The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-13
must stand upon its own bottom" Here
hey are content to rest.

Huop upOu lGo WV ~ASA
hey are content to rest.
| (2) Other Pfesbyteries, and they amoni
,he strongest, have lately assumed the posi-
ion that they will take charge Of the who'll
work of Domestic Missions in their OWL
bounds, directing their churches to send al
contributions for this object to their OWL
reasurers, and euactiDg that 10 per cent. o.
shatever funds are collected shall be turned
over to the General Assemblys work in fee
ole Presbyteries. This action is certainly
better than that of those who altogether re
strain the helping hand from those not under
their immediate Jurisdiction; and yet it it
iificult to understand how strong Pfesby,
;ery can deliberately reach the conclusion
that it's duty is discharged when 10 per cent
of whatever happens to be collected for theh
own work has been set apart for it's needy
sisters 1t is indeed curious question, how
the proportion of 10 per cent was hit upon.
Why not per cent. or II per cent? 1t is
noped that the pregnant idea of the titht
nad nothing to do with the settlement of this
question, for it would be hard indeed to show
rom Scripture that strong and compare
lively wealthy Presbytery has discharged its
iuty to God and the Church when it has sci
,nor1 g., tbo o;d &C rnJ,ada &c fonhlo MN
sregationS, during the year, 10 per cent. Of
what it might get for its own work. This
was certainly not the teaching of the Gene
raj Assembly of 1866, when it said:
"But if any Presbytery should insist
upon managing the funds collected within its
bounds, as well as all other parts of the work
Of suslenation, the Assembly will not epj Oil
upon such Presbytery to send all the money
raised to the treasury of the Central Com
mittee, provided that collection shall be
taken in all its churches for the work com
mtted to the Snstenation Committee and
also that the Presbytery shall report to the
General Assembly, through the Committee
of Sustenation, what amount of money has
been raised and expended within its OVID
bounds, SO that the General Assembly may
see, at one view, what the whole Church hat
done in this great work. "
But we have fallen upon times when the
collected wisdom of the whole Church seems
not much valued, and when it is esteemed
the right thing for Presbytery, with reason
or without reason, to set up its own line Of
things, to beStow as little attention as it may
Judge best upon whatever is outside. But
this shows the drift which has set in !; charity
at home and very largely staying
there. How different is the dealing of the
Presbyteries of Charleston and New Orleans,
shich through all these past years of dark
ness and gloom, while chiefly and successfully
sustaining their own work, have never failed
to bring up their churches to regular snnual
contributions in aid of their feeble sisters
How different too the attitude Of the Pfesby.
sery of Nashville, which for years has asked
nothing from the Sastenation Fund, but dur
ing the same time has always given to the
general Fund at least half, and sometimes
more than half of all that has been raised in
It's bounds for this cause These instances
are elevatiig, but it may well be feared that
the contrary drift is gaining strength.
(S) Another sign of this deplOrable ten
iency is seen in the absurdIy small effort
made in some of the cooperating Presbyte
ries, and by some of the stronger churches to
aid IN sustaining this work. Were it not in
vi iious, figures running through series Of
years might be given to show, that no eff'rt
worthy of the name has been made by some
Presby byteries and churches from which better
things might have been expected. Surely it
does appear that many act upon theory
of church fellowship, exactly opposite from
that inculsted in the Word of God, instead
of being moved by generous feeling Of kin.
ship in Christ, they seem impregnated by
spirit of selfshness, which causes them to
look eagerly on their own things, and to turn
callously from the wants of others. The
substance of the answer given to the appeals
for help, in many cases, is: "'Be ye warmed
and clothed;' takecare of yourselves or look
elsewhere for assistance; if you are fit to
live you will live; if not, perish" And this
difference is the result of sefshness as un.
christian as ever filed the heart of con-
feSsed irf lei, or Influenced the conduct of
darkened pagan.
Now, the pressing question is, Cannot
something be done to change this current,
which is threatening the Church with paraly-
sis? Unless it be stayed, its influence will
entail ruin, and that at no distant day. The
time, then, has come when steps should be
taken to bring all our people to more
whole heared consideration and more gene
rous supply of the wants of their needy
brethren.
FoR TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.