Wf)c Jubge’s Bectston Henry Albert Collins THE JUDGE’S DECISION The needy sick in non-Christian lands may be counted not by thousands, but by millions. Is not their right to medical aid just as insistent as ours? The group of dispensary patients shown above is typical—men, women and children flock to the missionary doctors. mt Jubge’g BectSton BY HENRY ALBERT COLLINS “The Life Annuity Man” Author of "The Banker's Investment ” “The Happy Man" "After Many Days" "Their Golden Wed¬ ding" "His Silent Partner" "Life Annuity Text Book" Etc. Published by THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City Copyright 1916 by Henry Albert Collins All rights reserved THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 5 tEfje Stabge’si decision W HILE practicing in the college gym¬ nasium, Allen Worthington received a telegram from his mother. Opening the envelope hastily, he read: “Come home Fri¬ day. Mother.” Dressing quickly, Allen went to the college president and showed him the telegram, saying: “Doctor, will you please excuse me from school ?” “Certainly, my boy. You may be excused.” “This is Tuesday,” said Allen. “I want to leave here on Thursday evening, so as to reach home early on Friday morning.” “Why not go to-night?” “Mother wired to come Friday. If there was anything serious the matter she would have said to come at once. With your permission, I will plan to leave Thursday night.” “I hope,” said the president, “this may not in¬ terfere with your recent decision.” “Doctor,” replied Allen, “I am determined to carry out the work that I believe God has called me to do. I have been very happy since mak¬ ing the decision.” Arriving at home the following Friday morn¬ ing, Allen found that his father had gone to his Page 6 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION office and his mother was alone. She greeted him affectionately and said, “Your father must have some case of unusual importance. He leaves home very early every morning and sel¬ dom returns until nearly midnight. He scarcely speaks to us and I am becoming alarmed about him. I want you to look into the matter and see what is the cause of this strange preoccupa¬ tion.” Allen Worthington had breakfast with his mother and then went to his father’s office. The clerk said, “The Judge left for the Court House a few minutes ago.” Without making any inquiries, Allen went to the court where his father was presiding and listened to testimony for more than two hours. He watched his father carefully, but could de¬ tect nothing unusual in his manner and so re¬ turned home. During court the Judge was never at home at the noon hour. After adjournment that after¬ noon, Allen went up to his father, who greeted him cordially and a few minutes later they went home together. After dinner, Allen said: “Father, let’s go out for a walk.” “Agreed,” said the Judge. For some time the conversation was confined to local gossip until Allen said: “We have recently had Dr. Richards at our college. He has been a missionary in China for nearly thirteen years. His experi- THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 7 ences have been wonderful. He told us of the great opportunities for doing good in that mis¬ sion field. “You know I am to graduate next spring as a physician. One night about two weeks ago I awoke from a dream. It seemed as if some one was in the room and had spoken to me. I listened but no sound came to my ears. I was so impressed that I could not sleep. At last I got up to read a chapter in my Bible. I opened the book at random and the first passage I saw was, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.’ ” “Well, what of it?” asked the Judge. “After reading that verse the call came to me very distinctly to be a medical missionary in some foreign field. Father, will you consent to my going?” “Tut, tut! my son. Get that notion out of your head. I have a chance to buy a doctor’s practice here and I want you to get it. It is a practice in a wealthy neighborhood and in a few years it will make you a rich man.” “Father,” said Allen, “I have always obeyed you, but you have taught me that my first duty is to God, and the Bible says, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’ What should I do in case you withhold your consent?” Page 8 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION “The Ten Commandments say, ‘Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,’ ” replied the Judge. “But, father, I am honoring you by obeying God. Don’t you think so ?” “Well! What does your mother say about it?” “I haven’t mentioned it to her. I wanted to tell you first. You told me several years ago that my mother dedicated me to the missionary work before I was born. You wanted me to be a lawyer, and to compromise matters you and mother have educated me to be a physician. I feel sure that mother will approve of my going, for you