
some other way. On assuming charge
Of a growing church, was approached
by leading merchant Of the place, who
| said that the church had injured his
business by selling goods at fairs, and
had injured others by selling ice cream.
"I am told that many churches solicit
from our merchants gifts Of laces, silks
and other goods, and then sell them in
| a church market to the general public.
The business man pays the taxes that
support the city and state. The church
rightly, I think-pays no taxes and
has no right to take away the mer.
chants trade.
"The editor Of the daily paper is
often scored if he fails to give free
space to church sales and entertain
ments. The merchant pays for all the
space he gets in the newspapers. The
'church-fair women in their selling are
rarely likely to give scriptural measure.
I have known Of two women having a
serious misunderstanding when it came
I to cutting up cake in church mar
ket. One desired the slices cut much
smaller than did the other. She was
sure the purchasers would not kick.
1 ..5 Curb Church Giving.
"These fairs and suppers curb giving
to the church. Let us have a fair or
supper will be the cry, 'and we can
raise the money easily Then the hus.
bands and wives who have given the
stuff will buy it back again. Besides it
is unscriptural. Imagine the God that
created the universe, that gave to the
world the tremendous gospel and its
salvation and yet dependent upon the
modern plan of money-getting as a
, proper one for financing His church.
""The church is not dependent upon
any such plan. Let every one give to
God that which is rightfully his instead
of frittering away time on these affairs
There will be plenty Of time and many
occasions in which to develop the true
social and spiritual life of the church
and to meet its needs, and to fill It'll
Golfers with the gifts Of its people.
"That the present plan is failure /.
evidenced by the poor credit Of the
church. Official members can get credit
for themselves on their personal &C
count, but the church has no credit
Evidently the bazaar, oyster, rummag.
sale and ice cream methods are failures
e so far as adding to the prestige ani
$ credit Of the church making use o,
Q them