The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-08
For the Central Presbyterian.
For Country Churches.
BY REV. H. H. HALVES.

BY REV. H. H. HALVES
Standing near river, not long since,
l saw that it was many times broader
and deeper than usual. How did this
come to pass? 1t was the work of many
little snow-fakes and rain-drops, all
working together-each doing its part.
Not one flake of snow, not one drop of
rain failed to fall because it was so small
and could do so little. That freshet
taught tie poaOer of TITLES. If our coun-
try churches (and all others) would &C.
cept the teaching, there are few which
would be unable to support pastor. A
man of small means thinks: II am not
able to subscribe even FIVE dollars; for
rarely have that amount to spare" NoaO
let that man at once subscribe ten or
tl0saty dollars He can pay that and
more How? Not all at once, but little
at a time. Make the payments once a
week, or once month. Pay two dollars
per month and you will pay twenty four
dollars by the end of the year "But I
rarely see two dollars per month. Ny
money does not come in so often" Then
a0ork for it. Suppose you want some
sugar, or coffee, or pair of boots. You
have not the money. Yet you must have
the article. How do you get around this
difficulty? I have seen it done many
times. You hitch up your team; 90 to
the woods get load of wood, and sell
1t. With the money so obtained you buy
goods from the store. Pay your preacher
in the same way Give him the benefit
of the sale of a load of wood, once or
TIM e
from town-cannot sell wood" Granted;
yet this plea does not hold when you
want to make purchases. Somehow, and
by selling something you manage to get
in supplies when needed. If you must
buy and pay for pair of boots, you man
age to do it, no matter how far from town.
Now then, as you manage to get money
for other things, just in that way manage
to get it for your church. Work for it !!
Plan for it, Then you will do it. Many
never pay anything just because they will
not plan and work to do it. Butter, eggs,
bacon, mutton, hay, grain, etc., etc. bring
money for other purposes. And money
gotten thus will be just as good for pay
ing pastors salary. But people do not
seem to realize this. 1t must be special
kind Of money, coming in a special way,
and in larger amounts, which is to be
used for church support. By this idea
the Devil cheats country churches out Of
their preachers But suppose you want
TO get rid o! five hundred dollars. You
take the amount to church some Sabbath,
lay it on the table, and ask every person
present to take five dollars each. How
quickly and easily the whole sum disap-
pears. But how hard to raise five hun
bred dollars for your minister Nay, it
can be done in churches which now pay
almost nothing. Reverse the process.
Get each one who attends your church to
give, instead Of take away, Gas above) five
dollars. Just think 1t will be not quite
ten cents per week for each one A
great many country congregations have
more than one hundred members. In
very few Of these, are there any persons
who cannot pay far more than ten cents
per week. The only thing needful is
that every one 10jU octI Every trip to
town, costs man who takes his dram, at
J east twenty cents for drink. He lives
near town goes once q week; pays ten
dollars per year Cat least) for his drains.
-SgS2 AlV ! CO.. glAolb- Il uG VI ANS i tS. luB
money? No. He pays this ten dollars
per year easily-never misses it. Can
not church members pay, eyery one, as
much to King Jesus as that man pays to
King Alcohol What is the truth2 This:
that many a church member who de-
9lares he is not able to pay subscription
Of ten dollars per year for the gospel
pays, without feeling or even knowing it
more than double that amount for his
drains This is only for illustration yet
II JIG true Now if each one will only
ind the small change for Christs work,
as regularly and easily as the moderate
drinkers find it for their drains, every
trouble about sustaining the church will
disappear. The man who says he can.
not find small change once week for
Jesus, will manage to find it for other