Newspaper Page Text
December 22, 1909. THE
for instance. Dr. Elliot's "new religion,"
and the increase of unitarianism, both
thought to be serious hindrances in the
nay ui our ministry, especially in UKlataoma
and Texas securing a better attendance
upon church services. With
such serious obstructions confronting
both preacher and people in this fun-loving,
fast age the soul of mm must be
fed with spiritual food suitable for it,
or if it does not And it in the church it
will seek it elsewhere. The same decline
in church attendance seems to exist
in all of them.
A M CM ?
A SUCCESSFUL HOME DEPARTMENT.
Seeing in your issue of December 1 an
item containing a humouors reference to
the "Sunday School Home Department,"
organized on the penitentiary farm of
Louisiana, I am prompted to say just a
word concerning another such "Home
Denartni?nt " minim hnmouor Uio
morous reference.
There is such a home department (?)
conducted in connection with the Virginia
state penitentiary at Richmond,
which is worthy of the commendation and
prayers of every gospel lover.
The work has been organized for many
years, and is conducted in a quiet, unassuming
way, such as would be becoming
to the most modest and reserved of these
useful modern auxiliaries of the Sunday
school. There is no hlowinc of trnmnotn
or show of high sounding cymbals. There
are no newspaper announcements, or
other publicity. Neither is there kept
any record to commemorate the works of
man. The only record kept in connection
with that school, is one in which
is recorded the works that God has done
among them.
Every Sunday afternoon, some fifteen
or more real soldiers of the cross meet
there. Each of them carry small bundles
of papers, which have been gathered
by solicitation among friends and
acquaintances, and from donations by
the Publication Committee, of Sunday
school papers and other religious litera
ture.
Armed with these and the' Word of
God, and in the strength of His Spirit,
they are endeavoring to accomplish whit
the laws and forces of the nation and
commonwealth have failed to do. And
more.
There are now some thirteen hundred
inmates in the institution; they are divided
Into two classes, and are compelled
to attend the school on alternate SunA
?!? ? > 1 ' *
uaj a. |/muui 111 auu urguu 18 proviaea
in the large hall, and Beated on benches
In long rows these men present the
strangest Bible class in the world.
Mr. Morton, the superintendent, is a
most devoted Christian and efficient officer.
A majority of the teachers are students
from Union Theological Seminary,
and the remainder are true disciples
from among the business men of Richmond.
. ..
They have' an efficient organist and
choir selected from among the prisoners,
V
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU!
and when that chorus of six hundred and
fifty voices Join in singing "When the
Mists Have Rolled Away," with an ejrnestness
seldom, if ever, surpassed in other
departments of the Sunday school, one
is constrained to say, surely the mist is
rolling away; surely the Spirit of God
is in this place.
One may perhaps look In wonder on
that band of men, each wearing the official
brand of the law, each individual
representing a broken statute, and each
stripe a glaring evidence of the penance
which is day by day slowly paying the
penalty. And you may ponder in your
mind whether such things could be that
the Spirit might ever penetrate those
ugly stripes and reach the heart that lies
hidden there. You have need only to
watch the many eager, gospel-hungry
faces, under the influence of the corps
of skillful and consecrated teachers.
Watch them as they lean forward, fearful
lest a word be lost. Watch them
again as they sing, and, when the choir
begins softly, "Why do you wait, dear
brother?" watch the tears streaming
Asmw* 4 - * 41
uunu cue uuccrs ui many. aiiu men,
when Mr. Morton has made his apt and
assuring invitation, see the hands go up
for Christ.
No, these men are not all Christians,
nor even any considerable proportion of
them, but this "Home Department" has
received many and very great blessings.
~ ? *
u\,ai t-ci; a ouuuajr passes wuuuui SUine
results, and one Sunday last month there
were nine who asked for prayers, and
anounced their intention of living the
Christian life.
This Sunday school only asks for your
prayers. If Paul, a prisoner, should lead
his jailer to Christ, why should it be
thought unreasonable that these prisoners
might not receive the Word also.
The work is undenominational, and
many of the converts have been baptized
and have received the sacrament under
the various churches of the city.
Frank W. Phillips.
Richmond, Va.
THE CHURCH DEBT PROBLEM
gv/uv cu.
Rev. G. Wilbur Shipley.
The most frightful Bugaboo a congregation
can face is a church debt. The
deacons or trustees aie kept in a state
of constant lear lest they should b? unable
to meet the annual interest And
the principal ?that is too fearful a thing
to be mentioned. The life of the church
is dwarfed and deadened, and the energies
of the people are narrowed and circumscribed.
When the benevolent offering
of the church is taken, the church
debt stands a veritable personage be
seeching eadh worshipper to withhold
his gifts. It binds the pastor as with
cnams ana rorces mm to abandon every
thought of a larger life and usefulness
for the church he serves. When he goes
to his study to be alone, it conies on the
wings of the morning to be his companion.
When he goes out to mingle with
his people, the church debt ?oes along
4 " #
4
?H. 15
to be seen and heard of men. When he
lies down to rest his weary body and
muddled brain, its ghostly form lingors
about his couch to inspire sweet dreams.
And if to sea or mountain he turns his
steps to find relief, he finds the churcrr
debt awaiting his arrival. It will not
down. Like Diotrephes, it loves to have
the preeminence and" usually succeeds.
It had a beginning, but to all appearances
it uas no enu. it fattens on indifference.
Its stay with us is indefinite so long as
we have no definite plan for its removal.
As bad as the church debt is, it sometimes
becomes necessary for the enlargement
of the work of the church. To
complete our church, which will cost
about 122,000?we are about to mak.v a
debt of 57,000?but we have arranged for
its payment before making it. If one
must have an unwelnnmo 14
fisitvi| IC 10
best to know Just how long he will remain.
The $7,000 has been divided into seventy
shares of $100 each, all of which have
been subscribed by members of the
church and congregation, to be paid in
ten yearly installments of $10?each
with interest on the principal until it is
fully paid. This provides for the interest
on the entire loan, and $700 each year to
pay on the pricipal. For the convenience
of the subscribers, they may pay the
amount due annually in monthly or quarterly
installments. The' scheme is adjusta
ble under the same principle. If the congregation
is able, to pay 20 per cent annually
and finish it up in five years. Some will
not want to take an obligation upon
themselves for ten years.. Give them
the privilege of release in case of removal
01 loss. In any growing community
you may safely count on as many additions
as removals.
This device has taken well with us,,
and is commended by good business men
of the community. If any church wishes
to introduce it, I would be very glad t?
plvp fuller ' '"**
" '"'"""iouuu uy ieuer.
The following is a schedule of payments
on one share of $100.
Year. Month. Quarter.
1910 $16.00 $1.33 $4.00
1911 15.40 1.28 3.85
1912 14.80 1.23 3.70
1913 14.20 1.18 3.55
1914 13.60 1.13 3.40
1915 13.00 1.08 3.25
1916 12.40 1.03 3.10
1917 11.80 .98 2.95
1918 11.20. .93 2.80
1919 10.60 .88 2.65
St. Albans. W. Va.
The Transportation Committee of the
American Committee of the World Missionary
Conference, which is to meet in
Edlnburg June 14, 1910, announces that
the Bureau of University travel of Boston
has secured the large new steamship,
"Kroonland," 12,760 tons, of the
Red Star Line, as the special World Conference
Steamer, sailing from New York
fit 1A Q m nn ^1 1A4 A * *" *
vru mo/ OX, 171V. All WIIO
wish to take advantage of the special
rates must address the Bureau before
January 1.