The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-10-16
Correspondence Of the Canlde" Journal
MiSsiOnS..-HOW Sustained.
NO. H..

Methodist Missions..-HOW Sustained.
M' Editor In pursuance Of n suggestion
made in former paper, shall now attempt
cunciSc explanation of the means by which our
missions to the slaves Of the South and South
est are sustained.
1t will I've obvious to all WHO are acquainted
with tile police indSreusablv necessary on the
large plantations Of the South where thousands
OF slaves arc brought in close neghborho"d,
that while il is humane it must be firm as well
us sound And, in as much as the government
differs under separate managers, the unres'ral
I'd intermiugling Of the people, even f"r devo
tional purposes has not, in many cases, been
deemed advisable, still, in some eases, two or
three slave owners permit their people to wor
ship together. In all cases however, or nearly all,
these religious meetings are held either upon or
ucar the plantation where the pcople belong.
Hence the impracticabiIity Of collecting them at
those places Of worship where he whites of any
denomination of christians usually worship.
Withal, some Of the slave owners-being skcp
teal both with respect to the necessity and
utility of giving !he gospel to their slaves made
no provision f"r this end, and barely gave per
mission to the Church to preach 10 their people.
In view of all these facts it was evident that
the slaves must either b. left without tn" GOSPEL,
ur, obtain it b. some other than the ordinary
means.
1t is not strange that the missionorg plan
should have been fixed on rs the most cvangeli
cal. For the Church of Christ is organi cd
uImn this plan. The APOSTLES did not wait. llsu
ally, for either Jew or Gentle to send for them
but, in 10, dence to the Lords command, they
went forth in quest IF the lost aid straying,
while every true evangelist, in view Of the wants
of ;he world, is heard by the master, saying
"hrre am |, send me-" But rs 1.-THE Iabourer
is worthy of his hire and God has ordained
that they "who preach the gospel shall live Of
the gospel" AND as these slaves were unable to
support ministcry, and their owners failed to
do it, how was tho man Of God to "live.', 1t
is plain, others must support him, for Christ
sake, while he should preach % the needy. The
work being important and constant! incrras
iny-svStematic efforts, for the support of the
ministry as missionaries become indispensable.
Hence the organization Of the Missionary So
c,efy. | shall not trace the history of this sys
ten beyond the statement Of Il few general tea-
lures. We have what is called; the Parent
Sucicty." This was formerly located in the city
of New York. After the junsdictional division
Of the Church. in 1914, the NJ. Church,
Sonh, located its Parent Society" in Louis.
vile; but, the last General Conference Of said
Church, having provided for the organization Of
u Publishing House" in Nashville, the parent
Suci..ty" WAS permanently located in that city
Tkr Board of Managers Of this Society hold
their anniversary early in tho year, at which
time i, is determined how much shall BE- rxlnn
del for the Missions in each Conference, for the
current year This estimate is changed some.
times under the pressure Of unforeseen necessities
Bu, the amount usually stands unchanged.-
Each Annual Conference appoints committee,
who, in conjunction with the Presiding Elders,
ascertain the demand for the Missionaries t'r the
year then commencing, and the committee de.
teruine how much each one shall be allowed.
The appropriation is made out OF the funds OF
the Conference Missionary Society, If they are
equal to the demand, otherwise, the drafts are
paid by the Parent Society" Whcre'thc patrons
Of Mission pay sum equal to the amount the
committee allow the Missionaries who servo
them, then i, is called self sustaining; but,
when their contributions fall below this estimate,
the balance due the Missionaries Is drawn from
the charity Of the Church. 1t becomes matter
Of general interest to know how the Society
coIlec,s its funds to meet the foregoing demand
The Chulch prov dos for the work by the organ''
za,on Of u Missionary Society in each circuit
and station. These Societies hold their respec
tive Anniversaries under the direction of the
Quarterly Conference OF each charge, at which
time an appeal is made to the Church and her
friends, aud the friends Of the Missionary enter
prise, for money. Besides this, application is
made for aid in more private way to all the
friends Of tho cause. These funds are reported
to each Quarterly Conference, and the amount
is recorded in the journal of that body. Again,
the amount collected in each charge is reported
to the Annual Conference and published in the
minutes of said Conferences, while the amount
appropriated, and tho manner Of said approprla'
ton, are both reported to the Annual Confer
euce, and published. From hence it may be
ascertained how .;ur Mission funds are collected
how they are appropriated and how our Mis-
siu,laries arc supported.
1t ia hoped, aud believed. that the slave own
ers will soon contribute sum sumcieot TO sop.