The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-17
A Tithing Experiment.
TAYLoRsvILLE. KY. Nov 18th

TAYLoRsvILLE, KY, Nov. 18th, 80.
AeSSrS. EaltorS,-It may interest your
readers to learn the result of an expert
ment in tithing made in the church at
Taylorsville, KY.
Two years ago I took charge of this
church. The first year was "stated
supply" on definite salary. Then
was called as pastor. In the call which
was put in my hands by Louisville Pres
bytery, no definite sum was named for
my support, but some of the leading
members agreed to pay tithes. These
tithes were for ministerial support, &"
that is, the support of the pastor, home
and foreign missionaries, disabled minis
ters, etc. Two officers of the church, an
elder and deacon, were appointed to
receive the tithes, which could be paid
either in money or in kind, at the discre-
ton of the person who tithed.
The two simple principles which gov
erned the tithing were these: 1. 1t was
to be tithe of all that the man received
in any way during the year. "Of all
that thou shalt give me, will surely give
the tenth unto thee" (Gen. xviii: %
z. The 1.-THE was to be paid promptly, as
soon as the man received. "If the first
fruit be holy, the lump is also holy"
(Rom. xi: l6.) Every month the ders
and deacons held a joint meeting, at
which the tithes were distributed, SO
much to the pastor, so much to foreign
missionaries, etc. Besides this, at our
Sabbath morning services we took up
collections, in which the people and pas
tor made free-will offerings to God, to
provide fuel, lights, etc., for His house,
to support mission schools, build churches,
detray expenses of missionary travel, etc.
On this plan we worked through the
year, at the end of which time the results
were found to be these:
l. The pastors income had increased
50 per cent over that Of the year before.
The contributions to Home and Foreign
Missions and other general objects had
increased 35 per cent.
z. The pastor had not once had occa-
sion to go to the church officers to sug-
gest that he was in need of money. His
supplies of money and provisions had
come in regularly month by month. He
received just as the church members re-
ceived. Of course, there was no such
thing as the salary being in arrears
There was no salary.
3. AS it was left to the 1.-THE payers to
bring forward their own tithes, the dea-
cons were relieved of the disagreeable
task of going round to dun these people
for their subscriptions" A vast amount
of friction was thus removed.
4. Some of the tithe payers had only
entered on this plan as an experiment for
year. They doubted its success. They
said that it had been hard enough to
raise the salary when the deacons dunned
people. If the dunning was omitted
what would the pastors support bef
But, at the end Of the year, those who
had only consented to try the experiment
for year, were 80 satisfied with the good
results, that they voted unanimously to
continue it. Not only this, they resolved
to hold a congregational meeting, and
urge the adoption of the tithing on the
whole congregation; and could you have
been present at this meeting, and heard
the expressions Of relief from the deacons
and pastor, and the general declaration
of those who had tithed of the blessing
on the tithing, you could not have doubt
ed, l think, that the system of ministerial
support, which is the only one ever de-
vised by God, is admirably adapted to
the Church Of this day.
may add that at the meeting of the
Synod of Kentucky last month a paper
was submitted by committee, of which
DIR. John w. Pratt was chairman, il