know she is greatly interested in mis¬ sionaries and their work, and she supports a native worker in India.” “Well, my boy, what you say is true. If your mother gives her consent I will give mine. Per¬ haps after all it is His will.” The two men shook hands and there were tears in the eyes of both. “Thank you, father. Will you talk this over with mother ?” “Yes, my boy, I will,” replied the Judge. The two men walked in silence for several minutes. Allen was the first to speak. “Father, has your health been good while I have been away?” “Yes, fairly so,” answered the Judge, “but THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 9 this case that is being tried before me is wear¬ ing on my nerves and makes me realize that old age is fast approaching.” “You must not work so hard, father. You are in the prime of life and must take better care of your health.” “That’s so, but a Judge’s life is a busy one and there are times like the present when I can¬ not think of my own health.” “I heard part of the testimony of the case this morning,” said Allen, “and while I do not know anything about the first trial, yet I had a feeling that something must be wrong some¬ where.” “That’s just it,” interrupted the Judge, “there is something wrong, something radically wrong, and it is my earnest desire to get it straightened out. The case was tried first over two years ago in the County Court. An ap¬ peal was taken to the Circuit Court and then an appeal was taken from my decision to the Supreme Court. They reviewed all the testi¬ mony and ordered a rehearing in this court. This is really the hardest case that has ever been before me.” “Tell me how it started,” said Allen. The Judge hesitated a few minutes and then said: “Jesse Watson was a rich bachelor of this city. When he was about fifty-six years old he made a will that was witnessed by two men who Page 10 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION still reside here. Some two years later Mr. Wat¬ son died. His will was admitted to probate, and it is over this will I am so concerned. The will reads like this: ‘Knowing that I must die and having sound mental faculties, I hereby make this my first and last will. I want the President of our bank to act as my executor and to serve without bond. I direct that all of my debts be paid promptly, that the sum of one hundred dol¬ lars be given to each of my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and first cousins, and to their husbands or wives soon after my decease, and a like sum to each of these relatives yearly for ten years.’ Then Mr. Watson directed the executor to sell all of the property at the end of the ten years, divide it into two equal parts, one part to be distributed among his relatives equally and the other half to be given to the for¬ eign missionary work of the Methodist Episco¬ pal Church.” “That looks like a good will,” said the son. “I can’t see why there should be a contest over it.” “Aye, there’s the rub,” replied the Judge. “It appears to be all right on its face, but it has made a lot of trouble and hard feelings among the relatives.” “Who wrote the will ?” asked Allen. “Mr. Watson wrote it himself, made it as brief as possible and made two copies of it, one THE JUDGE'S DECISION [ Page 11 of which he turned over to the President of the First National Bank and the other he placed in his safe deposit box.” “Where’s the trouble ?” was the inquiry. “I knew Mr. Watson very well,” continued the Judge. “He was as honest a man as ever lived, and a very successful one. He was greatly in¬ terested in the missionary work of our church. I have often heard him tell in prayer meeting that he was planning to have his money used on the foreign field in the cause of missions.” “If he wanted his money to go into the mis¬ sionary work, why didn’t he give it while he lived?” asked Allen. “I don’t know, unless he was like many other people who cling to their property during their lifetime and after death have others administer it for them.” “On what grounds are they trying to break the will?” “First, they tried to prove that he was of un¬ sound mind when he made the will. They proved that he had had a severe attack of sick¬ ness a short time before he made it, but they failed to prove that he had shown any signs of mental derangement. Then the real contest came on these three points: The name of the president of the bank was not mentioned in the will, the relatives were not specified by name, and he had a contradiction in his will regarding Page 12 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION the disposal of the property, saying that it should all be sold and then saying that half of his property should go to the foreign mission¬ ary work of his church.” “Any one could see what was meant, and these little omissions should not have caused any trouble.” “That is true, my son, but it is