Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1914 — Churches Should Be Required to Give Accounting of Money They Receive [ARTICLE]

Churches Should Be Required to Give Accounting of Money They Receive

By Bishop LAWRENCE

of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

WHEN A POOR WOMAN DROPS A DIME-PART OF HER HARD EARNED WAGES-INTO THE CONTRIBUTION PLATE SHE NOT ONLY HAS A RIGHT TO ASK WHAT BECOMES OF IT, BUT THE CHURCH HAS A RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT THE UTMOST CARE BE TAKEN IN THE USE OF AND ACCOUNTING FOR THIS SACRED GIFT. ■ * " * * '' ome , church ? s haye been in the habit of emptying contribution plates into their pockets and counting the money at home. ■ *t ’«* k ' WHEN A MAN INVESTS ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN THE STOCK OF A CORPORATION HE EXPECTS CARE AND SYSTEM. WHEN A MAN PLACES TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS IN THE CONTRIBUTION PLATE IN CHURCH HE HAS A RIGHT TO ASK OF THE CHURCH THE SAME SAFEGUARDS THAT HE DEMANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT,