The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-12-20
STEWARDS AND DEACONS
Sam P. Jones Discourses on tho
Models characteristics.
lie Is Pure, Generous, Spiritual Man,
Ono Who In His Private Life Brings
no Reproach on the Religion
lie Processes.
lcoPyRicHT. iso4.l


why u discussion along the line of a
model deacon and steward may not be
interesting and profitable.
These are the tax gatherers of the
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, Impoverished,
stewards and deacons than in any
other profession perhaps known to the
children of men. Among them you
will find few models, and it is of these
want to write. | might give offensc
to all, but suppose that every deacon
and steward in this country thinks he
is model, and therefore he is not the
man am shooting at
The model tax gatherer for the church
is 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 conjunction.
Again the model deacon an steward
is generous man. 1t is the height of
folly and ridicule to send stingy man
out to beg money for the church.
A little close-fisted, stingy, skin-a-
a., l.. 4 80
you can and keep all you get sort of a
fellow is stumbling block and an Of
Tense 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 a
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 a |
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 let's
preacher go without every dollar
of his pay. lie is no party to
the crime of robbing the preacher of
his well earned salary.
| don't know but what the old
preacher was right when the steward
of his church told 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 offfty 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 lie
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
toto w biic hCdi anu pOChclbOOh.
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. lie is no apologist, but talks |
with his fellow-inen as one having au-
thority and as knowing as the scribes.
He talks like he had accuse 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
deed. He stands coworlzer with his |
preacher, holding up his hands push. |
ing up hill land helps him hold up going |
down hill
The model steward and deacon above
all loves God with all his heart and his |
neighbor as himself. working not for
the applause of men, but for the APP
r1-.<,rn1 - E1,I ,rI -,