these little errors that give a basis for many a lawsuit. The law is very explicit and nothing must be taken for granted. Mr. Watson owned shares in the First National Bank and that is why he called it our bank. He and the president of the bank were firm friends and it was easy to see why Mr. Watson selected the bank president to be execu¬ tor of his estate. Mr. Watson was evidently afraid of overlooking some relative if he men¬ tioned each one by name, which probably ac¬ counts for his drawing the will as he did.” “If his relatives got a hundred dollars apiece every year for ten years and then got half of his estate, it seems to me as if they should have been satisfied,” said Allen. “Did any of his people ever help him to make his money ?” “No, not one,” replied the Judge. “On the other hand, most of his relatives have received help from him as long as he lived. The fact that he knew them so well is probably why he provided the hundred dollars apiece for the ten DON’T WORRY t - • - JUST A WORD Do you spend sleepless nights thinking of your investments ? Does interest day come and the expect¬ ed money fail to arrive? Do your stocks or bonds depreciate in value ? Does the company, in which you have invested, pass its dividends? Is your income so small that you are compelled to take chances in or¬ der to increase it? Is your money idle part of the time be¬ cause you cannot decide upon a safe investment? Do you depend upon friends to invest your money for you and then question their judgment ? Are you responsible for the care of some dependent friend or relative ? Have you good real estate which in your old age proves a burden to you ? Are you troubled because of taxes, as¬ sessments, insurance and repairs ? IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS, LET US HELP YOU. LISTEN! A SAFE INVESTMENT Life Annuity Bonds, protected by vested funds covering all annuities issued by an organization holding many millions of dollars of real es¬ tate in all parts of the world and having an annual income of over $1,500,000, are issued by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A LARGER INCOME. Interest is paid upon these bonds at from 4% to 8%, according to the age of the annuitants. Interest checks are sent out promptly twice a year. NO CHANGE OF RATE. The Board pays a fixed rate to the annuitant during his or her lifetime, and during a period of over fifty years has never defaulted an inter¬ est payment. YOUR OWN EXECUTOR. By investing in Life Annuity Bonds, you avoid the necessity of making a will, thus saving legal expenses, commissions, inheritance taxes and other items necessary in settling up an estate, and providing against the defeat of your purposes by the breaking of your will. AFTER DEATH—WHAT? Your money is invested in Foreign Missions and the coming of the Kingdom is hastened by your gift. There is no delay in applying the money to the purpose designated. Our little booklet entitled “The Judge’s Decision” and another call- ed “Life Annuity Bonds” will be mailed free upon request. Address: George M. Fowles, Treasurer, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Rates for Life Annuity Bonds of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church For donors under 50 years of age, ----- 4 per cent. For donors from 50 to 55 inclusive, - - - - - 4 h per cent. For donors from 56 to 60 inclusive, ----- 5 per cent. For donors from 61 to 65 inclusive, ----- 5? per cent. For donors from 66 to 70 inclusive,. 6 per cent. For donors from 71 to 75 inclusive, ----- 65 per cent. For donors from 76 to 80 inclusive,.7 per cent. For donors from 81 and over,. 8 per cent. For further information address GEORGE M. FOWLES, Treasurer 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 13 years. He no doubt hoped that by the end of that time they would have learned how to take care of the money.” “Is it much of an estate?” asked the son. “Yes. The estate is big enough to make a nice contest, and so it proves to be. The real legal fight was against the Board of Foreign Missions. While Mr. Watson stated in his will that one-half of his estate was intended for the foreign missionary work in his church, yet he failed to state the legal title of the Board of Foreign Missions, and the officers of the Board could not produce any written evidence that Mr. Watson had ever intended to give his money to them.” “How did you decide the case, father?” “After consuming three weeks of time and hearing scores of witnesses on both sides, I rendered the decision that the will must stand. I ordered the executor to proceed with the set¬ tlement of the estate as provided in the will. The heirs appealed the case, and now, after nearly six weeks of controversy, we seem to be no nearer a solution than we were at the out¬ set.” “It must mean a big expense to carry the case along.” “Yes, indeed, thousands of dollars have been