The Washington herald., 1911-10-28
PROTESTANT GIFTS TO
MISSIONS DOUBLED
IN THE LAST DECADE

societies of America which handle the
money of the eight principal religious
bodies, Baptists North, CONGREGATIONAL
lists, Disciples. Episcopalians Lutherans
Methodis,s North, Presbytrrians North
and the Reformed Dutch branch. have
now closed their books for the calendar
year. except the Two Methodist boards.
Reports from all of the nineteen and
careful estimates for the other two show
mission Sits for 1911. through their main
societies, to be S1&,25sT2S. Ten Years ago
Il same people through tire same socie-
tie gave $7.4o2,-4o, an average annual
gain of S,9o,4i>
1t was in 1901 that Christian laymen,
chiefly the mature men. begun to show
increased interest in missions. The lay
mems missionary movement WIS founded.
and after considerable preparation. il
conducted the greatest series of MISSION
AIRY conventions America has ever known.
Some criticism Of expenditures on con-
yentions. which covered all principal
cities, and lasted from the autumn of
1888 to May. 1910, when a great con-
gress was held in Chicago. was heard
from some who did not believe in mis-
sions- and especially from some who felt
that foreign missionary work was being
emphasized 20 the disadvantage of home.
Il seems to have been agreed on all sides,
however, that the expenditure was nee
essary and therefore justified. and trat
indirectly home missionary effort gain
ID about as much as foreign.
If the estimates of Methodist gifts for
the Year 1911 are borne out it is found
that the net result Of the new missionary
interest on the part Of laymen since 1907
IS an Increase Of Sill 03J a year in re-
-ffT FE for I. 4.
nual increase is $592, ,ffS but since 1877 the
increase has been At the rate Of SOB 94S
a year. These figures are for the tWen-
ty-One societies of the eight bodies named,
and include both home and foreign in
come. \ study Of increases shows that
both divisions of missionary work have
gained in receipts in practically the same
ratio, both for he decade and for the
past three Years. There have been many
instances reported Of increases in gifts
made by particular religious bodies, and
in certain cities in which laymen have
been aroused in unusual degree. The in
CreaseS given are those of the actual
receipts Of treasurcrs OF missionary So
cieties. At this time Methodist foreign
receipts are about $4,000 in excess Of last
year.
During tie ten years. completed now
with the closing of books for 1911. Con-
gregationaIists made the smallest in
creases in gifts, Disciples of Christ and
Lutherans the largest percentage of
growth, and MethOdists the largest in
actual amount. 1t must be explained
that sums given are not the total benevO-
lent gifts of thu respective religious
bodies, but receipts of their great So
Cieties. Especially ought II to be point
ed out that COngreGatiOnaIiStS were, in
1901, far in advance of most other bodies
in gifts per member Congregational
lists have not increased in membership as
have some other bodies hence their gifts
have not grown. But they are still near
the top Of the Isr according to their
numbers. Furthermore. Lutheran benevo-
lenCes are large, but not through mis-
sonary societies. The general council
and general synod are almost the only
Lutheran bodies that do extensive for
eign and home work through regular So
Cieties making reports tha. il is fair to
put with those Of other bodies in such
showing as is here made
The growth of missionary gifts through
these twenty-ore principal societies from
1901 to 1911, amounted to S,929, 4SS, Bap-
tist gifts advanced from $9Sl ,o0O to ST.
6S1, coo, CONGREGATIONAL from 81. 4O2, 900 to 81
77.93S Disciples from $46l, 00O to 1913, 800,
FpiscopaI from $50 to Sl.lO7. 900; Luth-
eran, from S2JLGI to S5l2, 900; Methodist,
from 81. .S94. 81 10 &3,972.ooO CSeptember and
October estimated): Presbyterian, from
S1,6Sl On, and Reformed Church. Dutch
branch only. from $4,000 to $l5l. 800.
Leaders in the Iaymen's missionary
movement point ont that during a part
Of the three years laymen were being
instructed. and that it has been hardly
more than one year since they have been
in working shape in considerable num-
berS.
Even yet thousands Of churches have
not been touched by the movement. Fol-
low-U7 work i now being prosecuted,
and missionary interests are kept TO the
fore by the movement on its own account
and in corporation with the men and
religion movement The prediction is
made that in the succeeding ten years,
or even from 1907 to 1877. the advance
will be far greater than has been posi-
BILE up to this time. Estimates Of amounts
going to missions in foreign fields from
all America and Canada, all Protestant
bodies, is Sli.0r"o0D a year, a gain of ST.
OHO 600 last year. and TO the home fields
in the United States alone. $4,000 0O0. An
estimate Of amounts given directly for
maintenance for Christian work in
America, all bodies, is 1926. 200 a year.