The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-01-17

We start for the church at 'sharp
three.n
Editor AbbeviRe Press and Banner:
In your issue of Sd inst, is q commu-
nieation over the signature of Koinoinia
giving some account of the Presbyterian
Conference which recently assembled at
Abbeville G. r.. The meeting was call
ed by the Chairman Of the Executive
Committee Of Domestic Missions, and the
object was to ascertain the condition OF
the churches in Abbeville District.
This information is given to Presbytery
twice year, but there is no impropriety
in inquiring into 1t oftener, If necessary.
like these meetings when the Elders
and Deacons-who are the representa-
tives of the people-take an active part,
they are calculated to do much good, and
I believe if these officers of the Church
were to meet frequently to consult upon
the means most likely to promote the
spiritual interests of all, that there
would be no telling the amount Of good
which they might accomplish-they
would become warmed up'' them
selves, and on their return would i'm
part some of their warmth to their res.
pective congregations.
I go beyond the Deacon in firing up ,
not only the engine, but each little
stove and the whole body of passengers
but not with money. I dislike to SEE
so much prominence given to money in
the Church. as though it were the grea
means of evangelizing the world-why
money-or the love of it has perhaps
done more to retard the advances o.
Christianity than all else together. Lei
us talk of it on Change or in the market
places, but in the Church 1t should oc.
cupy subordinate place, and when it Is
said in a meeting of ministers, elders
and deacons, that whenever the pastors
salary is not promptly paid he ought tc
cease preaching, the doors of bis church
should be shut and his pulpit become
silent, and when the remark Is publish
ed by one who, from his Greek name
T suppose to be q minister Of the Cos
pei as "too good to be lost" feel,
feel, that we have drifted long way
from the Apostle Paul. Money may be
1T is necessary to carry on the opera
tions of the Church. The PASTORS sala.
ry should be paid. It is debt due by
the congregation, he does not perhap.
know the amount subscribed by single
individual-it is not his business tc
know and often the reason it is not
promptly paid, is because the Deacons-
who are elected to attend to this very
matter-do not do their duty.
If the results of the deliberations o,
the Conference are embodied in the res.
lutions which were unanimously adopt
ed, I cannot but express my disappoint'
ment. The first resolution reads as fol.
lows:
"That committee of five be appoint.
ed to devise plan for managing the fl
naE ces of the Church, and that this
Committee report to the Executive Com
mittee of Domestic Missions"
Have the finances Of the Church be.
come so unruly that Presbytery, Synod
and the General Assembly cannot man
age them What have the Conference
to do with the finances of the Church
What has the Committee on Domestic
Missions to do with them? I asked my
self these questions, but as I received
no answers, now ask them Of any one
who knows.
The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh
resolutions may be consistent together
as they refer to the same end, but BY
different means-they are as follows:
"That the deacons of each church
with the elders, be recommended tc
make an assessment upon all the mem
bers of their respective churches, III
such assessments, taking into considera'
ton the means and circumstances O
each church and thereby fixing
and apportioning the assessment"
"That we recommend to the deacons
of each church upon the refusal or neg
lect of any church-member to pay his
assessment made as above, to report
such refusal or neglect to the church
session, who are recommended to take
such steps therein as may be deemed
proper"
"lThat we recommend to the several
churches who may adopt in practice the
foregoing resolutions to report the result
to the Presbytery."
"That we recommend to the several
congregations to adopt, if not already IL
practice the plan of collections from al
persons and of all ages, every day Wher
religious services shall be held in thell
churches, and that special collections be
taken up for their respective objects, on
the days appointed by the General AS
sembIy."
TO the seventh resolution no excep
tions are taken, I believe the plan nov
generally adopted in our chulches is, t.
give the congregation, every Sunda!
Immediately after service, an opportuni
ty of making voluntary contribution
for the use of the Church-thus givin!
becomes means of grace and associat