The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-11-21
BAPTIST Debt IS
A BLANKET AFFAIR
MONEY LOANED CHURCH
BY FINANCIAL BODY
Nothing Unusual in the Modus
Operandi and There's no Reflec-
tion on Baptist Membership


Union" last week led few people to
protest the sentiment expressed. One
party interested even declared that
the Baptist church had no debt, that
there had been none at or since the
dedication of the structure some years
ago. In view of this fact The Sen
tinel scribe has Investigated and
finds these conditions:
There is no debt to the Outside
world", so to speak. The Medina
church, however, borrowed $4,000 of
the Baptist Church Extension Society,
a financial organization that aids
churches needing new structures. The
usual plan is for the extension depart
ment of Ehe church to loan money to
churches at 6 per cent interest, and
when the money is repaid it goes
back into the church extension fund
for use elsewhere, thus continuing on
its mission for good
One member Of the Baptist church
declares there is no debt ON the Me
dina edifice because-in their case, :at
lease--the money was given them 4by
the Baptist convention. AS the mort
gage is not on file here it is impossi-
BILE Ito get the exact terms of the
mortgage, for such instrument there
is. The local members of the church
maybe right in their deductions, but
it is more likely that the usual ccon-
ditions of such church loans prevail.
As noted above the usual method
is to loan given sum, take mort
gage for it at per cent, and then let
it stand until such time as the church
gets strong enough to pay, and If it
never can pay it don't pay. There is
board to administer this building
fund, which is a national affair. In
particular cases, however, the denom-
national body has taken the matter
up and voted that certain church
shall have a loan WITHOUT IN
TEREST. But the officers of the
Church Extension have not the power
to loan the society's funds without in
terest, unless authorized to do so by
the local UNCONVENTIONAL convention.
The Medina church, we are told,
was given the money $4,000 -by the
convention. A mortgage was executed
by the local church officials. Payment
can be enforced, with interest, in
case any effort is made to join with
some other church. But it still re-
mains a mortgage-and as debt
though certain members do not like
the term. The terms Of the mort
gage may read as the local members
say, "that the debt need never be
paid as long as the church remains
Baptist" but subsequent events make
this appear doubtful.
But it still remains a fact that to
"a man up tree" it looks as if it
were wise for these two churches to
unite. That was a big item in the ad-
dress Of one of the speakers at the
late Bible convention in Medina, and
if that teaching found lodgment in
the hearts of Medina Baptists here's
a good place to show it. That is the
big theme receiving much discussion
in Cleveland at this thine. And it is
fact that many people in Medina
are talking this proposition just now,
and some of them are Baptists.
1T may not be generally known but
there was a secret meeting OF in
fiuential men of both church organi-
zations not SO many months ago and
the consensus of opinion was that il
were wise to perfect the union. Late,
a meeting was held in the Baptist
church, when it was voted down. IT
was charged lat that time that "cer-
tain" interests were very active i'm
opposition and that the tactics used
did not SAVIOR of brotherly love.
Not long after the resident pastor
of the Baptist church spoke quite
heatedly, from the Baptist pulpit, and
against the stand taken by the oppo-
siti0n.
The pastor of the Baptist church
accepted call elsewhere little later.
Deponent saith not that this fact
played any part in the change, but
makes statement Of facts and let's
Sentinel readers figure this 10 suit
themselves.
1t is true THAT some people who
have given long support to the Bap-
tist chuneh cannot but feel panied al
the thought Of uniting with any other
congregation they are to he pardoned
for feeling deeply in the matter; in
fact they are to be commended fol
their loyalty. But the world must
move forward, and it is most impor.
tant that the church and christians
should be among the ranks of those
crowding to the front. Here, then
is an opportunity to go forward and
even If 1t does in measure lacerate
ones feelings to give up past idols
this may be the very time for which
"they were called to the kindgom."
The Sentinel has but one interest IN
the matter, TO give the public the
news and to see any good work ir
prospect carried to a successful
fruition. With many other citizens
it's management feels that such q
union would make a strong and ag-
gressive church in Medina, eliminate
one of the sources Of friction and q
multiplicity Of churches must cause
friction in the christian work in Me.
dina, and make it possible to present
more formidable front To the Devil
in this part of the State.
II is not that the Baptist church hai
depressing debt. for It has not. Buj
Z the fact still remains that there IL q
desire among It's members Tor |