The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-24
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
PROPOSED PLAN FOR BENEVOLENT
CONTRIBUTIONS.
SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES.

plan can only be fully known after trial.
But there are good reasons for anticlpatln
certain advantages that seem to be inheren
in the scheme, and entitle it to be put to tn
test of practical operation.
L. The proposed plan will give deflnlt
information as to the wants of the church i
each department of it's work. There vii
come before the individual church, not tn
statement that the Sustentation cause, TO
example, needs so much money for the pre-
sent year, Eut the more limited and dehnlt
one, that so much is considered the equitable
share of this church. Many give now witt
very vague notions as to what amount o
money is needed for the particular cause Z
which they are contributing. No doubt col
lections are often made in our churches
when neither pastor, nor elders, nor deacons
have any definite idea of how much they
ought to aim to raise; and when the collec
ton has been gathered, and it's amount an
nounced, they and the contributors are IL
entire ignorance as to whether they have met
their share of the responsibility in the cause
to which they have contributed. Is it not
desirable that they should have this informa'
ton? By the operation of this plan there
will come to each church, with reference to
the work of each Committee, the message,
$50 many dollars is your equitable share OF
what is needed this year, to keep this Com
mittee free from serious embarrassment in
its work; but any amount above this sum
can be well employed in this same cause. "
Viewed in this aspect We might call it, " A
plan to give definite information as to Benev-
olent Contributions.
When there is definite information given
as to a church's share of the amount to be
raised, each member can the more readily
settle in his own mind what is his individual
part or if in ignorance he can seek infor-
nation on this point of obligation. Many
church members have already learned to
scale themselves in their congregations; and
when certain amount is to be raised for
pastors salary or other congregational pur-
pose, they determine that SO much is their
proper share of the amount, or if in doubt,
they ask, "What is my share? What
ought 1 to give?" Why not help the en-
quiring and liberal, by letting them know
what is their proportionate share of what
our Committees need
2. This scheme is calculated to stimulate
to the dischargeiof duty. When church
is looked to for definite amount, the officers
and members will not wish to be found de-
inquent. They will reason, God in his prov
idence now calls for at least the amount
named to us for this object; and if we fall
below that amount, and others are no more
liberal than We, then this most important
work will be seriously hindered. Respon-
sibility will be more directly felt than it can
possibly be as the contributions are now
gathered. The responsibility will be put
where it ought to be put; and be felt where
it ought to be felt. Surely this will urge
those who have any conscience in this mat
ter to some measure of duty.
Regard for the honor of their church will
stimulate the pastor and church officers, to
see that the collections are not neglected,
and the members to make the necessary con-
tributions. If our collection does not reach
the standard aimed at, another will be order
ed, or other steps taken to make up the de-
fciency. In many of our churches, perhaps
in the greater part of them, if the pastor
were to announce that collection had fallen
short of the apportioned amount, there are
liberal Christians, who care for the honor
of their church, and who would come forward
and supply the deficiency resulting from the
iliberality of others.
8. The plan will give greater efficiency to
Presbyterial supervision over the churches
in the matter of Systematic Benevolence.-
The right of the Presbytery to exercise such
supervision will hardly be questioned; since
the Form of Government gives it the power,
"to order whatever pertains to the welfare
of the churches under its care" In enjoin-
ing collections and calling for reports, this
supervision has long been practised; but 1t
has not been close and definite enough to
accomplish what might be done. 1t is gen
orally limited to simple inquiry as to
whether collections have been made. The
amounts given, it is true, are reported in the
general statistical tables; but no special ac'
count is taken of them by the Presbytery
The faithfulness of pastors and sessions IN
seeing that a cause is so presented to the
congregation, that they can contribute intelli
gently, and that the collection is taken VI
under circumstances favorable for affordin&
all the opportunity of giving, and the hber
atty of the people in responding to theil
calls, are not often inquired into. Whole
some results would follow more strict Pres
byterial supervision. Men, the best of men
need to be held to account. So prone ar
even Christians to grow negligent in duty
that they need the constant stimulus of &C
countability to governing power.
The plan gives the PreSbytery the bes
opportunity for the exercise of this whole
some supervision. The Committees look t
them for certain amounts. They have dis
tributed these sums among the churches. ]