The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-13

twenty-five cents week, for such a pur-
pose
There are seventy thousand white mem
bers in the churches under the care of
our General Assembly; an average con-
tribution of ten cents from each, every
week, would amount at the end of the
year to three hundred and sixty-four
thousand dollars; an average of twenty
five cents would amount to nine hundred
and ten thousand dollars, or nearly
million in year.
These illustrations show how easy it is
to raise large amounts by the regular
contribution of small sums, provided the
rich and the poor, and those in moderate
circumstances, all unite in giving accord
ing to their ability.
Two or three years since, we adopted
the plan of collections every Sabbath
morning. 1t has succeeded better than
any plan hitherto in use; but the sue
cess would have been far greater if each
contributor had been present every Lord S
day in the year, or if when absent be-
cause of sickness, or visits to the country,
the weekly gift had been sent by the
hands of another, or if on the first Sab
bath of the donors return, he had given
sum which would have covered the
amount due on the missing Sabbaths.
As these pledges of specific contribu-
tions each week are not only debts of
honor, but of Christian obligation and
privilege, we take it for granted that all
to whom this communication is addressed,
will be thankful for the suggestion of any
plan by which they may be enabled to
carry into effect their good intentions in
spite of forgetfulness, or absence from
home, or from the Lords house.
We therefore propose to furnish each
member of the church and congregation
with ffty-two small envelopes, on the
back of which the date of the successive
Sabbaths of the year will be printed
Every Sunday when you are at home,
write your name on the back of one of
these envelopes, according to the date;
place in it the amount you please to give
for your weekly contribution, and drop it
into the basket when the collectors pass
through the church. If you are absent
one or more Sabbaths, the date on the
empty envelope will remind you of what
you might otherwise have forgotten, and
on your return to the church you can
make up the arrearages. The Treasurer
fof the church will Keep book in which
the names of all contributors will be en-
tered with the amounts given by each,
from week to week, so that at the end of
the year, the individual contributions
and the sum total raised by this method,
for charitable uses, can be ascertained.
Now in case there be any who say,
cit is no matter to anybody what give,
l prefer to make my contributions in a
more private way" we reply, as all col
lections taken up in the church are ne
cessarily public, you cannot we'll contri
butte without being seen; and it does not
add to the publicity to enfOld what you
give in little envelope, or that it should
be set down in the Treasurer's book, for
the sake of perfecting the scheme Of
systematic benevolence which we are try,
ing to introduce. But in case you have
a conscientious objection to the envelope
plan, (which is adopted only for the pur-
pose of securing regularity there i;
nothing to prevent you from contributing
in your own, and in the old way, wher
the officers of the church pass by you il
taking up the Sabbath collections. We
desire to make no appeal to ostentation
or to emulation, or to any unworthy mo
tive; we only seek to induce all to beal
their part and proportion in sustaining
the enterprises of Christian benevolence
and to do it in such way as will mos
efficiently and certainly accomplish th'
end in view. And it is after prayer, an(
careful consideration, and earnest cour
sci, that we have adopted the plan nov
recommended, in the hope that God ma.
bless and prosper it 70 the advancement
of the interests of His Church.
These contributions are intended pri
marily for the aid of the great causes o
Sustentation, Publication, Missions, an
{ Education, and for the aid of superanu
ated and disabled ministers and thei
families, in accordance with the order O
our General Assembly; and secondaril
for meeting the current expenses of ou
own church. When the latter can b
, otherwise provided for, all the amount
J contributed will go to the aid of the fv
f causes Just enumerated, and to such OF
, jects of special benevolence as may b
) recommended by the Session, with tn
understanding that the collection at ou
r quarterly communions will be for tn
poor of the church.
Now, to make the matter perfectly III
II IL, Il.