Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-23
METHODETS RAISE
OVER SSO,OOO,OOO
That Much Subscribed by Men,
bers Last Year, Wilmington
Conference is Told.

Cambridge. Md March 23.-"Eighty
million dollars were contributed by the
members and adherents of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church during the last
fiscal year." Or. Morris w. Ehnes.
Chicago. treasurer OF the Committee
on Conservation and Advance, told
the Wilmington Conference in session
here yesterday.
For ministerial support, $4,000, 900
was paid. for buildings and improve
ments, s2l 200, 900: for missions and
henevolences. s25. 900. 900. or this total
si4.s9o. 600 was contributed to the Cen
tenary program OF the church." said
DR. E.hnes.
"Since June l. 1919, St0.76 $40 have
been paid into the treasury OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church for the
Methodist Centenary program. an in
crease OF over 500 per cent I'm giving
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
This Is the most remarkable example
Of increased benevolent giving In the
history Of the church. Every Chris
tian man and woman should thank
God for this single achievement.
III the Methodist Centenary had re-
suited only i'm the giving Of money II
would have been thousand times
worth while. However. the fact re-
mains that this giving represents a
great spiritual enterprise which means
the bettoring OF the world" DIR. Ehncs
said.
Methodist colleges in the United
States have been strengthened; con-
ditions improved I'm our large cities
through the establishment OF strong
missions among needy peoples.
Churches IN the home field have been
stimulated To great giving so that
gifts 10y the Board OF Home Missions
or s2.00O.OO0 10 assist various church
enterprises resulted in the giving OF
slo.ooo.oo0 in addition by local con-
stituenCies.
I'm the foreign field school. and
colleges have been greatly improved
churches have been erected. 267 new
missionaries sent out in ono year. n
host Of native workers added and mar
Nelous results achieved in strategic
centres throughout the world.
Moreover. the Centenary has stim-
ulated the churches In evangelization
During the last ten years the average
annual net increase I'm membership
has been 10000. and this years re-
ports of evangelism will far exceed
those Of last year. In other words
wherever there has been generous
Centenary giving. there has also beer
rising tide of evangelism. Investiga-
lions in several areas show that
ahere there has been the most gen
erous giving. evangelism has pro.
duced the greatest results.
However. while these achievements
have been gratifying. Yet there IS one
phase which is somewhat disheartcn-
ing. Some have not paid their sub
scriptions. IL the full amount which
WAS due from the churches on the
hasis OF subscriptions had been pa id
the results would have been vastly
greater. In the foreign and home
lands native and local churches have
more than met their pledges. Japan
has exceeded its Centenary appor,ion-
ment by several thousand dollars
China and India have done likewise
but because of the indisposition on tn,
part Of some Of our givers at home w,
have not been able 10 match the gift
VI iAaiN ANlfAtil NNlcAAAAfItAfS. H'
same is true Of mission fields in IN,
home land.
Nevertheless. in spite Of this, IL &
well for us 10 consider whst Nigh
have happened II We had not had tn
Centenary. The Board Of Education
assures US that II II had not been 70
the money which has come from IN
Centenary, many OF our colleges woul
have been in serious financial strait
during this period In which all ex
penses have increased. The Board q
Education for Negroes firmly believ
that nearly every one OF our Negr
Institutions would have been oblige
20 close or else accumulate a destruc
tive deficit.
In the home land II would hav
been necessary 10 close churches an
absolutely prevent any expa nsion G
our work. Some OF our great city en-
terprises would have ceased function
Ing because Of increased expenses an
decreased income.
In the foreign field Il would hav
been necessary 10 recall many mis-
sionaries and discontinue hundred
81 native workers. instead there Is ad