The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-02
PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
Or, Matters Which the A. R. P. Synod
May considsr.-Are Foreign Mis-
sions Church Suicide? g..
Contributed.

: TONY .V0tsSteNp -
sippa Church Suicide! H.. r.
s. Contributed.
On the principle that a cat may look at
a King, the secular newspapers Of a State
map out work for the Legislature which
may be soento meet, and in like manner it
may not be amiss to make suggestions to
the clergy who are to meet In Synod
in Charlotte on the 18th instant.
It might be well to inquire, II the existing
debt OF the Church, or Synod, should not
be paid, before other liabilities Are in
Cured.
Ii" It better to strengthen existing
churches, before organizing little churches
whose pastors must be supported In part
for years from enforced contributions
from children, poor men who live Ia rented
houses, or from other poor families whose
homes are mortgaged. ..
Whether It Is better to turn the Mexican
missions over to natives and then call
home all of, our missionaries, where
they might add strength, and not weak
ness, to the Church. p.
Is It advisable to continue our lady
missionary In India. The gentleman mis-
sionaryhaying gone to India on individual
authority or responsibility, the the people
are In no way legally or morally bound
for his salary.
Why does the Synod enquire 80 much
more particularly about the per capita
collections than about the per cent of
additions to the church membership?
Why the slow growth Of the A. R. P.
church in other cities and towns than
Charlottea y J." ' a. "
Why definite and specific reports are
not required of all male missionaries
whether at home or abroad, showing how
they spend their time, the number of SER
mons they preach and the number Of hear!
ers by actual count, who attend their SER
vice on Sunday, morning and evening.
Should missionaries, at home or abroad,
be required to give their full time to the
work for which they are employed, give
part OF their time to other gainful
pursuits, or other business of their
own, without accounting for said diver
sion ofthelr time?
Should the church continue to dispense
generous charities to Mexicans while
denying the semblance Of charity to any
body ct home? go. go "
Is the expenditure Of our money In
Mexico not In large measure, respon-
sible for the inability Of many congrega-
ton, to pay better salaries to their pastors.
Itmight be we'll to inquire If we really
want In our church Negroes, Indians,
mixedblood, or white Me1icans who live
In shacks, sleep On dirt floors, eat without
knives and forks, and who are so deficient
IN civilization that they do not provide
fbrthe comfort Of their families.
Why do we maintain free schools for
Mexdcans while refusing free tuition to
every bodyiin the Colleges at Due West.
'whysdoes the Synod require Its officers,
Or agents, to dismiss a student at Erskine
for ~misbehavior, and then keep, or con-
fiscate, the unearned part Of his tuition
fee. In this connection it might be asked
II the Church should not have as' high
standards OF right and wrong as the State,
and II religious colleges should not have
as high moral integrity as a State institu-
tion?'f '|'s e '@' ga
Clemson College, 8. c., OCT. Is, 1910.
refunds are made to students when they
leave. I beg to say that I find that up TO,
the and Of about the first month. all the
money deposited by the cadet Is refunded,
with the exception Of his board and wash
ing at the rate OF $3.50 per month. After
the lapse OF q month or so, he Is refunded
whatever Is due hinsfor uneIpended board
and lodging, for bis breakege, and uni
form,-in fact, everything except the
hospital and incidental fees, My exam
instion into this matter convinces mt that
y anything the. Treasurer has been too
to the incidental and hospital fees, which
amount eachto $500
with kind regards, Sincerely yours,
w. M. Riggs, Acting President"
Why do 80 msny'of our churches, pres
byteries, OF individuals abandon our
Church for other Churches.
The Synod might appoint a committee
on Church killing. to report at the next
Syred tthere fsa quicker or q surer way
Of killing q weak church than by excessive
taxation for impractieable' and unwise
purposes.
II might be tn order to inquire the rea-
SON for taxing home mission churches,
while not taxing mission churches In
Mexico. - a.
It might be- well to INQUIRE. II there Is
any known way ofnore-certainly wasting
money then By sending It to Mexico.
It would be Interesting to know II a
ten-theusand- dellsr free school house has
been built for pauper Mexicans, while no
free school house Of any sort has been
built for our own people.
The proposition OF Rev. Mr.. Dale that
By about doubling the number Of our
missionaries in Mexico we could, In a
generation, evangelize q territory in
Mexico as big as South Carolina. To sim
pity the proposition, why not set Off half
the proposed territory now occupied, and.
with our present force; 'eyangelizet the.
reduced area In g generation. Part Of our
missionary force has been In Mexico for
thirty years. Let; Mr. Dale explain how
many square miles he. and his associates
have evangelical in the last ten years.
pu Au,rpn ~ ont In fhio NOV, ua could