Telegram-herald., 1890-08-04
A QUESTION OF INCOME.
Conducting Church Affairs on Dusi-
ness Principles.

1t was time Of trouble with the
Presbyterian Church and society OF
Blanksville. They had come TO their
annual meeting and found. just as they
expected, that their assets were not
equal to their liabilities by several
hundred dollars This was no new
experience but rather an old, chronic
ailment, that had afflicted them for
years. Heretofore they had managed
to tide over the trouble somehow, but
this year the deficit was larger than
usual-it had been growing larger every
year, in fact--and it was agreed that
something must be done about IL
The chairman Of the meeting called
upon one after another to propose some
plan Of relief or TO express bis views,
and several gentlemen were not slow TO
do the latter, at least.
Squire Boomer took the floor and
said, in his usual methodical manner:
1--WE made up my mind that IL costs
great deal to run church. What with
the minister's salary, which is the larg-
est item. and the janitor's, and the
organist's, and the insurance and re-
pairs, and the fuel and lights, and our
Sunday-school expenses, TO say nothing
OF our benevolent contributors. which
10 be sure arc not what they should be,
it costs a great deal OF money 10 run
church; more it seems 10 me than II
ought to cost-more than we can afford
tc pay. And ! think VIC must contrive
some way TO diminish our church ex-
penses, so a5 10 make the two ends or
tho year meet II any gentleman can
think Of better plan lot him speak cut;
but for ny part, say we must reduce
our expenses SO as % mako our Income
cover our outgoes. We must manage
our church finances on business princ9-
pies, If We expect 70 prosper"
Mr.. Snodcrass followed. saying:
Squire Boomer has expressed my mind
exactly We must lessen oar church
expenses: We must cut our geracnt ac-
corling TO our cloth We know just
about how much We can raise each year
bv slip rents: and what's tho use % try
ing % stretch the sum two or three
hundred dollars, when We know II can't
be done2 lropeat, wo nust cut cur
garment according TO our cloth
Mr. Mullins endorsed al that had
been said. and added somewhat poDp-
ouslv, as his manner was: Il al OF
posed TO all pTctense Of appearing 10 be
richer and more prosperous church
than we really aro,7 and. as u in imits-
ton OF Patrick Henry. be exclaimed:
ave mast rcGcnch. / repeat IL, sir.
We uust rctrcnChT'
Others followed in much the same
strain Indeed there appeared 70 be
but one opinion upon The eabjoct The
chairman sai4 j an glad 70 observe
50 much freedom IN this discussion.
Nearly ali present seem % 10 agreed
ur,o1 r-trcrchmont Now. Will some
one suggest how and where We shall
berin2 Wil some one make . no
tioa7"
There was silence n that room for TIE
spaco q oae minute, then squire
Booncr arose slowly. and said. with
some h,.zi5aucr. as II the subject matter
wzs rainfal che. tI1 order - bring
tho uatter p-o1erl7 before tie house
viii move taat . co-1nir-ee ~ THREE be
appointed 70 wait upon our pastor and
inform tf-a cf orr financial err barrass-
raenl aa5 ask bin kindly ~ consent n
q reelection ~ his salary 81 least 500
TIE rotor was supported 81 half :
dozen voices and afterwar1 discussed
vigorously rro ana con frosty pro- f0i
n h-er The sertlucrt was evidertls :
something Hke this: t1at their uastol
vas -oIl-r tn wealth or 200 pr year.
vana fbev the peopie. we're PIT % al
sa-.s ~ straits % raise THE money The
tvass were tari. several wbo oucs
rented usas ha5 moved away. and -.
& ts-.s rieh ms- bad died u was IN
-sssorsbis - ezpect then - pay q.
1---. /. sef~-v - the- Gid vban zhea'
sod far Two dollars . b8shel and a.
h-arctes - tusiness wee lively ar
r,-oats tles and .f fSr sllT0 vas The cor
slas-ses nan ttsT took hirn - -. b.
voala look vpo1 re ustscr IL the san,