Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-30

A word of explanation may be needful.
ne third column hows the weekly con-
tributlons of each member for "the re-
lIet OF the breaches, church and poor
Inc fourth shows hw much each is will
ing TO give weekly ''lor the support Of
missions and missionary schools under our
care. The next thirteen, exhibit the
credits for one quarter. The next the
quarterly amount Of each member for the
reiIef OF the preachers, &c. The last
column but one, shows The quarterly con-
tflbullons of the class, which are ''to be
brought or sent to the annual conference,
with regular account Of the sums raised
10 the classes OF societies respectively"
"for the propagation Of the gospel, making
up the allowance ur The preachers. and
"ior the relief of the necessitous super.
anuated and superngmcrary ministers,
widows, and orphans" within the confer
Ience. And the last SHOWS The quarterly
amount of the weekly missionary contr-
buttons.
The foregoing is a plan, not of sub
scription, TO be forciby collected by law
for our book of discipline declares, part
:, sec. 5. ''lf the respective allowances
are not raised as provided for, the church
shall not be accountabeFor.t the deficiency
Jas in case of debt,') hut is a plan foI
raslng, and keeping an accurate account
iof, the voluntary contributions Of the
classes. 1t imposes no legal obligation
npon any one: the Obligation is wholly
moral; and becomes nomore binding by
such an expression or acknowledgment Of
1t, than the great head d the church has
made it. Hear St. Paul.-"Even so hath
the Lord ordained, thai they which
preach the gospel should live of the Cos
pei" !. Cor. TX IA. Again. '.This say,
he which soweth sparingly shall also
reap sparngly; and he which soweth
beautifully shall reap also bountifully.-
Every man according as he purposeth in
his heat, so lei him gipe; not grudgingly,
or OF necessity: for God loveth cheer
full giter," II. Cor. TX. 6,7 Observe
the Apostles order ''concerning the col
lection for the saints" given "to the
CHURCHES OF Galatia, and to the church at
Corinth;-"Upon the first day of the
week lRt every one Of you lay by him iu
store, IS God hath prospered him." |,
Cor. XVI. 9. Having voluntarily said
how much you will give, and having laid
it by "pon the first Tor some other) day
OF the week." then observe the force of
the following Apostolic command, '.Now
therefore perform the doing Of H.; that as
there was readiness to will, so there
may be performance also out of that
zchih ye haze. For if there be first a
wiling mind, it is accepted according to
that man hath, and not according to that
he hath not" II, Cor. VIII. II, 10. If
such therefore, be the law OF God, con.
corning the collection for the saints:-If
the great head of the church, requires the
contribution weekly, and that too, Oil the
christian Sabbath; then, 7reeky class COL
lect'ons are scriptural, and stripturaIly bind
ing upon us as. members of the body of
Christ, whether-we meetin the week, or
on the Sabbath.
The 9th and 18th questions, in the speci-
men of leaders meeting, are predicaled
upon the answers given in the section on
"Class Meetings" to the 3rd question:
show shall we prevent improper persons
from insinuating themselves into the
church" The Cd answer is,-"Giye
notes to none but those who are recon.
mended by one you know, or until they
have met three or four times in class. !"
If person applying for admission on trial
for membership in the church, should not
receive such a recommendation, the min
lister or preacher should direct him to