The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-09


cation $l97 sixteen to Publication $3.50. Total
S1,OS1.
Chesapeake reports that of its twenty one
churches, fifteen have contributed to Sustentaton
SO, 724; seven to Foreign Missions 1922 twelve to
Education $3.50; nine to Publication s6oo'
Total, $7,796
Concord reports that forty seven churches have
contributed to Sustentation $2,OO6 ; thTty1aye TO
Foreign Missions 1872 "a thirty-seven to Educa-
Sl,l03 As; thirty-two to Publication S45O 81.
Total, $4, 933 49, Contributions to Foreign Mis-
sions and Education nearly doubled. Twenty-Five
have adopted the plan of weekly collections
others are about to adopt it.
Fayetteville reports that twenty-seven churches
have contributed to Foreign Missions, twenty-five
to Education, twenty-three to Publication, and
seven to the fund for the support of disabled MIN
listers. Total $l,326 So.
| Orange reports that of its fifty-one churches,
seven have mere nominal existence, twenty nine
have taken collections for Sustentation S6l3;
nineteen to Foreign Missions S2O2; twenty to
Education 1924; sixteen to Publication Sl57.
Total, 81 1885,
Sixteen have contributed to all the Committees,
two to three, one to two, six to one four to none
Bethel reports that while some plan has been
adopted to carry out the direction OF the General AS
sembly, but few of the churches have contributed
10 all the Assembly's Committees some have
contributed nothing to any OF the Committees.
sIittle or nothing" was the report last year.
Charleston reports that of its fourteen churches
ten have contributed to Foreign Missions $Sll so;
eleven to Sustentation $l,756 30; nine to Educa
ton S44S O5 seven to Publication Sl62 81. To
tall $3,17S 81.
South Carolina reports that the plan of weekly
collections is almost universally adopted, and with
encouraging success.
Savannah reports that of it's sixteen churches
twelve have contributed to Sustentation 1895;
nine to Foreign Missions Sill eleven to Educa-
tion $3.50: eight to Publication SOS. Total, 1919.
The women of the churches are reported as work
ing in aid of the Assembly's Committee, with
promising success.
Nashville reports that efforts have been made
to bring their churches up to the standard OF the
Assembly.
Memphis reports that of its twenty-eight church
es TWENTY-FIVE have contributed to Sustentation
S672: nineteen to Foreign Missions SAB: twenty
four to Education 81, 3l5; sixteen to Publication
$3.50. Total, $3.50. Average per member
81 &C.
East Alabama reports that the plan of weekly
contributions is being gradually adopted, and that
the Presbytery, both In its stated session and
through the Committee of Domestic Missions, have
used earnest efforts to secure greater degree OF
faithfuness and efficiency in the cause OF System
attic Benevolence.
i, Ouachita reports that the system of weekly COL
lectons is generally adopted, and with increasing
success.
Florida reports that of its twenty three churches
eleven have contributed to Sustentatlon ~; eight
to Foreign Missions $l07; three to Education
$3S; four to Publication.
Arkansas reports that of its twenty-three church
es seventeen have contributed to Sustentation
S647; eleven to Foreign Missions 1896; twelve to
Education 1894 eleven 10 Publication SIG To-
tall 81, 223.
New Orleans reports general conformity to
the plan recommended by the General Assembly.
Brazos reports that Of its twenty churches ten
have taken collections for Sustentation; five for
Foreign Missions; seven for Education; eight for
Publication. Total, $l.774.
Central Texas reports that of its sixteen church
es ten have contributed to Sustentation Sl65
three to Foreign Missions $34; four to Education
$50; four to Publication $9S Total, 1886.
North Alabama reports that 1856 25 have been
collected for Sustentation; 1854 Is for Foreign
Missions 81 ,05S So for Education; Sill 80 for
Publication. Total, Sl,5S7 20.
Central Ohio reports that its five churches have
commenced a regular system OF contributions; and
one church has adopted the weekly plan.
Tombeckbee reports that the cause OF System
attic Benevolence is being prosecuted with lncreas-
ing and encouraging success.
North Mississippi reports that of It's twenty
three churches, fourteen have contributed to Sus-
tentation 1888; ten to Foreign Missions $40;
ten to Education 1884; six to Publication SAL.
Total, S67S The amount for Sustentation and
Foreign Missions oyer last year mas peeh S0u00d
Tuscaloosa reports that seventeen churches have
contributed to Sustentation 1871; nine to Foreign
Missions 1882 sixteen to Education $577; eight
to Publication $685. Total, $l,2S5.
Six churches have adopted the plan of weekly
collections.
Western District reports that of its twenty -four
churches six have contributed to Sustentation
SIT; two to Foreign Missions $62; six to Edu.
cation $751; six to Publication SSl. Total,
S507.
East Hanover reports that of its twenty-four
churches, thirteen take weekly collections, and
others reporting take regular monthly or quarter
ly collections.
From these reports it appears that less than one
half of our Presbyteries have made any report
One of two things is certain: Either these Pres
byteries had no reports to make, or they have fall
ed from some cause, to send them up to the AS
sembly While it is known that some Presbyteries
have neglected to forward their reports yet, in the
Judgment of your Committee, the great majority
of them have neglected the matter of collections
almost altogether.
Notwithstanding this delinquency, however,
there has been an encouraging increase OF the
number of churches adopting the Assembly
q punctual and regular operation of the system
must necessarily be the result of an educational
process, and, in the case Of many churches, OF
Slow development. 1t cannot be expected that
ANYTHING can be accomplished by the mere force
of recommendations, resolutions, or authoritative
iniunctons but by patient, perseverng and persist
ent prosecution of the proposed plan by our Pres
byteries and Sessions, to bring the churches grad
ually up to the apostolic standard
L. olYaoIu oIOptad tho ,N1on Of Iuaal- lv
collections. Some contribute monthly, and there
is manifest tendency in our churches generally,
to regularity and system in their benevolent opera
TONS These encouraging results of our efforts
| hitherto, should stimulate us to renewed zeal to
keep the mind of the Church enlightened, the
conscience awake, and the heart warm. In most
instances we believe that the failure of churches
to take up regular collections is due to the neglect
of the ministers to declare the whole counsel of
God upon this subject, rather than lack of gen.
uine love for the cause Of Christ, or wilful oms
sion of known duty.
| 1t seems to your Committee that all that need
be said upon this matter, at present, may be en-
bodied in the following resolutions, which are re-
commended to the Assembly for their adoption:
ReSolred l. That we go on as we have begun,
earnestly and persistently pushing the claims Of
this great cause upon our churches, through our
pastors, stated supplies, and evangests urging it
upon their attention by argument persuasion and
rebuke, until general uniformity and punctuaity
in our collections be secured Let it be seen that
we have taken up this plan with an earnestness of
purpose, which will not be relaxed by the discour
agement of poverty and with a confident assurance
of ultimate success which shall not be disappointed
by the indifference or opposition of few selfish
and covetous professors.
ReSolved . That the Assembly insist upon it
that all our Presbyters shall make an annual re-
port upon the subject of Systematic Benevolence,
whether they have done anything or not. 1t is
impossible to form proper estimate of the condi-
ton and spirit of churches in this matter when
from year to year more than one half of the Pres
byteries fail to report.