Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1902 — FOREIGN MISSIONS GET LARGE SUMS [ARTICLE]

FOREIGN MISSIONS GET LARGE SUMS

Convention of the Methodist Episcopal Church Gives Freely, DELEGATES DONATE $140,000 Bishop Thoburn Announces Pledge* From Unknown Sources and Btarts the Contribution Ball Rolling Toward $400,000 Mark. That American Interest In foreign missions is not dead was strikingly shown at the session of the missionary convention of the Methodist Episcopal church held in the Gray’a armory, Cleveland, when the enormous sum of 5300,000 was raised for work iu foreign field. The raising of the record-breaking fund was accomplished amid a scene of unexampled enthusiasm and religious fervor. President Goucher of the Baltimore Woman’s College presided at the session, and a half dosen bishops of the Methodist church aided in the subscription-taking. Pledges SIOO,OOO. The subscriptions were called for at the end of addresses by S. Earl Taylor, field secretary of the Epworth League, New York City, and John R. Mott, leader of the student movement throughout the world. Both speakers had made earnest pleas for funds to further mission work. Dr. Goucher of the executive committee then sent subscription cards throughout the large audience. Immediately afterward Bishop Thoburn arose, and speaking from a choir, said that he was authorized to state that if the conference would subscribe $150,000 he had SIOO,OOO pledged by a gentleman, whose name he would not disclose.

Large Contributions. Thereupon the collectors began to receive the returns from the cards, and it was a fusillade of contributions that was heard from the recording secretary’s desk. Sums ranging from $5,000 (the gift of an unnamed woman in Boston) down to the small sums of money were heard for the greatest portion of two hours. Many of the contributions were in SI,OOO and SSOO groups and were from tne various conferences and districts of the Methodist Episcopal church. Personal contributions of SI,OOO were frequently gent to the desk. Wants $300,000. When the sum of $140,000 (exclusive of the voluntary anonymous offering of $100,000) had been subscribed, Bishop Thoburn then announced that he was authorized to state that if the conference raised $300,000 there was an additional $25,000 to be placed in the fund. Immediately there was a renewal of the contributions, and the fund was well on its way toward the $300,000 mark. The other work of the convention was devoted to addresses and t»iv n by the several leaders present In the various churches and church hniia throughout the city. Keeps Identity a Secret Bishop McCabe presided at the meeting in Epworth Memorial church, and that church subscribed $13,500 to the missionary fund. Bishop Thoburn was asked as to the Identity of the anonymous contributor of SIOO,OOO, and said that he was not at liberty to give the name, but would admit that the person was not a Clevelander. Forty-five states were represented among the delegates contributing.