The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-06
Carter county, KY, and the Presbytery
has granted him dismission.
THE MOST RESPONSIBLE

NhuiShSo was CdIIlSo Ou WlCuOuC muCn
agitation of the subject of money. In
our day it seems to require perpetual
urgency. What causes the difference?
The plain answer is that the spirit of the
churches is different. In the first glow
of Christian ardor, no pressure was ne
cessary. The burden was assumed, and
the expense met with spontaneous self
denial. We hear nothing of the means
employed for the maintenance of the Lord
and his apostles. A few devoted women
ministered to him OF their substance.
In our time, church authorities find the
ways and means" the most difficult and
exacting of their duties. The necessity
OF so much emphasis upon the subject of
finance, is deplorable. The cause lies
deep in the spirit of the age-in the want
OF conservation. Systematic agencies and
Church economists have insisted for
long time that the money needed must
come from the poor, and from little Chill
dren-that the power of the little must
be utilized-all which is true enough as
a principle of liberality, and means of
spiritual growth; but as a means to the
proposed end, it is, in our Judgment,
great error. 1t certainly is the privilege
of the young and the poor to share in
this noble duty of self-denial. But the
bulk of the money at the command of the
Church, is not in their hands. 1t lies in
the hands of the thrifty classes, by whom
it is not fully consecrated to God.
The idea that the world is to be con-
verted by 1.-THE system of collections
will not be realised. The triumph of the
cross will be effected by host of mis-
sionaries maintained by a consecrated
Church calling nothing its own. The
1.-THE may be adequate to our domestic
wants, but this Limitation of Christian
hberality is altogether inapplicable to
the aggressive work. And on what prin-
ciple can Christian man, enjoying large
possessions, reconcile it with his con-
science to give no more per cent than his
poor and suffering brother? Whatever
super-abundance he has, ought to be re-
garded as subject to the Lords providen-
tial call. There is no law in the matter.
The amount is to be determined by the
dictates of enlightened conscience. And
If conscience has its perfect work, Chris
tan principle will assert itself as distinct
ly in acts of liberaity as in anything
else. The Church is crippled for want
of money, not because it is poor, but be-
cause its money is diverted to a thou
sand channels of a worldly character.
The wants of the Church are literally,
the wants of her divine Lord. Who
among the early disciples would have
failed to employ their super-abundance
to relieve his personal necessities? Who
would have denied him any part of their
worldly possessions, if required to pro-
mote his kingdom?
The time has come when those Chris
tians who have means to spare for lux
ury and indulgence, should awake to a
proper sense of their responsibility. The
principal appeal is to them, and not to
the poor. When these shall give their
all the deficit will still be immense. The
wealth of the Church belongs to Christ,
and the great interests of his kingdom
needs far more than is received.
The number of wealthy persons in our
Southern communion is comparatively
small, but its aggregate wealth is great
enough to meet all present demands,
without the expenditure being sensibly
felt. Every member who is in condi-
ton to respond to these appeals, ought
to allow the same motives to operate
upon his heart that affect the poor. The
wants of the Redeemer's kingdom adj
dress themselves to him just as forcibly
as they do the widow with two mites.
There are two chief causes why this
is evaded. One is that of
culpable inattention. Many would con
tribute more freely if they would look
the facts in the face But they will not
inform themselves, and prefer to remain
in the dark. The other is the pernicious
notion that Christian benefcence has it's
limits fixed in the Bible. a tithe or less
of their accumulations, is deemed suf-