The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-13
A PLAN FOR SYSTEMATIC GIVING.

This is likely to become matter OF absorb
ing attention in the Church. Certainly it ought
to be. The plan adopted recently in the End
Presbyterian Church of Richmond, and sub
stantially by others we hear of, is set forth in
the following address, which has been published
in pamphlet form, and put into the hands of all
the members. In the hope that its wider pub
lication may do good, We now transfer it to the
columns of this paper.-ED. CEN. PsEs.
TO THE COMMUNICATES OF THE SECOND
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AND MEN,
BRRs OF THE CONGREGATION.
1t is matter of vital Importance, es-
pecially in times of impoverishment like
these, that some equitable and efficient
method of raising funds to- sustain the
benevolent enterprises of the Church
should be adopted. And inasmuch as we
can never become wiser than the Bible,
it is gratifying to see indications, on every
hand, of an awakened interest, and of a
general return to the primitive and apos-
tolic method of weekly contributions, ac'
cording to the ability which God has
given to His people. l Cor. xvi: 2.
This scheme commends itself because
of its absolute fairness, and fitness for
universal application. 1t cannot be un-
reasonable or burdensome to give accord
ing to ones ability; the rich can afford
contributions proportioned to their large
resources; the poor according to their
limited means; and the special advantage
of the system is, that it furnishes sound
principle of ready application to every
church-member, and to every one in the
community in whose heart there is a
spirit of true philanthropy. The Scrip
ture system of giving, is one which gath.
ers all the contributions of the benevo-
lent, from every walk in life, and by the
aggregation of the gifts of all, though
they should be small in the majority OF
individual cases, secures an amount suf-
Acient for the support of particular
churches and for the extension of the
Kingdom Of Christ throughout the
world.
The defect of the old method of raising
funds for church uses, was, that there
was no system in it, and, in consequence
the work of supporting the great enter
priscs of benevolence rested upon few
This was unjust and unkiod, for if givins
is burden, it ought to be equalized; i
it is privilege, it ought to be shared b.
all. There is, moreover, moral anC
spiritual advantage in the method of OBJ
tanning contributions from every one
without exception, who feels the least in
terest in the Church of Christ, becaus
of the fact that such interest is alway
deepened by the exercise of the grace
giving. We always wish well to caus
to which we lend our support, and it ha
sometimes happened that even men o
the world, who began by giving thel
money to the cause of Christ, have ende
by giving their hearts.
1t will surprise those who investigat
the subject, to learn what large amount
may be easily raised by the regular con
tribution of small sums from the men
bers of any single church, or denomina
ton of Christians. If three hundre
persons in one congregation could be in
duced to give an average of ten cent
regularly every Sabbath for year,
would amount to fifteen hundred an
sixty dollars; if twenty-five cents weel
it would be thirty-nine hundred dollars