The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-05-12
Church FINANCES.

tllOSe VINO nearu IL, anu the conference
that it be published in the
Johnson County Star and the INTEL
LIGENCER.
Address by 4. A. Catron to The district confer
ence OF the NJ. L. church, South, at Lamontc,
Mo-, April 20, 1891.
Mn. PREsIDENT:-To me has been
assigned Il very important duty. possibly
as important as an question that has or
may come before this district conference.
The system of finance, Or the best SyS-
tenn Is Il very important question in all
the ~av0catiOLs III life; il is one that con
fronts the bread winner III his daily
efforts to provide a living for those he
loves. 1t is one that confrontS all classes
and conditions of humanity; il reaches
from the humblest beggar in the streets
to HIM who has his millions. the one
striving to obtain enough of this life's
goods 10 exc out Il precalious living, the
other as how he Il add more to his
already accumulated millions. IL is not
my object To talk on or in behalf of
of the special classes already
to. The duty assigned to me
is one that is much nearer your heart
and mine this evening, namely, rs Ia
the best means of raising money for the
support OF the ministry; this is no light
or frivilous question To which III minds
snOuld be called temporarily aud then
forgotten when we return to our various
places of business; but it is one To- which
we should give our best business
thoughts and prayers, asking Gods
help, and then using every endeavor to
keep the preachers salary up, at least
monthly in the stations and quarterly in
circuits. Now, brethren, what is the
best course to pursue? That is the
question you and | want to know; our
decipline provides that the stewards
shall raise and pay the preacher his
salary. 1t does not contemplate that
the preacher should be compelled to
stint himself and family, and to Il GER
tain extent impair his usefulnes as a
preacher and pastor by having to look
after his temporal wants. The preacher
pledges himself when he takes charge of
his work to give you the very best
preaching that he can, to comfort the
sick and afflicted and see after the
spiritual welfare of his flock, and in
consideration that he perform his part
of the contract, we, the stewards. pledge
ourselves to pay him his portion, his
just wages, to pay him the amount
which we, at our first meeting in the
year, promised to raise and pay owe to
him. The preacher should feel free
from all thoughts as to whether he will
be able to meet his %pecuniary obliga-
tons at the close of the year. Our
preachers are told not to 20 in debt,
they are admoniShed to keep away from
all debts, as they should shun the evil
one. Brethren a preacher in debt can.
not do the work as efficiently as he can
il not trameled in this. 1t is q shame
upon us who represent this important
branch of our beloved Zion that ouI
preachers are not paid up monthly and
quarterly; it is q just debt, one that we
acknowledge as due from us no viii
deny. You may ask what remedy YOU
have to offer, and how shall we fulfil
our pledges. l have a way, it is no new
II but a safe one, it is pay as you go
keep every quarter up; have your mem
bers to pay weekly, monthly, late
than quarterly. A shame on any Meth
Odist who warts until the end of tlt
year before he pays his assessment Ia:
/, some dOl, how do you expect the preach
er to live if all do as this class do
| Thank God, all are not like this. neve
pay il you can help it kind. In ever,
class there are some of the salt of tn,
earth who try to live up to the Christian
standard OF paying their preache
promptly. IL times are hard, and
admit that they are, economist, begil
on yourself and not on the poor preach
er, who, in nine out of ten cases, is yer,
poorly paid, and does not get what
actually necessary to support his famil
as you expect him to live and dress; yOl
expect him to dress neatly and decently
then pay him what You Justly owe hin
for faithful services lovingly rendered
The position of a steward is not one @
idle honor, in which one can rest ut hi
ease thinking that his preachers salar
will come to him with out an effort o
the part of the steward. a stewar
should be a God fearing man, he shoul
he u good business man, he should hay
the welfare of his church at heart. h
should use every effort of both min
of tGOd. lie should carry the though
with him in his business transaction
that is, l have to give to God IN a
count of my stewardship. Brethren d
We all do our duty, do we measure u
to this standard, do you do all you caI
do you make n study of this question
do you pray over il and try to the be.
of your abilities TO bring to pass VIII;
you profess so earnestly to desire? II
your duty and then trust God to do hi
You ought to know the financial cond
ton of the members who have bee
; assigned to you; you ought to kno
about what time they will have none,
| that is when they sell their crops or
|, part of the same, il you go and see the
then they will in nine out of ten cas-,
pay their Quarterage. No man a be
successful steward unless he does kno
those whom he is expected to cole
I from. Our Presbyterian brethren
- Il nyinnfnn hnya nAnnfaI N CyGtnnt th,
is meeting with surprising success, tn
is mt the beginning of the year presen
ing TO every member (missing none)
. slip containing the following: ''De;
brother or sister will you fill the blaI
below with the amount which you ca
d give, payable weekly or monthly, to Il
pastors salary and Incidental funds
I. the church for the year, commencii
January /, 1891, when filed place Il
q card in the basket at church or hand
9 one of the deacOns. It's our desire tn
each member of the church, old III
young, should contribute some amou
toward defraying the expenses of I
church. that the grace of giving may
70 cultivated in all. III the card is n
returned before the above date it W
: be called for, so please do not destr
= it.") 1t works successfully; | like 4
j. plan; / shall suggest a similar moN
ment at our next years meeting, it il
voluntary contribution. it lets everyo
rely or themselves, and not govern tn,
u pay by what some n else gives.
n conclusion let me say to you, in
rs beginning of the year when you m,
Is with your preacher for the purpose
or fixing his salary do not put it 80 !,
that he cannOt live on it, do not fol
- him to go in debt, agree TO pay h
I'D what is Just and fair, SO he can live co
fOrtably at least, and then he sure Il
you pay him every quarter the amoI
you have promised, and more If y
want to. 1t sof the greatest imp
~ lance to educate a new member to e
literally, and never later than quarter
l. educate them to prOmptness in chui
&c duties of all kind, especially in the ST
10 port of the preachers. Always RENE
s. Der that a collection is in order, I
Of only in a MethOdift meeting, but in
vidually. Do not be afraid that y
m will offend a brother by asking for
~ quarterage, If he treats you roughly
~ some do, have grace enough in "
ne heart not to get offended, but wat
m him closely, study his nature, and VIII
c, you think he is in a good mood STIR
him earnestly and sincerely for his gu
c. terage, there is always a time when Y
&c can reach a mans heart and peck
both il he is trying to do right. Te;
20 him that it is not q gift that he is g
Ln ing, but u part of n just debt due Il &C
no God who has spared his life, and
whose power and grace alone he is ali
Teach him to feel that as God has Civ
be him life, a home, and all that he h
L. cn ln ohnnld rnnnU God in nnlt .t Ia