Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-17
MISSIONARY WORK
SEEN FACING CRISIS
Dr.. Corey Tells Brotherhood,
DicipIes of Christ, of SIP,
600 Treasury Deficit.

DR.. Stephen j. Corey Of Indianapolis,
acting president Of the United Christian
Missionary Society," told the information
al convention of Disciples of Christ
last night that the brotherhood faces
AN imminent crisis" in its missionary
work.
In two addresses before large audi
ences, in the Washington Auditorium
and Constitution Hall, Mr. Corey said
in the course of his report on the con-
dition of the society that the organiza-
ton faced a deficit this year of $7l2,-
900. He called attention to the fact
that other Protestant denominations
have decreased their missionary ex-
penditures since the World War. He
urged, however, that the brotherhood
make up the deficit and enlarge its pro-
gram rather than curtail it.
Stresses World Work.
I'VE have a world mission along with
all evangelical bodies" he said Ito
unitedly keep the missionary fires burn
ing. In America, we cannot be supine
and resigned, but we must make good
our claim of love for New Testament
Christianity by being the first COM
munion to restore and increase the
missionary passion and gifts in these
hard days"
Appearing on the program in the
auditorium with DR.. Corey was DIR.
Luther H. Weigle. dean of the Divinity
School of Yale University. Dean Weigle,
who is one of the eminent educators
in the Nation, addressed himself to the
theme The World Message and Mis-
sion of Christianity"
Pagan morals of the present have no
place in social or religious reasoning,
he said. He expressed the opinion that
the "befuddled minds of adults and not
the passion of youth" is to blame for
prevalent irreligion. Dean Weigle stat
apparent evidence to the contrary, 1t
appeared to him that I'VE are on the
eve of a great religious revival"
This is no time for Christians to
hesitate" he declared, mo time TO move
with anything but gertrude. 1t is up
to US to enlist in the cause for which
the church stands"
The irreligion Of the day should be
the chief concern Of all churches. the
Yale professor said. Church problems
at home and abroad are practically
the same" he added. THE way to I'M
derstand our foreign problems is to un-
derstand our problems at home. Better
evangelism through better education Is
the need of the world today"
Cites Difficult Transition Period.
DR.. Corey emphasized that the
brotherhood is passing through "a di-
ficult transition period" in world mis-
sionary effort. He said it would be fool
ish to plan large new things until
the pension fund year is past and
something has been done to reduce the
deficit. "Our immediate necessity" he
asserted, sis to find way to support
o., v,A
and at the same time not increase this
deficit"
"Our people who love missions give
as generously and as lovingly as any
people in the world" DR.. Corey COM
mented, yet suppose" he added, that
Of all Christian bodies in America we
have more churches and more indi-
viduals absolutely Indifferent to the
world mission of Christianity than any
other, and our slowness in coming TO a
world missionary conscience has largely
been because of our lack in united mis-
sionary effort"
Continuing. DR.. Corey explained the
deficit of the society. "Since the be-
ginning of the United Society,"" he said,
I'VE have been struggling to keep the
work on an even keel when the re-
ceipts did not increase and when the
purchasing power of the dollar dropped
almost so per cent" (The society was
established by the international con-
vention in 1919
It was impossible To greatly reduce
the budget without disaster to the work
established throughout the world and
since times were good and our country
increasing in wealth by leaps and
bounds, it seemed only natural that
gifts would soon increase to meet the
advanced expenses of the work. But
they did not increase and drastic cuts
were not sufIicient to balance the
! budget.
"Our problem has arisen from the fact
=, that the work has naturally enlarged,
! the cost of maintaining 1t has become
i much higher ard we have less money
| than formerly with which to carry it on.
/ The united society is in the position
! of a man whose dependent family has
! increased, while his salary remains sta
/ tionary. and at the same time the pur-
chasing power of that salary has
dropped to an alarming degree. Gould
/ the united society turn away orphans
and the aged, destroy its home mission
| ary work, abandon to the poor house its
/ own aged ministers and kill a great
foreign missionary work made sacred BY
the sacrifice of noble missionaries, while
we, a great rich brotherhood, grow
| ing more comfortable every day, arc
/, committed to the support OF what has
been planted? The deficit of the united
society is a debt Of honor"
Vice President Presides.
w. N. Briney, vice president Of the
convention, presided at the Auditorium
meeting. Clark Walker Cummings was
chaplain for the meeting, and Harrell
Biard was the song leader.
DR. Corey repeated his address on
the missionary work before another
large audience in Constitution Hall, al
which Mrs. LouelIa St. Clair Moss, q
vice president Of the convention, pre-
sided Charles T. Paul delivered an
address on the subject, The Message
of Christianity to the World Today
w. NJ Nerment was chaplain for the
meeting and Charles H. Regards the
song leader