Evening journal., 1921-04-28
DODGING DEBT
OF S5SO,OOO
Payment of Presbyterian
Share of Interchurch
Goes Begging
ASSEMBLY WILL
HAVE TO DECIDE

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April Is
. A little matter OF $3.50. 900 promises
TO cause some friction among the
1000 commissioners 20 the Presby-
terian General Assembly when they
assemble at Lake winona. Ind. on
May 10.
The $3.50. 900 will be needed to nav
the bad debts Of the Interchurch
World Movement. or. rather. the
Presbyterian Church's share in that
ill-starred enterprise-and the big
question before the Assembly viii be.
who will pay it?"
Not us" say the Presbyterian
boards and agencies.
Not us" say the 10. 1000 Presby-
terian churches
who them" is the question.
The Presbyterian Church's share
II the debt incurred by the reckless
church fnanciers was $1,000. 900
and during the last year the 10000
congregations have raised approx
mately S42O.0oo. This leaves a lit
tie item OF $3.50. 600. and the Cen
ersl Assembly must wish il upon
somebody
Many Presbytcrians believe thai
the nine great boards and agencies
of the church should raise the $3.50
geo on a pro rata basis They con
tend that each board should be re-
sponsible for its share. and. II neces
sary. they should be given three
four or i've years in which 10 pa,
H.
Secretaries and treasurers Of N.
boards however. will put up a ssrons
protest They have no desire to pa,
even a share of this $3.50. 900 out O
their funds The money in theii
possession they VIII say. was giveI
for home missions. for foreign mis-
sions. for educz1ion. church erection
and what not and II VIII be a breacl
of faith TO the givers II a portion o
it goes 20 pay the debts incurred b.
the "plungers- who directed the In
ter-church World Movement.
The alternative VIII be TO have IN
10000 Presbyterian churches Of IN
country pay II In November. 1926
these churches took an Offering AM
raised S420.e eSf- Those who wisl
te spare the boards and agencies IN
pain of parting With their money "a
It VIII be an excellent idea TO hav
the 1o.Qoe churches take anothe
collection and wipe out the debt
Stin a third proposition that IA
been advanced is for the millionaire
Of the Presbyterian Church in IN
L. S. A TO chip IN $4,000 20 SIS.
0e0 apiece. and pay the debt for IN
churches. Unfortunately. Il is
dead horse that has 10 be paid foi
and neither a millionaire nor any on
else grows enthusiastic over such
proposition.
The General Assembly. ss the 81
preme body Of Preshyterianisrn. vi
have 10 assign the payment 10 some
body. and much oratory may flow !
the vicinity of Lake Winona bef0f
II is settled.
The question Of electing q State
Clerk to succeed the Rev. Dr. Wi
liam II. Roberts is a matter Of kee
interest to Phiiadelphians, becaus
they hope 70 see one of their Ow
ministers, the Rev. Dr. William ]
Fulton, elected to that once. OH
ers in the North Philadelphia Pre-
bytery are champiOning the Rev. ID
Benjamin M. Gemmil.
The most interesting devei0pmef
IN this situation is the sentiment {
limit the Stated Clerks term Of OF
fioe TO Eve years. Heretofore. IN
clerk has held Office for life. on
overture goes up 10 the General Al
sembly asking a fve-year limit Il
Stated Clerk. and three years for III
Permanent Clerk.