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Editorial
October 21, 1882
Democratic Messenger
Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland
What is this article about?
A Methodist presiding elder refuses to dedicate a new church in Grand Rapids because it is fully mortgaged, criticizing how such debts turn churches into financial burdens that exploit congregations and pastors through interest payments and fundraising.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Church Mortgages.
The article below, taken from an exchange, will give some idea in what light church debts are held. The minister is rough on church mortgages, but it will be generally conceded that he is right:
"A presiding elder of the Methodist Church was called to Grand Rapids to dedicate a new church. He made some inquiries and went away without dedicating the church, because it was mortgaged clear up to the steeple. He said he promised God not to dedicate any more due bills, mechanics' liens or mortgages, and with God's help he would see the church farther before he would get in his dedicatory work on it until it was paid for. The presiding elder is correct. The dedication of churches is too often a canonization of a 10 per cent. mortgage, and making the holder of a mortgage a head-dairy maid to milk the congregation semi-annually of interest, till they starve the pastor. Millions of women worthy of better fate wear out their lives freezing ice cream and cooking rubber oysters for festivals to raise money to pay interest on the church debt to some skin-flint who never had a Christian sentiment unless he was drunk."
The article below, taken from an exchange, will give some idea in what light church debts are held. The minister is rough on church mortgages, but it will be generally conceded that he is right:
"A presiding elder of the Methodist Church was called to Grand Rapids to dedicate a new church. He made some inquiries and went away without dedicating the church, because it was mortgaged clear up to the steeple. He said he promised God not to dedicate any more due bills, mechanics' liens or mortgages, and with God's help he would see the church farther before he would get in his dedicatory work on it until it was paid for. The presiding elder is correct. The dedication of churches is too often a canonization of a 10 per cent. mortgage, and making the holder of a mortgage a head-dairy maid to milk the congregation semi-annually of interest, till they starve the pastor. Millions of women worthy of better fate wear out their lives freezing ice cream and cooking rubber oysters for festivals to raise money to pay interest on the church debt to some skin-flint who never had a Christian sentiment unless he was drunk."
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Church Mortgages
Dedication Refusal
Religious Debt
Methodist Elder
Congregation Burden
What entities or persons were involved?
Methodist Church Presiding Elder
Grand Rapids Church
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Church Mortgages And Dedication Practices
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Church Debts
Key Figures
Methodist Church Presiding Elder
Grand Rapids Church
Key Arguments
Presiding Elder Refuses To Dedicate Mortgaged Church
Dedicating Mortgaged Churches Canonizes 10% Mortgages
Mortgage Holders Exploit Congregations For Interest
Church Festivals Burden Women And Starve Pastors