The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-18
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Systematic Benevolence.

| SyStematlc beneVOlenCe.
! We have received from the Rev. j. Rumple
Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Concord
N. c., printed sheet containing the schem
adopted by that Presbytery, last September, 70
securing regular weekly contributions from al
their churches and all their members. We Civ
| first, the resolutions adopted:
b f3r RESOLUTIONS.
1. That an earnest and perseverins
effort be made to inaugurate Immediately
a regular system of weekly contributions
and that this system contemplate per
sonal application to all the members O.
our Presbyterian families.
2. That our Committee of Sustenta
tion be directed to prepare subscription
books for the use of our churches, Sc
laid off that subscriptions can be conve
niently entered and credited, from time
to time, as there may be occasion.
3. That all our Pastors and Stated
Supplies be earnestly directed and sol
emnly enjoined to make all proper efforts
to introduce this system into their re.
spective charges as soon as possible.
4 That, if it be necessary, our Evan
gelist be required to visit such of oul
vacant churches as cannot otherwise be
enlisted and introduce this plan among
the members; and that occasional Sup
plies attend to this duty in the churches
they visit.
5. That our Pastors, Stated Supplies
and Evangelist, be required to report to
our Committee of Sustentation from
time to time, the results of their efforts
in this work, and that the Committee oi
Sustentation report, if deemed necessary,
through the columns of the North Car
olina Presbyterian, the results of this
enterprise.
6. That one-third, at least, of these
contributions, if needed, be appropriated
to the payment OF the salary of our
Evangelist, or Evangelists, when the Pres
bytery shall see the way clear to the ap
pointment of more than one man to this
work.
7. That we confidently believe that,
if our people shall all be reached, there
will be found liberality enough to furnish
ample funds for all our purposes, and the
aggregate, in this way, will greatly ex-
ceed that of any mode of collection
hitherto employed.
s. That Pastors, Stated Supplies, and
occasional Supplies, aud Churches gen.
orally, be strictly inquired of, semi-an-
nually, in regard to their fidelity in doing
this work.
Adopted by Concord Presbytery,. at
Lincolnton. N. c., September Goth, 1868.
R. z. JOHNSTON, Stated Clerk.
Next come the following appropriate instruc,
tions from the Committee of SustentatiOn ap.
pointed by the Presbytery.
INSTRUCTIONS.
In sending out the accompanying forms
for Systematic Benevolence, in obedience
to the injunction of Presbytery, (see
Res. 2 the Committee of Sustentation
deem it advisable to submit the following
Instructions
1. HOW TO PREPARE AND KEEP BOOKS,
l. Procure blank book, as near as
practicable as wide and as long as this
sheet of forms. 2. Rule off and write
headings for as many double pages, in
the manner of Form A, in the first
part of the book, as will be required tc
enroll the names of all the subscribers in
the congregation. 3. Just after these
pages lay off two or more double pages,
in the manner of Form B" for the
purpose of charging the monthly collec
tions, and crediting the appropriations
that may be paid out from time to time.
4. Continue this process from year tC
year till the book is filed up.
II. HOW TO TAKE UP SUBSCRIPTIONS.
1. The Deacons of the congregation
should organize by electing Secretary
and Treasurer, and should hold monthly
meetings for business. 2. The Secreta.
ry and the Treasurer should keep the
book, receive, credit, and pay out appro.
priations as they may be made. 3. The
congregation should be divided into "dis
tricts, and deacon assigned to duty
in each district. 4. Each deacon should
visit every family in his district, and
each member in every family, and per
sonally solicit a week ly subscription, from
the children as well as adults, and enter
the names and subscriptions, family by
family, into list, or small blank book,
kept for the purpose, and report the
same at once to the Treasurer. 5. The
Treasurer should copy from the several
books of the visiting deacons-keeping
the several districts on separate pages
the results of these applications, enter.
ing the names in the first column OF
Form A, and the weekly amount in the
second column, and the amount for the
year in the last column. g. The Treas
urer shall receive and credit the pay.
ments of subscribers, as they may be
paid in, weekly Or monthly in the appro.
pirate monthly column of Form A. Z.
When the subscriptions are not promptly
paid in, weekly or monthly, notice may
be given from the pulpit to those in ar
rears, to call on the Treasurer and pay
up; and if still unpaid, the Treasurer
should furnish list of those in arrears
and the sums due, to the deacon of the
district, to collect by personal applica-
ton.
III. OF APPROPRIATIONS.
1. Appropriations to the several OBJ