The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-24
Says There Is Misapprehen-
sion as to Attitude of
Pastors Union
NO FRICTION AMONG
MEMBERS, HE SAYS
No Definite Pledge of Money Has
Been Made Gypsy Smith Nor Has
He Requested Such-The
Financial Plans

\ largely attended meeting of the Pas
tors union was held yesterday morning
at the First Methodist church at II O. clock
relative to the evangelistic meetings to
be held in October under the direction oil
the union and at which he well
known evangelist Gipsy Smith,
will conduct the services. The meeting
was devoted to discussion of the manJ
details necessarily connected with an un-
dertalxing in which nearly 100 churches
are to participate.
The Rev. Bob Jones was present and
at the request of the union gave the
history of the movement to bring the
well known evangelist TO Birmingham.
AT the close of the meeting DR.. John ;,
Foster the pastor of the First Presby-
terian church and the president of the
Pastors union, made the following state
ment to The Age-eErald:
Deplores Misapprehension
There seems to be some misapprehen-
sion concerning the attitude of the Pas
tors union toward the Gipsy Smith meet
ings as we'll as the financial matters con-
nected herewith This is depored by the
union as no contemplated meeting was
ever more free from the spirit of com
mercialsm than this. The pastors with
well nigh perfect unanimity are heart
and soul in the movement They recog-
nize in Gypsy Smith man used of God
in great united movements. The testi-
mony of all who know him is that he is
free from sensationalism and as chasta
and as conservative in his preaching as
any man in the world. That some breth-
rem should not agree with the vast ma
jority as to the wisdom of such a meet
ing Is nothing more than should be eX-
pected as the union does not attempt
to throttle independent judgment and ii
is always difficult to get one hundred
men to see things from the same angle.
The rights of such dissenting brethren are
in nowise called into question. But we
wish it emphatically emphasized that
there is no friction among the members
of the Pastors union. There may be
some whose individual judgment will not
permit them to accord the meeting thelI
unqualified support.
TT is to be deeply deplored that any
misapprehensions should exist relative to
the financing of the meeting. Some think
the amount sought to be raised is too
large. But such is not the case As Bir-
mingham has no auditorium 1t is propose l
to erect a tabernacle seating $500 people
at cost of approximately $500. Plans
No definite pledge of money has been
made Gipsy Smith nor has he requested
such. He has only been assured that he
will not come at a financial loss to him-
self The amount of compensation to be
given him will be determined by the local
committee having charge of the meet
ing.
Relation of Rev. Jones
"The relation of the Rev Bob Jones
10, 81 it,g haS al 60 nc
casion of some misapprehension. He has
no financial interest In the meetings.
He is an evangelist under the mana ge-
ment of the extension department OF
the Moody Bible institute of Chicago.
AS such he receives. stipulated sal
AIRY. Learning that Gipsy Smith had
no engagement for October at the re-
quest of Bishop Mccoy and other prom-
inent ministers of Birmingham, he Sc
cured his consent to conduct series
of services here provided adequate ia
cilities could be acquired. Feeling that
probably the amount of work required
in such an undertaking would cause
the brethren of the union to hesitate
to consummate it, he offered to direct
and perfect the details of the meeting
If agreeable to the committee, they to
relieve the Moody institute of the pay
ment of his salary during the time Of
his services in Birmingham and to pay
him only such compensation as had
been promised by the institute. His di-
rection of the details, however, was in
nowise a condition of the coming of
Gypsy Smith
"rhe sole purpose of these meetings
Is the bringing of the gospel of Christ
to the largest possible number of peo-
pie in our city. While believing in the
evangelistic meeting in the local church
it is the conviction that a meeting in
which all churches participate, proba-
bly to be followed by many meetings in
particular churches, will be productive
of a greater good to the community in
the salvation of souls.
Financial Plans
"'rhe following method will be pur-
sued in financing the meeting; The
Christian men representing the vari-
Gus churches are to be asked to un-
derWrite an amount agreeable to theni,
the aggregate to be about $500. Al
every meeting during the three weeks
of continued service an offering is to
be taken and turned over to the treas
urer of the committee on finance. Near
the close of the services special Of
fering will be made. The temporary
tabernacle will be sold to the highest
bidder Out of these amounts all obli-
cations will be paid and those who have
underwritten any sum will be called
upon to pay only such percentage as
may be necessary to meet any dehci.
should there be one, which is not at all
lilyalyt