The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-14
Rev. Keesey \
Frownls On Feeds

~ am altogether out of sympathy
with the foolish custom of raising
church funds by4givins sociaIs, sup
pers, fairs and shows" That was
the declaration made by Rev, Wilbur
r keesey, pastor of Centenary Meth.
odist church, at the meeting of the
Minister'S association this morning
in a paper on Church Finances
"a haven't anything against the
church suppers or soeiaIs for social
purposes, but our money should be
raised in more; legitimate and
Christian manner
Rev. Keesey read paper on THE
Modern Methods of Church Finance"
He urged systematic giving"
rather than tithing. He believed
that every one should give at least
onetenth of their income to the work
of the church, but those people who
incomes should give more than one
tenth.
The Budget System.
Rev. keesey suggested the use of
the budget system with the duplex
envelopes for the regular church
expenses and for benevolences, and
their use weekly. He also advocated
keeping the church finances before
the congregation, to let the people
know IN what financial condition the
church is at least once month,
and that annual printed statements
be sent to the members telling eX-
actly how the money matters of the
church stand.
Salary Should Be Paid.
"Tbe bills of the church, includ-
ing the pastors salary, should be
paid regularly each month. Every
reliable business firm pays it's bills
Systematically, and the church
should do as we'll"
Mr.. Keesey believes that the pas.
tor should not be concerned with the
financial matters of the church any
further than as a consultant with
the church board. in order that his
duties may be devoted to the real
ministerial work.
Should Have No SideIne.
He also declared himself as be
lieving that no minister should have
outside interests, and should not
seek to make money by other means
than from his salary as minister
Comments BY Pastors.
An interesting discussion followed
the reading of the paper: Rev. T. r
Paden said that he had found the
little tin box in which benevolent
money was laid away came in yer,
acceptable at certain times" He said
he believed in the church support
ing the, Sunday school and the chill
dren giving their offerings through
duplex envelopes, thus teaching them
systematic giving. He believed also
in making the budget and raising il
in pledges to the very last cent in
the beginning of the year.
Rev. Edward Constant concurred
with Mr.. Keesey in the idea of a
church being able to pay it's bills
or go out of business. He empha
sized strongly the injury to the
church by church suppers. etc.
Rev. Moss spoke of the foolishness
of people paying 80 cents to eat the
food they themselves had brought
to a church supper
Rev. ]. NJ. Balm declared that chill
dren in each Sunday school ought
to be taught the doctrines of Their
church and about their benevolent
boards, so as to know of the work
of their denominations.
Rev. Johnson spoke of being il
favor of tithing and spoke of the
Mormon church working this plan Sc
well.
! Rev. o. J. Arthur said that NJ
church of which he was minister
should have rummage sale.
The Salvation Army Mems Shelter
will be opened for public inspection
this evening and is almost entirel.
! completed. The shelter is for work
! ing men and has lunch counter
reading room and sleeping quarters
On the first floor is a comfortabl,
furnished reading room where there
will be plenty of reading matter. The
lunch counter will also be connected
with the reading room and will bt
run regularly This part of The
building will be open all day and un
til eleven o'clock at night. The Man
katO Electric company donated the
chandelier and lights for the room
and Schroeder and Murphy gave. &
big heating stove.
In the rear of the first floor is the
relief store where the rummagc
sales will be conducte. All of the
things which are sold there are frs
fumigated in the basement.
The second floor is given over t.
sleeping quarters. There are three
small rooms across the front of the
building furnished by the Contra
w. c. T. u, Centenary Methods
church, Trinity Norwegian Lutheran
church. The Salvation Army also has
furnished one room there. There il
sitting room in the center Of the
building which was furnished by
Mrs. w. Fl. Pay. Zimmerman ant
Bangerter donated the stove for that
Back of those rooms is a dormitory
with four beds, and considerable o.
the furniture was given nv Mrs