The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-07-20
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY. JULY 20, 1871.
Giving tla Tenth.

proportion of ones income should be appropri
ated to the cause of Christian benevolence? w
do not deem this question of much practical
Importance, after the view taken Of the Law
of Christian obligations. Still, for the sake o
solving the doubts Of nquircrs, it may b.
said in reply: The 1.-THE system, or the law
general rule, it is presumed that Christians
would rot think of giving less than one tenth
yet many might and should give moro thar
this They should see that with increasing
means the proportion is not diminished, bu
steadily and consccuively increased In
stead of this, it is usually the case that those
persons who have in carly life, or at a later
period, given a tenth of their income annu-
ally to benevolent objects seldom, if ever
continued the practice when they become rich
| No instance of the kind has ever come to the
knowledge Of the writer. As riches increase,
it is, he believes, the universal rule to dimln-
sh the per cent.
But no one should be content to give only
| the tenth, if his income allows him to give
| more. A Christian is bound to give as tile
Lord lrospers him. and the Lord will hold
him to this, as universal rule, from the OBJ
legation and responsibility Of which no living
soul shall escape A tenth will do for those
who can give ne more but, as has been well
observed, sin very many cases, the amount
dictated by the rule would hardly be enough
to throw any, even the smallest, twinges, into
the souls cleaving sclfshness." A tenth can
be given, and the men never know, by an ap
preciable diminution, that he has given any
thing; Of course he can give all that and
vastly more without beg to feel it
What is done is but Smelling off some of the
loose outer scales of one Of these leviathans OF
wealth. The giving to be ehectual as dis
cplc, must be on principle that shall touch
and restrictthe desire for gettng-the intent
to have more for all the mischief and mean
ness and smalless lie in that-emanate from
that. On that it is, all Scripture pours its
intense and concentrated repfobation,
question: How much of my income ought l
to give for the good of mankind and the up
building of the kingdom Of the Redecmer
will be easily settled; for he who truly lays
his Lody upon the alter of God will present
living sacri6cct hat includes all his possessions
as we'll as all his time. 1t will be we'll for us
irthis important truth is kept theoretically and
practically, in constant remembrance. Thea
the sincere aud consistent Christian steward
would cease to inquire how much he may
withhold and how much he may give to the
cause Of Christ; and be both afraid and
ashamed of rule that allows him, when he
can do more, to retain nine tenths, while he
casts one tenth into the Lord'r treasury
What earthly proprietor would consent to
such division Of profit -Ia1pan. i
Mr.. BONNER NEW TRorrER. Mr. Bon
ner's famous four-ycar old colt Startle, by
Hambletonian, out of Lizzie Walker by
American Star, was tried mile in harness,
with very heavy weight up, at Fleetwood
Park, on Friday, June 30 1t will be re-
membered that this colt was bred by Mr..
Charles Backman, who sold him last spring,
when just broke, to Mr.. George Alley The
latter gentleman is one Of the best judges OF
young trotter in America, and he took
great fancy to Startle from observing that
when going he had the trick OF his brother
in blood, Dexter, cf weaving his head from
side to side. So he purchased him for $4,000
and matched him against Lothair, colt with
great reputation in the East. The trot
took place at Fleetwood Park In September,
when Startlc distanced his opponent the first
heat in Pm 36s After this notable perform
ance, Mr. Bonner bought Startle for $40, 900,
and sent him back to his trainers Unfor-
tunately, Startle caught little cold on the
boat coming down, had slight cough, and
did not eat above half his usual quantity of
feed Still, it was determined to send him
MILE The driver, Carl Burr was weighed,
and found to pull down POS pounds, while
the sulky was Is pounds. This is So pounds
over the usual weight Of the best drivers
(such as Mace and Roden) and their sulkes.
Startle was then brought out, and away he
went at a tremendous gait to the first quarter
pole in a5s, the ground being on the descent,
the course not as solid and fast as We have
seen it, but good and safe. On to the half
mile with the same magnificent even stroke
in I'm. lis. went Startlc. Then he soon
struck the rising ground and that and the
great weight began to slow him: 1t was I'M
fortunate, too, that there was no other horse
with him now to arouse all his ardor and deter
min ation. But for all that he came home in
I'm. 29as,, and thus surpassed any other four
year-old public trial Or heat in race, to say
nothing of his extra weight.
We afterward looked him over in his box
He was not at all distressed in wind, but we
think he got little leg weary With all
the disadvantages under which the colt la
bored, it was an immense performance. MIR.
Bonner said he would give $40, GOO for an
other colt Of the same age that would equal
it with the same weight. Startlc is fifteen
hands high very bloodlike and powerful, the
same stamp Of horse all over as his brother
in blood Dexter The latter is fifteen hands
one inch and quarter scant, and he
has grown since he was six years old. Star
tie will make bigger horse, we think, for he
was very small as foal, but beautifully put
together IFlkes' Spirit.
The Southern Methodist minutes for 1871,
now Just published, report 80 annual confer
ences, four of them-Los Angeles; Pacific,
| Columbia, and Illinois-outside of the Tor
rner slave States Of the Union 2,725 tray
cling and 4 TIA local preachers, and SOL
SIT whito members The increase of white
members is 20 757, while the number of col
ored members this year shows decrease Of
CAB; most Of whom have probably united
with the now-organized colored church. The
| collections for missions reach 1888 SE5, and