worse than squandered on it, but the worst fea- Page 14 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION ture of the case is the bitter feeling it has en¬ gendered among the relatives.” “Why, how’s that?” said Allen. “I thought the relatives were the ones that were trying to break the will so that they could get all of the property.” “It would appear so,” answered the Judge, “but these are the facts: When the contest was commenced the executor refused to pay any of the relatives their money, although each had been paid their first hundred dollars. The ex¬ ecutor was clearly within the intent of the terms of the will when it said to pay all of the ex¬ penses first, and no one knows as yet how much they will be. It is now over three years since Mr. Watson died. The poorer of the relatives want to quit and have the estate settled accord¬ ing to the terms of the will, but the richer heirs want to fight the case to the bitter end, even if they lose out. Then the brothers and the sisters of the deceased are contending for a larger share than the cousins should have. So you see this is a big legal tangle. I have lost much sleep, and studied my library carefully for precedents.” “That’s too bad,” interrupted the son. “I hope your next decision will be upheld, even if the case is appealed again.” “Yes, I hope so too. One of the worst things about a contest of this kind is the publicity THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 15 given to the matter. Some newspapers that take a delight in casting a slur on the church and its activities try to make it appear that the officers of the Board of Foreign Missions are neglecting their business when they take time to contest a suit in court. I hold that it is their business to attempt to carry out the wishes of their deceased friends and to protect the rights of the Board. I am well pleased with the attitude of the officers of our Board of Foreign Missions. “Then another thing that disturbs me is the great amount of time lost by prominent busi¬ ness men who are called and recalled as wit¬ nesses. I know that if Mr. Watson were pres¬ ent with us today he would be very indignant at the whole procedure.” “Father, why don’t you try to get the con¬ testants to compromise the matter?” asked Allen. “I did, at first, but I found so much oppo¬ sition that I finally gave it up.” “Who were the ones at fault?” “It was one faction of the relatives. They were nearly all opposed to any part of the money going to the Board of Foreign Missions. I know just how Mr. Watson wanted his estate divided and I must do all in my power to have it settled his way. I tried to reason with the relatives and some of them accused me of trying Page 16 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION to get a share of the missionary money for my¬ self. I have faithfully tried to keep down the expenses, but scores of men and women have been summoned as witnesses, some of them liv¬ ing at a considerable distance, and all of the expenses have to come out of the estate.” “When will this trial end?” “In a few days, I hope, but I have already heard that threats are being made of what will happen to me if I do not rule to set the will aside. I cannot conscientiously do that. I wish there were some better way to settle up estates than by making wills, for they are so frequently broken.” “There is a better way,” said Allen. “How’s that?” “There are a number of commercial com¬ panies doing a large and very successful Life Annuity business. Their agents emphasize the fact that the Life Annuity system presents the ideal way of settling up an estate.” “Yes, I know of the Life Annuity plan,” re¬ sponded the Judge, “and I believe it to be a good system. I wish more people would adopt this method of settling up their financial mat¬ ters before they die. It would save much liti¬ gation and hard feeling.” “Our college has recently gone into the Life Annuity business,” said Allen. “The reason for this was the loss of a large legacy. Not THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 17 long ago a man died leaving fifty thousand dol¬ lars to our college. The will was broken, the college did not get a cent of the money intended for them and the legal expenses were so great that there was scarcely anything left for the relatives.” “There are hundreds of similar cases,” said the Judge. “It is not only in the breaking of wills that the colleges and the church societies lose money, but by the failure of banks. Let me tell you of a case. I know an aged couple in this city who saved their money, often deny¬ ing themselves things that we call real necessi¬ ties in order to leave money at their death for foreign missions. This couple had their money invested in a bank. The bank failed and this man and his wife lost over half of their savings. It would have been much better both for the old couple and