The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-18
is LOSING MONEY
Gypsy Smith Receives Small
Pay for Saving Souls.
Declares He Had to Come to u.
s. to Pay Losses.

London. Oct. -1S.-Converts for cash!
That is what a popular young mis-
sioner in Great Britain was accused
of by the Daily News, the leading Nom
formist newspaper in England. But
the missioner has come thru with a
speedy and convincing reputation.
It is some weeks ago that the ar
dent religionists in the srmaN towns
of Great Britain were startled by a
series of articles attacking one of their
most popular revivalists, declaring
that he was charging half a dollar for
every convert he got as a result of
his spirited sermons.
Captain Gypsy Pat Smith, the young
preacher SO impeached, returned to
Britain by the Majestic and was met
by the author of the articles attacking
him. Captain Gypsy Smith had just
returned from a successful tour in
the United States. and during his abb
sence he had been charged with graft
ing and profiteering in Christianity.
Each Convert Had to Pay?
Every convert. SO the allegation ran,
had to pay fees for the light that
guided him from the paths of wicked
ness and sin to the glory of righteous
ness and good living.
II have been accused" Captain
Gypsy Smith said, "of taking $1,000
from a Cardiff chapel for my tour of
missioneering. I cabled from America
denying this. The sum received was
$500, altho 1 am not quite sure. I arn
no good at figures.
"a few friends, knowing I was just
married and wanted to get a home
together, put their hands in their
pockets and made me gift am try
ing to get the home, but SO far have
been unsuccessful.
my arrangements when I attend a
mission are fair and above board. The
| ministers in the small chapels where I
conduct my missions are not very
businesslike, and SO I stipulate that all
expenses must be paid before I get
anything. That relieves them of all
| anxiety and loss.
Scotland Yields Fifty Cents.
''The dean of Wetminster Abbey.
after all. receives over eight thousand
dollars a year, so why shouldn't I get
my expenses paid? Often don't even
| get my expenses. At the close of my
| tour in Scotland. which lasted for
eight days, my share was only half a
dollar. It is only recently that 1 have
| received larger sums.
my travelling expenses for the last
| fourteen months have been $4,000.
| had to undertake an American cam
paign before I could meet them and
get my losses back. Even now I have
| lost $500. My fees for preaching are
| only $500. That is the sixth of my
| campaigns tnlS year. anu am &C
| cused of having made a fortune out
| of it. AS a matter of fact, I am los
ing money. But the question of mon
| ey never enters into my calculations
seldom say anything about it in the
correspondence in connection with the
missions.
"'They say I canvass for contribu-
| tons from those I convert. hat ]
| do is this: invite the envelope thanks
offering. When ask for converts to
Christ many of the men are too shy
| to stand up, so give them an envelope
| in which they can enroll in the ranks
of the saved, and if they can afford
it they are asked to make a thanks
/ offering say hal a dollar. I merely
| tell them the Army Christ does not
not want conscripts but merely vol
unteers"
At the present moment an inquiry
is being conducted by the Free Church
| Council of Great Britain into the
manner in which Captain Gyps.
Smith raises his funds.