The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-12-18
Central 39resbptrrim.
RGcHMoND. Va, DECEMBER Is. 1867.
FoH THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Sustentation.
TO TIE MINISTRY, SESSIONS AND CONGREGATIONS
OF ROANOKE PREsBYTERY.


mittee of Sustentation, in compliance with con
current orders of the Assembly and our own |
Presbytery.* Il is through that Committee that |
we now carry on the missionary work within our |
own bounds, Including the suS'entatiOn OF our
weak churehes.) and should aid also in carrying |
the Gospel into the more destitute parts OF the |
country. 1t is to be hoped, therefore, that with |
entire unanimity, the churches of Roanoke Pres |
bytery will be found attending to this business at
the time appointed.
l. Consider the exceeding importance Of the
work to be furthered. Every intelligent and
thoughtful mind in our communion can readily |
appreciate the necessity of prosecuting 1t with
zeal. The healthful life and growth of the
Church depend upon it. While the "unprece-
dented success which has attended the efforts
of the AsSembly's Committee during the past
year, in the use of the limited means at their
disposal, eommends the cause to our cordial CO.
operation. The facts are set forth in the report of
the Secretary to the General Assembly Wash
vile.
q But the work is sadly
Committee kept back
measures of usefulness, BY the deiiS
many churches. Scarcely one-thlrd mac%ton-
tributions in aid of Sustentation the past year.
In our own Presbytery the proportion rises to but
fourteen out OF thirty two churches. 1t is true
that before the resolution of last Spring to CO.
operate with the Assembly's Committee, the
Presbyterial Committee received contributions
from seventeen congregations. But it should
also be noted. that ten of these contributed also
to the Sustentation Committee. So that eleven
have contributed to neither. Several of the
eleven are very small and weak churches, but
some Of them are of our larger and stronger or
CARNATIONS. 1t is alSo true that at least one OF
the very weak churches ranged itself with the
class of contributors to boa treasures making
two collections during the year for Domestic
Missions. These facts go to show conclusively,
that it is not the lack OF ability to do anything
which causes failure in this matter.
3. The authority OF our Church courts should
be revered. Our Presbytery, in the exercise OF
its unquestionable right, has enjoined upon the
ministry and elderShip TO give the people of eve
~ congregation an opportunity to contribute.
This has been done sdvisedly, and in view OF the
fact that many churches are poor, and embar-
raised by arrearages due to their pastors; and
that some are asking aid. The order has been
made notwithstanding, az faith that There is
that seattereth and yet inereaseth; and there
is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it
tendeth to poverty" The truth is, as demon
strated by constant experience, to which 1t is be-
heved no exception has been found, that every
congregation, however feeble, will give some
thing, if afforded an opportunity; and that no
L - -
any degree overburdened by this course. Some
churches never fail. year after year. in taking up
every collection ordered by PreSbytery, while
others Of equal strength, very often fail. Toes
not the responsibility for this difference rest in
every instance with the office bearers? Recent
ly a remittance was received by the treasurer
for Sustentation, we beleve,) from person who
said he made it after waiting long for the church
authorities to move in the matter. That good
brother, by the way, would have done better, by
going to the session, or his pastor, and suggest
ing the readiness Of some in the congregation to
give.
T. Observe the manifest Importance of COM
plying with the order of this collection at the
time appointed in order to avoid confusion and
conflict with other collections fixed for stated
times throughout the year-tO say nothing about
the usual results of procrastinatiOn. If the col
lection for Sustentation be neglected at the pro-
per time, it must be omitted altogether or crowd
out some other cause. 1t is made the duty OF
the chairman Of the Presbyterial Committee to
remind delinquent churches of their duty. But
he cannot know of their failure before another
cause will have come forwardin turn with which
his appeal must then conflict. And by the con
slant accumulation of delnqueneies, as the sev
eral causes of Publication Foreign Missions, and
Education successfully present themselves, there
must result towards the close of the year med
lev of calls from the several committee men, to
all of which the delinquent churches will not then
be able to respond. Therefore, Let every thing
be done decently and in order"
5. 1t is made part of our duty to urge the
adoption of the plan of lceekly coHeetiOnS-which
is C, instantly growing in favor wherever tried.
1t is commended by many advantages. 1t is the
best way to cultivate the grace of giving. 1t at
fords constant opportunities to worship God by
"honoriug him with our substance" 1t is the
surest way of guarding against the neg ect of any
of the Church. schemes. 1t is probably the only
plan by which the whole body of the cougrega
ton can ever be brought to the habit of giving
Finally, il seems to be the scriptural plan 1t
has been objected that where congregations meet
but once or twice month, the plan is impracti-
cable But the essential feature of the plan is
to have collection every Sabbath that the con-
gregation meets. Members of churches, how
ever, which meet but seldom, might well be ex
pected TO make their gifts larger on that account
when the collection comes TO be made.
g. Let it be noted and duly weghed-1ce OccU
plying old territory, nth comparatively limited
missionary .feld-that unless we come up to the
performance of duty in this regard, according to
the standard thus indicated we must occupy the
position, which it seems to us would be discred
liable to the Presbytery, of asking, in order to
carry on our most indispensable missionary work
and work of sustentaton, much more from the
Assembly's committee than we contribute to
their treasury. This will be the case, unless our
contributions exceed .tour,told, what they were
the past year, And ii Presbyteries like ours
consent % be dependent upon the central fund,
what must become of "the regions beyond.
and of the progress of our Lords kingdom with
in the limits OF those Presbyteries whose mis-
sionary fields are so bOundless, and their desti-
tuuOns so much greater than ours
Il therefore becomes our imperative duty. dear
brethren of the ministry, eldership- and the
whole body of the Lords people of Roanoke
PreSbytery, to exhort you to make special en-
deavors TO secure enlarged contributions; and
that you allow no hindranee or plea whatever,
to keep you from responding TO this appeal,
r