The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-20
The Grace of Giving.

BY REV. T. W. HOOPER, D. D., SELMA, ALA
In an editorial correction made to nv
former article on Columbia Seminary, as
to the endowment of Union, there is food
for reflection. There is no one, I pre-
sumo, who thought meant to assert that
Union was rich, and increased In goods
and had need of nothing" There are
none of our literary institutions in the
South that have plethora of funds at
their disposal; and nearly all of them
stand In striking contrast with the richly
endowed corporations of the North. !
have no doubt that Union could well
manage, and use to the very best advant-
age, double the present endowment. We
are all poor alike in the pastoral, and in
the Professional relation, for if any pastor
is getting rich in the South, on his sur
plus OF salary, he is no acquaintance OF
mine. There were three in this Presby-
terry before the war, who had saved up
some funds, and after much consultation
invested in an Insurance Company, and
only escaped "by the skin of their teeth, u
from being held responsible for the
amount of defalcation, when, as the boys
say, cit busted" Another threw me into
temporary fit of jealousy, by asking me
where he could safely deposit $500, while
ne was a bachelor. But as he has since
carried off one of my sweetest lambs,
think he has found out here to deposit
all his funds
But while Union is on living BIZ sis,
Columbia is closed, for the want of actual
support. Let it be true, as I suppose
must be granted, that prudent economy
and good management saved the funds OF
one, and bad management lost the funds
of the other; still, the traveller on his
way to Jericho, fell among thieves,
and not merely squandered his funds
and the question was, who acted as a
neighbor? And that is just the question
now.
Granting that all our colleges and all
our seminaries need more funds, is there
not special propriety in helping this
institution at this time, and leaving these
others for future effort to be made for
a larger endowment? They are not ask
ing for contributions-have no agents in
the field-and surely, we do not wish
them to occupy the place of the dog in
the manger." However, matter of
courtesy will never be enforced by plea
from an outsider; and if the good breth-
rem of the Virginia churches do not see
their way clear to extend an invitation
to the agents of Columbia, of course they
will never claim the right to present the
cause, in Synod, where Union has ex-
elusive rights, by presumption.
But this whole matter, and the discus
sion of Retrenchment and Reform" have
suggested to me more torcibly than ever
the danger we are in about this whole
matter Of Christian benefcence. We all
speak of giving as grace, and try to en-
graft that idea upon our churches But
practically, it is one Of the most delicate
and sensitive plants that grows in the
garden of the Lord. And preach as
much as we may about it, we are con-
stantly damaging the plant by too much
cultivation. Sometimes, we are like
brother NJ, who thought his beans
were coming up wrong end foremost"
and SO, pulled them up, and planted them
over again.
I made a speech once, on he that is
faithful in little things, will be faithful
in greater ones, and as pondered, the
subject grew to such an extent, that l
almost made up my mind that a man who
was not faithful and successful in little
things, never would do much with larger
ones. The consequence is, that when
men discuss the general management Of
our Church, and feel themselves com
petent to adjust all the ecclesiastical ma
chinery that is to regulate and control