Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-03

Ddfn6SNlil6, Sl4Oi DoA hSS''AAS
SsI: CenterIiIle, $50; ClaringtoD, SSl;
MIltonsburgh, 5; St. Clairsville. $40, and
Woods6eld, SO. Making in all an sd'
vance over and above the assessments
upon these several charges of 1927, and
bringing each charge, except BarnesVllle
Circuit. Somerton and Miltonsburgh up
70. or over the million dollar line. And
when Chaplain, Dr.. Secretary, "hole-
souled McCabe should shout his Christ
mas hallelujsh, loud enough to be heard
not only throughout the United States,
but all along the lines of evangelistic
and missionary effort ia the known
werld, these may catch up the notes and
prolong the strain with an ever incress :
ing enthusiasm.
But while six charges reached or went
below the million dollar line, and three
advanced above their original assess
ment, and two came up to that amount,
ten charges fell below what was asked
Of them.
Beallsville failed to pay her assess
ment by $50; Bellsire, SIS; Hannibal,
IS; Hendrysburgh, $40; Aorristown,
$50; Powhatan. s5s; Quaker City, $50;
South Bellaire, $40; Washington. sS1;
and Winchester 500. Making total of
1886 below the assessment upon these
charges, and keeping the district below
its original assessment, Sl6S, which is
not little distressing when We were
making an effort to reach an advance of
about 20 per cent. on that assessment
II these charges had only come up to
their assessment, the district would
have paid S2977. And il the statement
of that 35 per cent. of an advance upon
what was paid in 1884, would have
brought the district up TO the million
dollar line be true, then we would have
been S247 above that line. But II the
list furnished by the Missionary Secret
taries be the correct one, we would have
been within $3.50 of the call for q mil
lion.
1t is not our province to locate the
blame for this deficiency which keeps
our district banner from floating fully to
the breeze. Many will lay il wholly
upon the paster. and it is quite possible
that, in many instances, it might be
trac4 to deficient methods where there
was, on the on the part Of the pastor,
the most earnest efforts to reach the de-
sired results. But who of US in the
ministry have not learned that eur most
earnest efforts have not always been
wisely directed. So it may have been
here. But we must not be unnindful
of the fact that there are those who bear
the name of a Methodist. who have
never entered into the spirit and devo-
tion of the noble founder OF Methodism,
until they can say, THE world 10 my
parish"
If your speaker had recsived az much
as he solicited, Fairview charge would
have, at least, answered 5000, instead OF
$3.50. The money is there, and, no matt
ter what Barnesville Circuit may give
this year, we Will make our best bow to
Bro. Bobins if he realizes that much OF
an advance for this cause.
| But. brethren of the ministry, will
not these deficiencies bring US to con
secration of mind and heart to this work
until our efforts shall be both SO wisely
and earnestly directed, as that there
shall be for this great work, no defictsn-
cy? And brethren of the laity, may we
not hope that you will at least SO second
our labors, as that We shall not feel that
taking this collection is going to war
against our hocks?
We have the encouragement that the
district made an advance. handsome at
least over the gifts of the preceding year
until it is third, instead Of sixth in Con-
thing it has ever done.
In 1880 it gave S19SS; in 81. $3.50; in
50, S2471; in 's3, S2293, and in "a S2022
These figures may teach us To be careful
that we do not recede from the advance
made this year, and lose our rank. AS
it can be seen, we fell short in 1888 of
what We attained in 1852.
To some, $2,4S2 contribution from
| GAINESVILLE District for missions may
look large, but when We remember that
this amount was contributed by 6,36z
members, 81 pastors, and one presiding
elder, it looks small indeed. Leaving
out the Presiding Elder and the pastors
it means q very small fraction over 3s
cents per member, for this hrst benevo>
lence of the church. And II you count
them in, and especially the contribu
tions of themselves and families, IL
roeans a much less contribution pei
member from the comfortable, and in
many instances, rich homes of the dis
trict. Much as the average Methodist
preacher is accused of begging, his gifts
are mere freely, promptly and fully be-
slowed upon the various benevolences
of the church, than are his presenta-
tions of these worthy causes, made to
the people.
A look at the per capita contribution
of the several charges OF Bsrnesvills
District may do US good. We feel quite
certain that the average gift per mem
Der for the whole field is too low for ar
average on any of the charges within
the field, but of course many are below
that average, since several are above it.
Antioch gave 20 cents per member
Armstrong; Mills 81, Barnesville 81
gainesville Circuit "a, Beallsville Is
Bellaire 81, >Centerville 40, Clsringtor
2S. Fairview 81, Hannibal 20, Hendrys
burgh, 81, Miltonsburgh 80, Morristowr
81, PoWhatan Z, Quaker City Is.
St. Clairsville does honor to the cause
and lifts herself above all her sister
charges, and gives the round dollar pei
member. And we believe that wher
this is understood among her people
there will be no lowering uf the stand
ard. Somerton gives 81 cents. South
Bellaire 20, Washington Is, Winchester
Is, and Woodsfield 35. If. in this calcu.
lation, we have made no mistake. but
of the 81 charges of'the Barnesville Dis
trict reached and went above the aver
age per member upon the whole district
II lAx3 tn no,