The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-27

green boughs and clustering fruit oftho
vineyard Of our Lord. =,
The application of . principle like
this, while just before the eyes of
Heaven and man, it Is believed would
place tho church upon a more solid
and reliable basis, financially, whilst
bringing new zeal and devotion in com.
mon with her great spiritual interests,
And here, too, is involved principle
which, in its operation, looks to the
avoidance of tho necessity for the
Ministry to seek or pursue other
employment than that connected with
tho sacred Office. The dangers which
beset a secularized Ministry have been
previously touched upon. but it is
believed that they have not been pre-.
sented with that prominence and force
which their great Importance demands,
or, it may be, realized to the extent to
which they exist. They who preach
the Gospel of our Blessed Redemer must
live of the Gospel, and wherever there
has been departure from this Divine
injunction, on the part of those who
have oonsecrated themselves specifically
aud entirely to the work, there has
been loss of influence and spirituality
to the one, and, az consequence, neg.
leot aud suffering to the other.
The Conference Plan, as published in
our last annual Minutes, is indicated,
specifically, as system which has been
found to work successfully, wherever
applied, in raising the amounts necessa.
ry for the support of the Church in her
several interests. It will be- observed
that it proceeds upon the voluntary
system-it being left to each member,
in the presence Of his conscience and
his God, to determine what amount he
will appropriate, quarterly and monthly
quarterly on the Circuits, and month.
ly at the Stations-for the support of
the Church. Wherever this system has
been employed, it has been found that
larger amounts have been realized, and
moro prompt payments secured, than
under the system Of assessment by the
stewards. The plan, therefore, is ear
nestly recommended, and when under
stood, will be found to embrace all
details of application which report like
this may not embrace.
In looking to the several claims. The
Bishops, our educational interests, the
superannuated breaches and tho widows
and orphans Of preachers, and the cause
of missions-all of them are alike urged
none Of them should be neglected.
Aud it should be borne in mind that
the faith of the Conference is solemnly
pledged to the realization Of the full
amount of all these several claims. And
if word is here said, particularly, in
behalf of our educational interests, it is
because Of the fact that, in some in.
stances, there has been exhibited al
disposition to discriminate against it.
Methodism, ifshe koep peace with the
march of intellectual progress, and with
the advancement of other branches ofthe
Church Of Christ, must turn her atten-
tion more directly and earnestly to tho
cause of sanctified education. An
educated ministry is a requirement
which cannot be dispensed with, if the
Church is sustained, whilst an educated
membership will 60 hand in hand
in furtherance of the great interest
involved. And it is for those who
know and appreciate its incalculable
blessings and its irresistible power in
the world, when accompanied by the
spirit of God, to throw themselves to
the front, and, by decided action, and
words Of truth, to overthrow
and obliterate every vestige of prejudice
which would hinder or retard its prov
gress. The Church, within oil the
bounds of our Conference, should rally
to the support Of Wofford College. It's
influence for good, and its value to the
Church within our limits are iuestima-
BILE. Close up its classic halls-wherc
the youth Of the church and of the
country are educated alike in head and
in heart, and you inflict damaging blow
upon the Church, and extiuguish one of
the brightest lights that shines around
US, in tho midst of the darkness and
difficulties of the present day.
The following resolutions are respect.
fully submitted.
Resolved, That the spirit end purposes
Of the Church, require that the Min
istry, as far as possible, should be freed
from all complications and anxious care
in connexion with support and that, in
order to accomplish this, it becomes the
duty Of tho stewardship to act promptly
and efficiently, and to hold their meet
ings regularly throughout the year,
having made an honest effort to collect
from the membership, in the intervals,
the amounts they may have agreed to
give.
Q. Resolued, That with united voice
we appeal to the membership of the
Church, and more especially the official
membership, to como up, with new
interest and zeal to her support, in her
several interests.
8. Resolved, That the duty of each
and every member to appropriate 40.
cording as God has blessed them, of
their means, for the support of the
Church, in her several interests, is
snjoined as sacred and solemn obliga,
ton, laid upon us by the great head of
the Church himself, and that we may
not have sustaining faith in the provi-
dan oea of Cod whilst livino In naolsct