for the missionary cause if this money had been invested in Life Annuity Bonds of the Board of Foreign Missions.” After their long walk, Allen and his father returned home to find Mrs. Worthington anx¬ iously awaiting them, and the subject of An¬ nuities was not further discussed. The following Sunday Dr. Wright, Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions, who had been compelled to attend the trial, was asked by Judge Worthington’s pastor to occupy the pulpit. He took for his text Luke 18:22, “Sell Page 18 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION all thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” Judge Worthington with his family occupied their pew as usual. The Secretary told how this rich young man had so much money that it took most of his time to look after his prop¬ erty. He did not have any time to give to the real work of the kingdom. If he had invested his money in such a way as to free himself from its care and then devote his income and his time to matters of real importance, the Master would not have rebuked him. Many Christian people in these days are making the same mistake for which Jesus re¬ buked this young man. Their intentions are good, but their time is so occupied with the care of their possessions that they cannot do much for the advancement of God’s cause. They try to excuse themselves on the ground that, at their death, this money will all be willed to the church or some of its benevolent organizations, but even in this they often fail, “for,” said the preacher, “during my fifteen years as Secretary, only a small proportion of our church members have mentioned our Board in their wills and in a number of these cases the wills have been broken. “In order to avoid the contest of wills, to pro¬ vide a sure way for money being used as the persons desire, and at the same time to relieve THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 19 them from the care of their property, our Board has, for a number of years, been writing Life Annuity Bonds. This form of investment is becoming more popular every day, for by this Life Annuity plan donors or their relatives receive the annuity regularly and the principal goes on doing good to the end of time.” Dr. Wright made no allusion to the Watson trial, but the congregation could see what the speaker had in his mind. When the services were over, Mrs. Worth¬ ington asked her husband to invite the Secre¬ tary to dinner. The invitation was gladly ac¬ cepted. During the meal Mrs. Worthington asked many questions regarding the work of Foreign Missions. Dr. Wright explained how the work of the foreign fields is prospering and showed the ur¬ gent need for people and money to help main¬ tain and enlarge the enterprise. Before dessert was served the Judge said: “Allen, let us tell your mother and Dr. Wright what we talked about last Friday evening.” Allen moved his chair closer to his mother and began telling of his recent college experi¬ ence. When he spoke of his decision to become a medical missionary, tears came to his mother’s eyes and she breathed a prayer of thankfulness. Page 20 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION At the close of the meal, the judge invited his son and the Secretary to go into the library. Judge Worthington opened the conversation by asking Dr. Wright: “If Allen goes into this work, what salary will he receive?” The Secretary replied: “He will receive from six hundred to one thousand dollars a year, ac¬ cording to the cost of living in the field to which he is assigned.” The Judge moved uneasily in his big chair and said: “That’s entirely too small a sum. My son would make more than that amount of money in a month if he would practice medi¬ cine in this city.” “That is probably true,” replied the Secre¬ tary, “but the medical missionary work on the foreign field is more enduring.” “Why don’t you pay a salary that is com¬ mensurate with the work?” asked the Judge. “Simply because we are not in a position to pay more,” replied the Secretary. “The de¬ mands are so great in the fields now occupied, to say nothing of the fields yet untouched, that all of the foreign missionary societies are com¬ pelled to economize in every possible way.” “Well! I approve of the work you are do¬ ing,” said the Judge. “How much money will it take to buy one of those Life Annuity Bonds that you talked about this morning, so that THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 21 Allen might have fifteen hundred dollars a year while he is over there?” “Why, father!” exclaimed Allen, “there is no need for that. I can get along on the mission¬ ary salary.” “That’s all right, my boy, but I want to sup¬ port you while you work over there, and this will release a salary for another missionary.” “Do you want this money paid to your son for seven years, if he lives, or for his natural life?” asked