The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
Home Missions.
A Practicable Effort.

BY RICHARD ILwAINE, D. D., SECRETARY.
During visit, some weeks since, to
the church of , after having
preached on Home Missions, one of the
elders, a large-hearted and liberal
minded gentleman, who is thoroughly de-
voted to the Southern Presbytei:
Church and all its work, expressed hi,
self as greatly interested in the effort to
overtake the destiy1 Ions within the
bounds of the General Assembly, and to
aid our feeble congregations, and asked
my opinion as to the amount needed to
secure this during the present ecclesias-
tical year.
~-rl:-l, r. olnpU1y, CnaJ 1t would take
at least 100000 to enable tie Executive
Committee to meet the immediate and
urgent wants of the Pie, by 5eries in
Evangelistic Work and Sustentation-
$4,000 for the former, and So 900 for
the latter.
After some explanations of the facts
which Justify this opinion, many of which
have already been published, he in
. quired How much of this amount do
you think Our church ought to raise o.
To this the following answer was
given: "I think, if this effort is to be
completely successful, your church will
have to give three hundred dollars, and
that other churches equally well ga-
nized will have to give in like propo.-
tion, according to their alb lily. l frarl <
ly acknowledge that this is large am
cunt to expect from your people (at the
rate Of two dollars for every member),
but there are many vacant and poorly
oficered churches from which we can ex-
peCt nothing, and the non-co- o perating
Presbyteries are chiefly taken up with
their own work, so that we must look to
the churches, which can be depended
upon, to come to the help of the work
with great hberality. Otherwise, our eff
forts will fail"
After having taken time to reAec.
upon it, and having conferred with his
pastor (whose heart is thoroughly en-
listed in the efort), and with a number
OF the members of the church, he said to
me, with countenance radiant With iov
and hope, Well, sir; you can depend
upon that three hundred dollars. We
will raise it and now, go ahead and try
to get all the churches to come to your
help literally, and you ought to succeed
In raising the 100000 The nexi
morning, l was about to leave him to
visit another church, he said "Tc1
brother - what we are going to do.
and that his church ought to give YOU
six hundred dollars, for it is more than
twice as strong as ours"
Now, there is no doubt in my mind.
that the three hundred dollars promised
will be forthcoming before April /, next.
A considerable part of it is already in
our treasury. The church numbers OF
hundred and fifty members. 1t is To-
Gated in a secluded mountain region
There is not rich man among them, and
very little accumulated capital-and
many poor widows and children, and yet
they are going to do this great thing,
while, at the same time, they will con-
tnue their gifts to other benovent objects.
Their Plan.
Ifsome Of our brethren, not accustomed
to liberal giving, and who are accustomed
to great indiferentism in matters of
Christian benefcence, were called upon
to raise this amount from churches far
stronger in means than that Of ---, they