The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-24
Collections.

Collections.
Nine hundred and thirty five churches
CSC per cent? in cooperating Presbyte-
ries have contributed to Sustentation
$40 (53 per cent? to the Evangelistic
Fund and 939 (51 per cent? to the In
valid Fund-a slight increase in the two
former and falling off in the last. Of
the churches in the cooperating Presby-
teries of the Synod of Virginia, IS per
cent contributed to Sustentation, and so
per cent to each of the other fuads. The
churches in Savannah Presbytery also
came up to this mark in Sustentation, and
those of Tuscaloosa approximate it.
One hundred and nineteen Sabbath
Schools have contributed $1,173.89 to
Sustentation, which is $l49.83 more than
last year, and so Missionary Societies
$07O.44, an increase of $27O.36. A
number of Sabbath Schools have also
contributed to the other funds. Seven
Sabbath Schools in Maryland Presbytery
collected $29435, which is more than
was received from any one of Al Presby-
teries. The children who contributed
this money are generally poor, and their
generous effort shows what may be ac-
complished when the Church becomes
thoroughly interested In this great work
Many other Sabbath Schools have given
very liberal assistance. One in Memphis
Presbytery $l3537; one in South Ala
bama Presbytery $6510; and one in
Louisville Presbytery $50 The largest
number of contributing Sabbath Schools
is in Winchester Presbytery the next in
Maryland; the next in Lexington; and
the next in South Alabama. Six Mis-
sionary Societies each in Lexington and
Roanoke Presbyteries contributed to Sus-
tentation. The contributing societies
and Sabbath Schools are scattered widely
through the Church but one-half of the
former and two-ffths of the latter are
found in the Synod in Virginia
Since the first of last July about seven
hundred Home Mission mite chests have
been distributed, without expense to the
Assembly's fund, to individuals, and
Sabbath Schools who have sent requests
for them A ; cut so 800 were in use on
have been received aggregating 1922. IA.
They have been found specially useful in
families which have infrequent oppor-
tunities of attending Gods house. It is
probable that those now in use will weld
during the present year much larger re-
turns, and it is hoped that many more
will be called for.
Finance.
The total receipts for all the branches
of Home Missions have been S53, 8I612.
which is $7,51403 more than those OF
the previous year. Of this gain $7Il. IL
was in the Relief Fund, and Sc 8O2. 81 in
the funds dependent on the contributions
of the churches.
Sustentation.
The receipts for Sustentation have been
81, 7l5.l4, an increase of SO, 1906.
This increase is chiefly in the Presbyte-
ries of the Synods of Virginia and OF
South Georgia and Florida, every one OF
which has increased, and some very
largely, and in the Presbyteries of South
Alabama, West Lexington, Mississippi.
New Orleans, Lafayette, Hoston, Orange.
and Wilmington. Some of the Others
have made some gain, but number have
decreased.
Appropriations have been paid to So
Presbyteries for $50 ministers in the ser
vice OF from $50 to 500 churches, amount
ing to $15,794.30, and $1,000 to aid in
the erection of twenty church buildings
There has been charged to the Sustenta
tion Fund on account of aid given the
Presbyteries in excess of receipts for
,colored evangelization $998.93. The
balance of Indebtedness on March 81
was 81 1913 03, which is $644.45 less than
last year. The Committee is gratifed to
show a slightly improved condition in
this fund, but it has required caution and
painful repression to secure this result.
The ever present difficulty which had to
be confronted was the want of means
adequately to sustain the work. The
statement made year ago that $4,000
is needed to meet the exigencies of thi
department Of labor is still emphatically
true. A much larger sum might BE-
proftably employed. Nor does it seem
that the amount named is at all too large
for the ability Of our people. If the
general increase in contributions had
been as large during the past year as it
was in some scores Of churches which
could be named or if the churches of all
the Presbyteries had made the same re-
lative increase as those of Abingdon.
Greenbrier, and Montgomery it whould
have been very nearly Appropriated
If all the Presbyteries could come up to
the standard already reached by the
Presbytery Of Maryland, the receipts Of