The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-11-08
p PASTORAL LETTER
ON SYSTEMATIC BENEvoLENCE,


This letter adopted by the last General Assem-
bly, was published in June last. 1t appears now in
our columns a second time in compliance with
special request from Lexington Presbytery, and in
hope that it may be useful in the great work to
which it relates. 1t was the order OF the Assembly
that it should be publicly read by pastors to their
churches.
The General Assembly to all the Churches:
DEAR BRETHREN Grace be unto you and
peace from God our Father, and from the
Lord Jesus Christ. We thank God always
on your behalf for the grace of God which
is given you by Christ Jesus. And now we
beseech you by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ that we all speak the same thing, and
that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment. In
no other matter can harmony of views and
concert of action be of greater Importance
to the progress and prosperity of our be-
loved Zion than in regard to the varied OBJ
iects of Christian benevoleuce. Of these
objects Characterization, Missions, Educa-
ton and Publication-cons the aggres-
siye arm of the Church's power.
The Church must advance or retrograde
If she attempts merely to conserve what she
now has, she must lose ground and continue
to decrease in influence, until finally she will
have nothing to conserve but name and
skeleton. Therefore the support of the As
sembly's scheme of Systematic Benevolence
is of prime Importance to the advancement
and permanent life of the Church. In view
of this fact the inquiry, has each cOngrega-
ton done for each object all that can be rea-
sonably expected of it, is of vital Importance
Comparing statistics it appears we have given
as much as any other branch Of the Church
in the Southern States; perhaps, in proper
ton to our numbers, more; and still not
more than half of our congregations have
contributed to any of these objects, and even
in those where collections are raised the con-
tributions come from only part of the PEG
pie. The revenues for the last ecclesiastical
year, reported by these Committees, for all
objects of Systematic Benevolence, amount
to about eighty three thousand dollars, which
is an average of about two cents a week
from each member of our communion. Is
an average of five cents week too much
The number who cannot contribute so much
is small; and taking into consideration the
number who can give largely more, and also
the donations of those liberal contributors
who are not members, the average named is
moderate. But if received, it would give
the aggregate of two hundred and eight
thousand dollars. Even an average increase
of one cent, .. e., three cents week from
each member, would give the sum of one hun
dred twenty-four thousand dollars. From
these facts it does not appear that the
churches are doing so much as can be rea-
sonably expected from them. The field of
our operations is widening, and demands
corresponding increase of laborers in all de-
partments; consequently the revenues of
the Church for the present year must be
greatly enlarged. We must look at this
state of its affairs and meet it in the fear of
God. With the importunate cry in our ears
from every quarter for more labor, We can
hardly, with our present means, sustain what
we have. Our donations are grievously in
adequate to our necessities, and far below
the abilities of our people. Now, what is
lUG CduSo VI lulo 0Fll, dnu hAdG 10 tuC
dy? The root of this difficulty is to be
found in the fact above stated-that the gifts
to the Treasury of the Lord are gathered
only from portion of the churches, and
only from parts of their congregations. We
do not believe that this state of facts exists,
either because the people are unable or I'M
willing to support any object of the Assem-
bly's Scheme of Systematic Benevolence;
but because the Importance and necessity of
giving to those objects, and the opportunity
of doing so, have not been regularly and
faithfully presented.
In view of the foregoing considerations
the Assembly is moved to address this pas
toral letter to all its churches, relative to
this matter, so vital to both the temporal and
spiritual interest of our Zion. The Assem-
bly, has so often sent out letters, teaching
the principles of Systematic Benevolence,
that we presume the whole subject is now
well understood, and we therefore leave it
to each pastor to instruct his own flock in the
duty and grace of giving, hoping that all
pastors, stated supplies and missionaries will
be faithful in keeping their congregations
reminded of their duty in regard to this