The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
PASTORAL LETTER.
An HOnored Minister'S Remarks On
Our Christian Duty.

Rev. S. L. Wilson, the newly elected pastor
of Upper Long Cane Presbyterian church In
this county, has sent TO the members OF his
charge q letter of which the following Is q
copy: ,o, SOM,
Dear Brethren: With the good hand of our
God upon us we are nearing the END OF an
other year. We have been the recipients OF
been our gratitude, and how adequately ex-
pressed in gifts and deeds Of devotion, are
Questions which call for serious thought and
reflection. And as we think OF mercies past
and blessings present, and as we future good
implore let US prayerfully consider the meas
ure Of our selfdenial, our conservation ana
our loving service, and let us consider also,
upon our knees before God, what we propose
10 do in the present and future for our gra-
cious Lord and his kingdom.
Let me call your attention, brethren. to
some OF the words OF God, and In connection
Herewith, let me make some practical sug'
gestions, according to the plan. which has
been adopted by the Session Of our Church
Honor the Lord with thy substance.
Upon the first day of the week let every
one of you lay by him In store, as God hath
prospered him" ~ Cor. xvi.2.
Let all your gifts for the support OF me
Church be offerings made TO God for the pur-
pose. Then will our giving be an act OF Wor-
Ship, ard the blessing will follow according s
to the riches OF your liberality and faithful
AS far as possible bring offerings to the
house OF God in person, and cast them, with
your own hand, into the Lords treasury.
Bring an offering and come before him. -
Chron. xvi, 20. However, when II 1B mol
possible for you 10 come to The house or God
in person, send your offering by the hand OF
another; and II it is not possible for you 10
make an Offering, come without. mus you
ted life, and God will accept you, Do what
you can, and the Lord will say, We'll done"
Let each member OF the family join IN this
part Of Gods worship that all may receive
the promised blessing, and that the children
may learn TO live and labor Tor the Loru ana
Let them put their offerings In their respec-
tive envelopes and seal In EN-, and orlng thetp
In person, or send them, TO the house OF GOO
on the day indicated on the envelopes, or a.
soon tn ereafler as possible. .
The Deacous will give each family credll
for all its contributions.
And now, dear brethren, at the close OF the
old and the beginning Of the new year, let Us
every one rise up in the spirit OF renewed
Mother Church her righ Lful place among
the churches OF the Presbytery.
Fraternally, in Jesus Christ,
of serious consideration. For this reason q
layman would supplement the words OF the
Admitting and consenting TO The truth and
yet other things to be spoken on this SUD-
There may be persons in every community
whose gifts would be an oftense 10 tne Loro'
even as their eating and drinking OF the FAC
rament may be to their own souls condemna
The treasury of the Lord is not proper re-
ceptacle for stolen goods, and he That owes W ?
into the treasury of the Lord the money
which Justly belongs TO another. Our Saviour
commanded that we render unto Cesar the
things that are CBsar's.
honestly in the sight Of all men, and we are
told in the holy scriptures that "he that pro.
yideth not for bis own household Is worse
''The sacrifice Of the wicked is an abomlna'
tion 10 the Lord" "
"Bring no vain oblations" to the sanctuary.
"And therefore have sworn that the mi
guilty Of ELS house shall not be purged Win
sacrifice nor offerings"
Money which is gained by wicked or dis
hon est methods should not be put into tne
Ir easury OF the Lord, nor have we a right 10
take brothers goods and lay them on the
altar in our own name. No man who doesn't
paw his debts should bring gifts TO the church.
No man has q right 10 expect 10 gain tne
favor Of the Lord by polluting his Temp
with money which does not belong to him,
and which has been unjustly taken from It's
rightful owner.
No man need expect to buy an inheritance
In the kingdom of heaven by emptylng stoien
gold and dishonest silver into the treasury OF
The church OF our Lord and Saviour.
"Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy
work." There being possibly as much SIN 10
idling away any part of the six days Which
is not needed for rest and sleep, as there is in
working on the Sabbath, those idle citizens
who fail 10 earn the necessary means 10 sup
port themselves and their families, nave no
right TO put money into the treasury OF the
Lord which should 90 to the payment OF their
debts. We must earn our living by the sweat
of our brows, and we must "hOnor the Lord
with our own substance" anu not WIN
goods which have been filched from another.
A pure heart and clean nands are always an
acceptable offering to the Lord our God. but
any attempt to buy our way into his king
dom with money which does not belong 10 US
will incur the displeasure OF Him VINO mas
prepared place for US In our Fathers house.
Therefore. when we give gifts TO the Lord,
and put money into his treasury II should oe
of our own earning, and after we nave Pald
all honest debts TO our fellow-man. The Lord
docs not want us to give to him the money
which does not belong to US.
Another matter which seems TO have been
overlooked Is, charity. 1t would seem to us
that this word Is now used almost entlreiy
to the dividing OF our substance with the
needy. BY far the higher and better meaning
of the word charity" is overlooked and al
most forgotten, as the Importance OF giving
away all that we have Is more strenuously
urged. a.,
mind and thought; the refusal to believe OWL
name; fidelity TO him in adverse circum.
stances; the speaking OF q kindly word or the
uttering Of sentiments Of encouragement
when troubled In mind or heart
Gold and silver, yea, even refined gold and
purified silver is as trash when compared
with that .'charity" which defends a brothers
good name and offers him words OF cheer
when the clouds Of adversely and the weight
of depressing dependency overshadow and
oppreSs him.
The Father OF us all does not desire that the
Industrious. frugal, and self-denying son
should divide out his substance Win tnose
who are indolent and, as consequence,
needy. He does not expect the spendtnrlft to
share equally with him who saves and take
care of that which he earns, but be expects Us
to be at heart considerate OF the feelings.
mindful OF the good name, and careful OF the
interests Of each and every living creature.
If 1t be asked what Is practlcal material
charity-we would answer: If a fellow man
meets with misfortune, and he is In distress,
it is our bounden duty to give temporary re,
lief-shelter, medicine, clothing, food, and
whatever else the exigencies may require.
But If the same brother should lose his
horse, or his house, 1t Is not charity to restore
to him the lost estate, though the prompttngs
Of our better nature might urge US to help a
friend In trouble, even though our hearts be
not large enough to take in everybody.
In no instance is so general misunder-
standing OF the meaning OF any other word as
there is of charity. Our charity should be,
pine times out OF ten, In the kindly word and
helping hand. In reality. our charity need
not often cost US money. Charity appeals TO
that higher and better nature, which would
utter the cheering words at the right time.
and lend the helping hand at the opportune
moment Our Saviour was full of charity, yet
we do not recollect to have seen 1t recorded
where be gave money. His heart, though,
was full Of charity, and his lips constantly
dispensed that which was better than gold
and silver.
Men in Strengthened circumstances need on
ly the opportunity to work. To give money
indiscr mi In stely TO those in need, gives only
q little tempOrary relief while encouraging