The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-19
Giving for Special Objects.

MeSSrS. EditorS,-I was more panied
than gratifed to read the editorial in the
April Missionary on Giving for Special
Objects We do not think our brother
Secretary correctly states the question as
it appears to those good Christians who
very naturally desire to give to special
objects; and we are sorry to say that in
taking that view of the subject and using
somewhat the tone of complaint he does
great deal to discourage what he calls
"the growing interest among our Christian
people in the cause of Foreign Missions"
The tone of the editorial is too much as
if the brother were saying to himself
let the grace of giving abound, but let
1T not move out of the ruts it is wont
to run in" 1t suggests sort of
supremacy which does not wish to be
interfered with by those outside the
Committee, and tends to antagonize
against it a great many whose interest in
Foreign Missions could be excited or in
creased by wise and kindly encourage
ment.
st. Paul ever made special appeals,
such as the Secretary discourages and
disparages in this editorial, because he
in his wisdom knew how much more men
could be gotten to work when their love
and self-sacrifce had some special object
in view. Moreover, Paul was not disposed
to refuse liberty where more good might
result in that way than from following a
path laid out by others.
The Secretarys correspondence with
the parties who wish to make special
designation of their funds may assign the
reason for it which he ascribes to them :;
but [ am persuaded that the seeing
exactly where their money goes" is not
the reason which moves one in ten of
those who contribute to special objects.
1t is the same sentiment precisely which
moves kind hearted man to give aims
to needy person whom he meets and con-
verses with after passing dozen con-
tribution boxes, though he may know
button box will be most honestly and
wisely dispensed: it is the same principle
or sentiment which sends hundreds of dol
lars every year to educate some known
candidate for the ministry, which would
not go into the general education fund
Here In Charlotte our two churches sup
port an evangelist among the mountains
OF North Carolina, contributing to his
special support seven hundred dollars.
If they should be discouraged from this
by some such address from this Presby-
terry as this editorial gives to the whole
Church, doubt if they would raise one
hundred dollars. And it argues extreme
old-togyism, or pencbaqat for hobbies
which is rather regardless of consequences,
to fail to recognize this sentiment, and to
make the use of it Paul would certainly
have done to increase the receipts for
Foreign Missions.
The other reasons assigned by the
Secretary ignore this sentiment, in which
human and Christian sympathy largely
preponderates he says that this giving
for a special object has in view the elici-
ting of an occasional letter from some
lady missionary, which will help to keep
up the interest among the members OF
the missionary society contributing spe-
cially to her field of labor. Here the
Secretary puts as the final cause of the
contribution that which is only an incl
dental consequence in the minds of all
save the young children sought to be
influenced by these letters. The Secre-
tary also says, that I" 80 long as these APP
plications for special work were limited
in number there was no difficulty in
managing them, but when they swell up
to many hundreds of cases it becomes al
most impossible to deal with them" Now
if he will keep his books in business
way, will engage to show him how these
special contributions will not require one
moments more of time or attention than
any general contribution. respectfully
challenge our brother to show why or
how these special contributions create
any necessity or responsibility of cut
ting up and dividing out the missionary
work into so many minute portions, or
give any trouble which cannot be OBJ
Waited by a another method Of book keep
ing than he would have us think he uses
Even in the exceptions he is disposed
to allow there is very stinted acknowl-
edgment Of any good in this giving
for special objects; and the Secretary
seems to fear that the missionaries who
are the recipients of these special dona-
tions might be regarded as in some
measure Independent of the Committee.
] Else why does he use such language as