McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1919-09-05
EXPECT 10 COLLECT
SUM OF s53,0O0,0O0
SOUTHERN METHoD,sTs OUTLINE
PLANS FOR HANDLING GREAT
CENTENARY FUND.
Organization VIII Collect Larges.
Amount Ever Handled BY Any
Religious Denomination
Anywhere.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
has announced its plan for collecting
the $53,000,0000O which was pledged
for the missionary work of the church
in the recent eight-day drive. The
plan was prepared and will be direct.
ed by Colonel John E. Edgcrton, of
Tennessee, the general centenar?
treasurer and the director Of the de.
partment of finance for the Centenary
Commission.
Colonel Edgerton is a we'll known
business man. He is president and
manager OF the Lebanon Woolen
Mills, president OF the Tennessee
State Manufacturers Association, and
during the war he was member O,
the executive committee of the war in
dustry board appointed by President
Wilson.
"Our slogan Is no shrinkage but an
increase said Colonel Edgerton re-
Gently Just as the Southern Metho-
sist church has surpassed all records
in securing pledges for benevolent
purposes and has raised the largest
sum ever given to any church at one
time in the history of the world, so do
we expect to set new record in the
collection OF these pledges"
An Extensive Organization.
The organization through which
these pledges will be collected has
four centers of responsibility. The
first is general finance commission
with headquarters at Nashville, headed
by Colonel Edgerton. This commits
sion has prepared the standard plan
and win direct the entire movement,
handing down to the various bodies
Throughout the church detailed plans
for their guidance.
There will also be conference cab
met in each annual conference of the
.hurch, about forty In number. These
conference cabinets will be composed
of the Conference Missionary Secre-
tary, Conference Campaign Director,
the Lay leader, and the Conference
Centenary Treasurer Each of these
officials have certain specific duties.
and win direct the work of collecting
all the pledges in each annual confer
ence.
In each Of the four hundred districts
Of the church there is similar cab
iret composed of the Presiding Elders,
the Lay leaders. Campaign Directors
and the Chairman Of the Methodist
Minute Men. The Conference Mission
ary Secretary Is an ex-offlcio member
Of all district cabinets The work of
collecting in the districts will be su-
pervised by this district cabinet.
Twenty Thousand Churches.
In each Of the 10000 local churches
there will be local cabinets composed
3f the pastor, the centenary treas
urer, the campaign director, the lay
leader, the chairman of the minute
men, the Sunday school superintendent
and the president of the Woman's Mis-
sionary Society. This cabinet viii do
all the actual work of collecting the
Individual pledges.
The persons who made subscrip-
tions will be divided into lists OF
twenty-five and the lists will be
placed in charge Of q certain member
of the church cabinet who will collect
all pledges as they come due.
One feature Of the standard plan Is
that the localSchurch will be respon-
sible for collecting the full amount OF
it's subscription. If any subscriber
dies or meets with misfortune such as
to render it impossible for him to pay
his pledge, 1t will be the duty OF the
church cabinet to secure another pet
son to take the place OF the one thus
become delinquent.
1t is also proposed that evesy new
member who comes into the&church
shall also be asked to make o contri
button to the Centenary fund.
The Centenary fund of s35,000,00C
| will be used for the church in an ex'
tension of its missionary work
throughout the world. Several million
will be spent in the devastated re
gions of France, Belgium, Poland and
Russia. Other millions will go to the
seven foreign fields occupied by the
church-Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Africa
China, Japan and Korea. Other mil
lions will be spent in the industria
sections of the great cities, in thu
mountains, among the immigrants. the
negroes and the Indians, and In build
ing churches IN the missionary terri
tory of the United States.