Mr. Wright. The Judge told Dr. Wright that he preferred to buy a Life Annuity Bond for his son, for which the Board of Foreign Missions would pay this annuity as long as Allen lived. After the Secretary left Judge Worthing¬ ton’s house, Allen said: “Father, I want to tell you a secret. There is a young lady named Helen Robinson attending our college. She is about my own age, and is one of the best singers in college. She is much interested in mission¬ ary work, and we have often talked over the opportunities for doing good in the mission fields. She is an orphan and has worked her way through school and will graduate next spring. I am deeply in love with her, but have not asked her to be my wife. If you consent I will ask her to go with me to the foreign field next fall. Should she accept me the salary you have provided will give us an adequate income. Page 22 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION We would be the happiest people in the world and she would be a great help in my work.” “So you have been courting and studying at the same time!” laughingly exclaimed the Judge. “Well! I wonder if this Miss Robinson is the daughter of the Reverend George F. Rob¬ inson, a Methodist minister?” “That was her father’s name. Why, father! do you know Miss Robinson?” “Indeed I do, I knew her father before her. He, poor man, was unable to leave anything for the support of his family and Helen has had a hard struggle to secure an education.” “I am glad you know Helen, father. I be¬ lieve if she becomes your daughter-in-law you will be proud of her.” “I asked the Secretary to call here to-mor¬ row evening,” said the Judge. “We are going to discuss further that annuity matter.” The next day the Judge went to court as usual. The Watson case dragged along all of the afternoon, neither side seeming to gain any advantage. Just before time for the court to adjourn one of the lawyers for the prosecution arose and said, “May it please the Court to adjourn until tomorrow morning. It may be that we will have something new to offer at that time.” After the court had adjourned this lawyer tarried to see the Judge and said to him: “Some THE JUDGE’S DECISION [ Page 23 of our people heard Dr. Wright preach yester¬ day morning and we are beginning to feel that we should compromise this case and have it settled.” Judge Worthington proposed that they tele¬ phone to Dr. Wright and ask him to meet them at once. The Judge, the Secretary and the lawyer were soon engaged in an earnest con¬ versation. Plans for compromising the matter were made, and before these men separated Dr. Wright said: “Gentlemen, it seems that the old prophet was right when he wrote, ‘So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall ac¬ complish that which I please, and it shall pros¬ per in the thing whereto I sent it.’ ” The Secretary accompanied the Judge to his home for dinner and when the meal was over they adjourned to the library to talk over money matters. After some preliminary con¬ versation the Judge said: “Mrs. Worthington and I have been talking over our financial af¬ fairs and we have decided to invest one half of our money in Life Annuity Bonds with your Board. It will provide us a safe and perma¬ nent income during our lifetime, and it will per¬ petuate our work to the end of time.” They also took out a Life Annuity Bond for Allen, so that the income would provide a modest salary for a medical missionary. Page 24 ] THE JUDGE’S DECISION “We are convinced that this plan of investing our money will give us happiness in two worlds,” said the Judge. “It will also avert the danger of having a lawsuit over our estate, and as you have said it will tend to lengthen our lives.” Before the Worthington family and Dr. Wright had separated, arrangements had been made for the purchase of these bonds. The Secretary, as he bade farewell, shook hands with each one and said, “The Judge’s de¬ cision is wise. I hope his example will influence many others to make the same kind of an in¬ vestment.” LIFE ANNUITY BONDS of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church AN ABSOLUTELY SAFE INVESTMENT. During the past 50 years, 2,193 banks have failed in the United States, involving a loss of $110,625,555.69. The Board of Foreign Missions has been in existence for nearly a century and has never failed to pay every obligation. Back of your Annuity Bond there is property to the amount of millions of dollars, and a large and increasing income from over four million members of the Church. A LARGER INCOME. Will yield more than the ordinary safe investment and you will have no taxes, repairs or insurance to pay. WILL PERPETUATE YOUR GOOD WORK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. It will be in daily use preaching the Gospel to those in darkness. ATTRACTIVE RATES. Bonds vary from 4 percent to 8 percent according to age of the annuitant.