The Methodists To Raise S125,000

THE METHODISTS TO RAISE $125,000

To Build a Wesleyan Guild Hall Here.

WORK BEGINS IN JANUARY

A $50,000 Building Wanted and a $50,000 Endowment for a Secretary and $25,000 for Running Expenses.

D. W. Springer, in speaking of the raising of $125,000 for the Wesleyan Guild, said to the Argus today: "There is a feeling on the part of a large number of prominent Methodists that Albion college should be provided with sufficient means financially to clear its indebtedness before any active work should be begun in behalf of Methodism in any other college town in Michigan." This is the situation in a nutshell, explaining the long delay. as some have thought, in securing the proposed funds for the endowment of a building to cost $50,000.

Rev. Edward S. Ninde, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, said that he was not willing to begin the construction of a building until he was sure of funds to run it. For the past five years the Methodists of Ann Arbor have been waiting for Albion college to pay off a debt of $90,000 and upwards and on January 1, 1903, that will have been accomplished. It is then that strenuous efforts on the part of those interested in raising this money will be put forth. It may be said incidentally that several wealthy men in the state are to be approached at that time and it is thought by the instigators of the matter that a large amount of money will be raised in short order.

Albion has been in a slough of despond during these years and has really had the right of way in the state for the securing of funds. This has been recognized by all Methodist institutions throughout the state as well as the Methodists of Ann Arbor.

HISTORY OF MOVEMENT.

In 1895, Henry M. Loud gave a $15,000 endowment for the support of the Wesleyan Lecture association, which has proved so beneficial during the last few years. Then the Guild advocated the necessity of work among the students and their arguments were absolutely unanswerable by those who claimed a priority of right for support. It was this. There are more Methodist students in Ann Arbor attending the University than in any other institution in the country save perhaps Northwestern, Boston, Syracuse and Wesleyan Universities. In the collegiate department Michigan leads all these combined, but counting the professional schools of these universities she only ranks with them. The movement has been spoken of every year at the Michigan and Detroit conferences.

Rev. E. S. Ninde gave notice last week at the Michigan conference at Traverse City and at the Detroit conference at Saginaw, that he would consider that the Ann Arbor Guild had the right of way for their work after January 1, and his notice was acquiesced in by the entire conference. At present the movement is better off than ever before in that it has its two lots at the corner of Washington and State with a total frontage of 100 feet entirely clear of debt. Now the officials wish to raise $50,000 as an endowment for a secretary, the same amount for a building and its equipment and furnishing, and $25,000 more for running expenses, making a total of $125,000. As a matter of fact there are more Methodist student in the Ypsilanti Normal than at Albion, which has made a certain feeling concerning the apparent indisposition on the part of other Michigan colleges to go ahead with their work.

At one time Ann Arbor Methodist were promised a building provided they would secure an endowment of $125,000. This was in 1893,  but owing to the hard times of that year they were unable to go ahead with the work. The gentleman who offered the building has since failed and is not now to give the building should he desire to do so.