Utilitarianism

Religion, like the Arts and Sciences, has to maintain itself upon a strictly economic basis. That means that its debts must be paid, its servants salaried that they may live. To do this, Religion has depended upon charity; for it is not per se a business, least of all a profitable concern in terms of cash.

Two years ago, was built in Chicago the Temple--"Methodism's skyscraper church." On the ground floor is the First Methodist Episcopal Church: above are 20 floors of offices of which, according to a statement made by William W. Dixon, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago M. E. Church Aid Society, 81% have been rented.

The church-skyscraper was built by the Aid Society at a cost of $3,500,000 on property valued at $3,000,000, bequeathed many years ago to the Methodist Church. This Church aims at self-support and at making a profit, which is to be divided among other Methodist churches. "From first to last," explained the Secretary-Treasurer, "the erection of this building has been carried on according to strict business principles. It was financed by a mortgage, not by small bonds sold to church members. It pays taxes at the same rate as regular commercial buildings. It has been rented not through any appeal to the loyalty of church members but be cause it offered good offices in a favorable location. The largest number of tenants are lawyers. "

Some church boards have rented offices. We have a Presbyterian book shop on one of the upper floors and a Methodist book shop on the first floor. One thing we don't have in the building is a cigar store. We could have rented a corner for this purpose at $9,000, but we preferred to rent it for a candy store for $3,000 less."