Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-04
STEWARDS AND DRAGONS
Sam F. Jones Discourses on the
 Models Characteristics.
He Is Q Pure, Generous, Spiritual Man. One Who in Ills Private Life Brings No Reproach on the Religion
 He Professes.
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 why discussion along the line of model deacon and steward may not be interesting and profitable.
 These are the tax gatherers of the church, they collect the money from the brethren and turn it over to the Judas or man who holds the bag or treasury of the church, and he pays it over into the hands of the parson.
 The model deacon and steward is & rare bird. suppose there are more bow-legged, box-ankled, lamper-jawed, crooked-nosed, knock-kneed, one-horse stewards and deacons than in any other profession perhaps known to tho children of men. Among them you will find few models, and it is of these want to write. I might give offense to all, but suppose that every deacon and steward in this country thinks he is a model, and therefore he is not the man am shooting at.
 The model tax gatherer for the church is a good business man. He don't have to go to his creditors and demand pay for. his preacher. He practices the Scriptural rule, "Owe no man anything, but to love one another;" thus conscious of his own integrity he goes about his Masters business without restraint and without compunction.
 Again the model deacon an steward is generous man. It is the height of folly and ridicule to send a stingy man out to beg money for the church.
 A little close-fsted, stingy, skin-a- fiea-for-its-hide-and- and get all you can and keep all you get sort of a fellow is stumbling block and an of- fense to any liberal-minded man who may be approached for money for the Lord.
 He practices the liberality that he exhorts others to manifest The word he uses to others is: "Come on, boys," and not "go on, boys" He heads the procession. He allows no man in the church to give as much as he according to his means or his meanness.
 Again the model steward and deacon is broad-minded fellow. He does not count the children in the parsonage or manse nor fix the preachers salary simply to cover the bare necessities of table and wardrobe, but he estimates in hard money with liberality, decency the value received.
 The model steward and deacon is kindly, sympathetic fellow, one who commands the love and respect of all the church; he is liberal to the poor, kind to the sick.
 The model steward and deacon is clean man. He is no card-playing, dram-drinking, theater-going, dance- giving official in the church, but he gives to the brethren in the church model life after the image of Him for Whom he labors.
 He is Christian of the highest type, like Cornelius, of old praying to God always, fearing God with all his house and giving much aims to the people.
 Again the model steward and deacon is an active fellow. He makes and takes opportunities, but never breaks an opportunity. He is sowing seed day by day that he may gather the har- vest by and by. He comes on each'pay day with hundred cents on the dollar on his assessments. He never lets @ preacher go without every dollar of his pay He is no party to the crime of robbing the preacher of his we'll earned salary.
 don't know but what the old preacher was right when the steward of his church utold him at the last quarterly meeting that they were fifty dollars behind with his salary and couldn't raise it, he replied to them: Brethren, if you don't settle with me in full not one of you shall ever enter the gates of Heaven, will stand up at the pearly gates and as you stewards walk up will tell God there is the crowd that swindled me, poor Metho- dist preacher, out offifty dollars of my salary" The brethren responded by settling up with him in full before he left the house. He Is diligent the year round. Starts out at the right time and comes in at the right time.
 Again the model steward and deacon is fine judge of human nature. He knows all men are not alike; he knows each man has a way of approach; he knows who to scold, who to encourage and who to smile upon and who to frown upon; he knows all the near cuts to the heart and pocketbook.
 Such steward and deacon cannot be resisted, and when the brethren re- spond there is no sting left and he feels glad that he has done his duty and helped an efficient church official do his duty.
 Again the model steward and deacon is fellow of courage; he is not afraid to tackle any man where that duty de- mands. He is no apo1ogist, but talks with his fellow-men as one having au. thority and as knowing as the scribes. He talks like he had acause and wasn't afraid to present his cause and demand response.
 Again the model steward and deacon Is loyal to his pastor in service, in attend ance. in liberality. both by word and