Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-12
CHURCH SUPPORT NOT CHARITY.
Agents Urge Greater Attention TO Con
ference Missionary Work.

ference Missionary Work.
The first part of yesterday after
moons session of the conference was
occupied with the annual missionary
sermon delivered by Rev. j. w. Ferris,
who made a strong appeal for the con-
tinuance of hearty aid for this great
department of church work.
Rev. Ferris chose his subject from
| the 10th verse of the sixth chapter of
Matthews, Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven He pictured to the
audience instances of despair and pow
erty among people in greatest need OF
| help to elevate them from their misery.
He said that it is the belief of some
that when they donate toward the up
building of their church, they are Civ
| ing toward charity, believing that char
lily begins at home. This aid toward
the upbuilding of the home church,
Rev. Ferris holds, is not charity, but
selfishness. adding that real benevO-
lence is the helping of those far dis
tant. where no material gain whatever
can be received by the giver. In clos
ing his address he told of the result OF
one of Edward Booths effective deliv-
cries of the Lords prayer showing his
manner of speech, and urging that His
will be done
Rev f. F. Rowe led the afternoon
Injecting in prayer, and Rev. R. A.
Brown, chairman of the conference
missionary society, presided during
Rev. Ferris address.
| Plea for Supernnnuated.
A short recess followed, and at 500
the delegates and members of the con-
tgregation assembled to hear addresses
by Drs. w. H. Wilder and J. B. Ollie
in behalf of the Conference Claimants
lsociety. The work of this society is of
lrecent development and is being push
led energetically by its advocates. Rev.
Wilder, who is from the general Illinois
conference, is one of a board of nine
members recently appointed to push
the work. 1t calls for the care of
preachers when their advanced Years
take them from active service and for
: the care of their widows and children.
) Rev. Wilder by figures contrasted the
, neglect of donations toward this pur-
! which missions are provided for.
Comparison is Made.
Where funds for mission work from
a church will show full 100 per cent or
more of the amount apportioned ,the
church, that for conference claimants
! fourth He stated that it was the in.
, tention of the fathers of the church at
the first conference held in 1884 that
= the superannuated ministers be taken
; care of, but this intention has not
been realized. The fault he said lies
5 principally with the ministers them
l selves who appeal for the missionary
work in preference. There was but 81
. per cent of the amount appOrtioned fol-
the work raised last year, according to
his summary.
, Rev. Ollie closed in seconding the
preceding speakers appeals, and gave
further illustrations of the neglect OF
the work. He remarked that too much
generosity, comparatively, has beer
shown in the missionary field. and
-, though it can continue to advantage
thought should be given by the youns
pastors to caring for the superannua
ted ministry. Rev Ollie is an agent o.
the conference for the work in beha
of which he spoke, and has been {
) member of the board of stewards
IA which has charge of it. for many years
The board met Immediately followin:
the adjournment of the afternoon ses
Il sion in the public library building