New-York tribune., 1909-11-04
NO TAX ON BABIES.
Mothers Not Assessed by Missionary
Society.

ST; II this mornings Tribune (Nevem-
Der D. conspicuously on first page. I read
statement. telegraphed from Pittsburg.
under the following heading: "No reduc-
ton for triplets Methodist mothers as
sessed so each for children" 1 quote part
OF said statement:
AT the fortieth annual meeting of the
Womans Foreign Missionary Society of the
Methodist Church here to-day it was dis
covered that this body had been in the
haoit Of quietly assessing women members
Of the organization SO for each baby they
might have. This became known when two
Philadelphia members tried to get a spe-
cial price on triplets with which they have
presented their husbands in the last year"
They were told that there could be no
rebate or any percentage or for cash for
either twins or triplets, and the Philadel-
phia mothers paid their S30''
This statement of any assessment is SO
utterly false, as it relates not only 10 all
Methodism. TO its churches and organiza-
tions therein, but also to every Protestant
church, that It is ridiculous. and would not
be worth noticing but that there is GER
tain viciousress OF wording that cannot be
overlooked and there are those who are
not church members who will be misIed
by the statement.
Protestant denomination in the United
states-an assessment" for money is
never made. An apporticnrnert according
TO members and means may be given and
members urged TO meet it for the work
OF the church, which is their work, but
never an arbitrary assessment. Every
contribution is voluntary, and. as in all
churches, some Il hope only a few thank
the Lord that the Gospel is given free"
and give nothing. Sometimes a special
appeal for some emergency is made as
in the case OF our Woman's Foreign Mis-
sionary Society. when the Knckerbocker
Trust Company closed its doors on 600
belonging to our New York branch. which
includes the New York and New Jersey
constituency. This was every cent of this
branch's whole quarter support in heather
fields for our missions. schools hospitals.
orphans and native Bible women, etc.
Not even in such dire need did we even
think Of making an assessment on any
member We just sent out a printed state
ment of the dire trouble and an appeal
for special aid
Now, as 10 the baby business. There
are four organizations in this, the largest
contributing Women's Foreign Missionary
Society of the world, which gave this
last year $685., ,961 37-the Church Auxiliary
for Adults, the Young Woman's and
Standard Bearers, the Kings Heralds,
from eight 20 fourteen years and last, the
Little Light Bearers. answering to The
Cradle Rolf of churches. Each has it's
own annual membership fee from 81 for
the adult to % cents for the baby organi-
zation- Each also has its life member
ship fee, from the $50 of the adult 10
the SO of the children. The little children
are not only made life members by the
$40, but their photographs are given. with
name and residence. in the beautiful
children's paper Missionary Children's
Friend" which is the delight of the little
ones with It's stories Of the children of
other lands.
These beautiful pictures OF our little chill
dren cost something but give picture
gallery Of beauty and promise not sur
passed by any other in the world Mothers.
fathers, relatives or friends who desire
early 10 put into their cllildreu's hands and
hearts unselfsh work for others voluntarily
contribute the life membership fee. which.
like all other membership fees in any or
ganization, IS definite sum.
one of our Western branches has TO our
great interest. reported four sets of tliplets,
and I doubt not that it was the enthusiastic
and proud report of this so favored branch
that led to the suggestion joke
whether there ought not 10 he "a rebate
for twins and trlplets. and that In the same
spirit the reply was. NO rebate" a joke
now and then in the seven-days session OF
strenuous work Of that delegated body from
all parts of the United States greatly rests
brain and nerve, for great financial respon-
sibIlity and the interests of great nations
are in the hands and on the hearts of this
I,DI r f. ,iSa
above the condition OF its women.
Finally, not only is an equally conspicu-
GUS place due this reply. but q special
apology, in common justice. should be Of
fered for the following sentence, an insult
10 the whole Methodist Church in general
and TO the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society in particular (italcs miuel: 1T
iods discoUered thct this body has been tu
The habit o. QUIETLY assessing tcomen
members of the organization SO for each
baby they might have" No such under
hand work is ever done by Methodism.
our printed annual reports of branches
and the entire society. publishing all men,
bership fees and all methods are to be had
by the public. Open and public are all our
methods and laws. There is absolutely no
occasion for secret assessments or any
other surreptitious work. The Methodist
ana ali 1FcieStdnI ciurcheS appeal 10 their
members only as stewards of the Lord, and
it remains for these to accept or reject this
stewardship.
The none Christian world : doors are wide
open to-day. We cannot help looking
through these doors and seeing the physical
misery and spiritual famine hut though
our hearts are constantly wrung with lack
in treasury to in any adequate manner re-
lieve that need, We have never. shall never
assess" quietly" or publicly, for that
sorely needed help, and no tours of dis
ccvery" are needed TO find pole" that
never has existed
MRS. STEPHEN L. BALDWIN
President New York branch OF Woman's
Foreign Missionary Society Of the
Methodist Church.
Brooklyn, Nov. >, 1909.
THE statement in question came TO US
as a news dispatch. We regret that 1t