The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-06
FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
OFFICE OF SUsTENTATToN,
COLuMRIA- s O.. AUGUST. 1871.


COLUMBIA, S. c., August, 1871.
70 the Elders and Deacoas Of the Presbyterian
Church,
Respected Christian Brethren: You will per-
ceive from the action taken by our late General
Assembly in relation to the Relief Fund, copy
of which is herewith enclosed, that it is made my
duty to call your attention once to this mat
ter and yours to bring it before the Church you
represent for their earnest and prayerful consider
alton. The Assembly desires that every congre-
cation within its bounds, should have the oppor-
tunity to consider its claims and merits, and you
are expected to study it so thoroughly beforehand,
that you will not only be able to explain all It's de
tails, but will be prepared to urge the Importance
and necessity of its acceptance. The scheme has
now been thoroughly examined and discussed by
three successive Assemblies, the concurrent testi-
mony of which is that it is not only wise and prac
teal in its general character, but is eminently
suited to the wants and circumstances of our be-
loved Church at the present time. To oppose it
therefore either of these grounds, is to call In
question the wisdom of one of the most matured
dehverances ever made by our highest ecclesiasti-
cal court. After all that has been said and pub
lished on the subject for two years past it is scarce
ly necessary to argue the importance of It's adop
ton by the churches and we shall not undertake
to do so, further thap to express the deep and
abiding conviction that the best interests of our
Church are involved in Is success, and to express
the earnest hope that IT, eat body Of our church.
es will take hold of the matter with heartiness and
With as little delay as possible Practically speak
ing, the plan simply requires each church or union
OF churches, to add $50, $50 or 500, as the case
may be, to their pastors salary for this particular
object. If some simple systematic plan is adopted
for raising this amount from year to year. it would
scarcely be felt as burden by any particular church,
whilst it would remove heavy load of anxiety
| from the heart of their care-worn pastor, and be
an immense blessing to his family, when he is taken
away from them. Almost every other branch of
the evangelical Church is moving in the same d.
rectiOn, and they have been prompted to it by a
sense of justice, as well as matter of urgent ne.
cessity.
Why therefore should we falter or hesitate, when
the case is more urgent with US than it can posi-
| bly, be with any other branch Of the Church,
Besides this, there should be no delay in carrying
the plan into effect. A number of ministers who,
.wo years ago, we're interested in its success and
hoped their families would participate in its bene-
icent provisions, have been summoned away with
out realizing their wishes Others who are now
cooking forward with interest to its success may
likewise be removed without seeing any provision
made for their dependent families, unless the
churches will act with more prOmptness than they
have heretofore done.
Let me urge you, therefore, to call the attention
of your people to the subject at once, and commu.
aicate the result with as little delay as possible.
1t will be sufficient if the first payment is made
any time between the present and the first Of Jan
uary, 1872 1t is proposed that the scheme go
luto full operation at the beginning of next year,
All of which is kindly and respectfully submitted
n obedience to the direction of the General As
emily j. LEIGHTON WILSON,
Secretary of Sustentation.