The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-29
The A. R. p. CHURCH.
the ABBEgiLLE CONGREGATION MAKES
AN OPEN AND FRANK STATEMENT.
(COntributed.)

III ADDe'lilc neiu us itllluitl iltcIlilS ido
Sunday, when the questions that were
asked by the Presbytcry or by the Syn0t
were answered openly and fairly, with
out evasion or prejudice To the facts. This
writer is much pleased ut the reported ac
tion OF the Abbeville congregation, and w
are glad to learn that the report was nadt
by the knowledge and with the full con
sent of each of those who were present
While we have not seen the report, yet We
learn that the church roll Includes the
names Of 1872 communicates, many ol
whom seldom or never attend the Scr.
vices. The usual attendance, on Sunday
we are told, was put down at about ~ pei
cent. of the roll.
4 roll OF the active members as well as q
separate roll of the nOn-contrlbuting mem
bers, and members absent, is to be made
out and submitted to a subsequent meet
ing.
Foreign Missions Us to the exact status Ol
the actual strength and the real sentiment
OF the congregation. The plan heretofore
in vogue OF keeping on the rolls the nalnes
of people who may not live in this county
or who may not pay cent, or who seldom
or never enter the door OF the church, is
not only misleading but actually gives the
Board of Foreign Missions preteXt
for the cruelty which that body has in
HlCUeu upon lONul dllll SiuICll-
men in its unmerciful levy Of taxes for as
unwise or as foolish an enterprise as Chris
tian people ever engaged in, namely: In
sending Improbable missionaries and
teachers to Mexico, and in supporting
hospitals, orr manages, schools, nurses
and physicians for people who do not
want our religion. This, too, at time
when our struggling home mission
churches are being crushed to raise the
@k ,t.l,+ q, h.An
The members OF the Board or Foreign
Missions are good men who stand high III
the church. The missionaries are good
men, too. But when it is known that the
Mexican mission has cost this church
something like 100000, and when it is re-
membered that as vet 10 pretense at hav-
ing accomplished adequate results has ever
been made, laymen or burden bearers,
who do their own thinking, are obliged to
enquire the motive for the zeal with which
this unwarranted, this Improbable,
: and this ruinous tax is kept upon US
from year to year. Speaking for myself,
l yie.d to no man in respect for the good
intentions of the Board of Foreign Mis-
sions in laying this unceasing and un-
speakably heavy burden upon the should
ers of people who would, except in their
loyalty to what they have been told was
r their duty, throw off the chatting yoke.
Liz SOOu VIII COulpOSo lIiS l1oetl u
Of Foreign Missions are exceedingly kind
to their kinsmen, and l am disposed to be-
Iieve, except for loyalty to them, as
we'll as loyalty to the church, that they
would not, insthe name of the church,
longer tax us with the support OF any
body. These good men, ! think, are un-
consciously influenced by the beneticiaries
for whom they tax the people.
do not believe that one man in ten, If
ha l-nayy thp fontS cnnl6 ma intini6ntl6
as to cause him to contribute longer to the
support of the boards friends, no matter
how needy or how deserving they may be,
or how closely they might be related.
1t is fair to presume that all, or majority
of the missionaries could make living at
home. But in case they could not we
could much more cheaply support them at
home. 1t would seem to me that a proud
and honorable man would as soon live on
the coppers taken from dead paupers' eyes
as to live off the charity collections which
are paid by little children and deluded
Christian women.
Such congregations as are informed OF
the waste and folly incident to the MeXi-
can mission would no doubt speak in no
unmiStakable terms as to the continuance
of a system Of supporting men in unprotit-
able work, or who ought to work in a
better field
NOT QUESTION FOR THE RELIGIOUS PRESS
ALONE.
In connection with Ghis would say that
1t has been suggested to me by men VIII"
would possibly continue this unjust tax
upon home mission churches, that the
subject of missions is a religious matter,
which should be left entirely to the reli-
gious press. From this sentiment / dis
sent.
First.-Because the sphere or the field OF
the secular press is broader and more
comprehensive than that Of the religious
press
Second-It is the duty of the secula,
press to protect the people against op-
preston, from whatever source it may
come.
Third.-Many sins are committed in the
name of patriotism, and it is equally true
that many wrongs are perpetrated in the
name of religion.
Fourth.-Except it were made in the
name of religion, how would it be possible
for the board of foreign missions to levy
upon us tax to support their kin in lux
ury and at salaries which are so much
higher than the average church member
earns, and which missionaries bring no re-
suits for either their labor or our money
Such religion is an incOnceivable nothing
but the money out of which our people are
uggled for gold bricks is an actuality
which must occasion distress to those
who have been euchered.
Fifth.-EXcept it were done in the name
of religion could the board by any posi-
bility; make the support of anybody q
a charge on the church
WHEN THE INFLUENCE OF CHURCH PAPER
IS NOT FOR THE GREATEST GOOD.
On the other hand, various interests may
initiate against the usefulness Of churcl
paper whose influence should be cXelteC
for the greatest good for the whole church
A church paper in the hands of a factiUr
may not be eXerted for the greatest good
One interest should not be dwarfed thai
another might be unduly and unreasona
bly, magnitied.
If the home mission churches wer'
equally regarded by religious newspaper
would that paper seek to drive out of ain!
home church any Of the most Zcalou!
church workers as well as any of the mos
liberal contributors iIrmOney ?
If the church paper is not partial to th'
Tampico enterprise as against the homl
mission churches, where is the proof of it
impartiality Where is the proof that j
has ever eXertcd the least semblance of ef
fort in behalf of any home mission church
Where is the proof that it is even fricndl!
to the Abbeville home mission church
We challenge that paper to show that it ha
ever manifested the slightest interest in ou
welfare. Where is the proof that that pape
has ever sought to defend this struggling
church from the unjust and the iniquitou
tax which has been levied upon US. for tn,
support of individuals who are we'll know
to it and to others to be Improbable ser
wants in d barren field
First-The religious press may becom