Evening star., 1895-05-11
In Favor of Systematic Giving.


The same general subject offered a theme
for Rev. Mr.. Lotion of Tennessee, who
made an earnest address, urging that some
plan of systematic giving is now necessary
to the further growth of usefulness in the
Southern Baptist convention. Most of the
religious papers have espouSed the cause
of the new movement in missions, and are
free in their criticisms of the convention,
Its boards and committees, the chief cause
of complaint being the matter of giving in
the church In the future attention must
be given to the financial affairs of the con-
vention in advance of all other considera-
tions The work of missions, home and for
eign, and of education is limited or extended
in proportion to the monetary contributions
which come IN The church must find some
way of properly and suitably supporting
the institutions already in existence, and
he urged the adoption by the ministers of
the convention Of the old tithing system
1t is the method which God seems to have
blessed over all others, through all time
and the kings, ministers and men who have
followed 1t have invariably been prospered
of the Lord.
After the announcement by DR.. Gregory
Of number of committees for convention
work DR.. Kerfoot of the Southern Baptist
theological Seminary, LOUISVILLE continued
the discussion, referring particularly to
two points. He could not agree that the
system of tenth was absolutely taught in
the New Testament, but there is laid down
the rule of generous and systematic giving.
Few people who think they are giving one
tenth of their incomes are really giving
one-half that much. Furthermore, he
argued that preachers who urge their con-
gregations to give regularly should lead
off themselves in the matter.
Rev. D. l. Purser of New Orleans con-
tinued the discussion, leading off by asking
all the members of the convention to stand
up who had honestly followed in their own
life the tithing system, and who had no
cause to regret it.
An accurate count was not made of the
number who rose, but it was somewhere
tetween fourth and third of the entire
membership.
Rev. DR.. ]. VIM. Jones of Virginia said
that, in his opinion. as a rule preachers
give ten times as much in proportion to
their incomes as do the laymen. But il the
many could be induced to give little the
problem would be solved, and the difficult
ties in the way of still further increase in
the usefulness of the church would he
cleared away.
Opposed to Such Bookkeeping.
Rev. C. N. Ray of Missouri was the next
speaker. Though ne rather opposed the
adoption of the system-not that he oh
jected to giving-but he did mot want to
st. Louis also antagoniZed the proposition
"of keeping books with the Lord" He did
not keep books with his wife, he said and
when he became one with the Lord he NO
came one IN pocket as well AS in heart
At this point President Haralson nut to
vote of the convention the resolution favor
ing the ADOPTION OF the tNhing system, and
ii was carried by an overwhelming maior-
ity.
Other Reports.
The work of the Sunday school board
was set forth in a comprehensive report
read by Rev. B. H. Crumpton of Brewton.
Ala. The report considered at some length
the work of the public alton department and
of the children in the interests of missions
The report was adopted without discussion.
The report of the committee on young
peoples work was made by the chairman
Rev. Mr.. White. 1t favored the organiZa-
ton Of young peoples societies under prop
er supervision, and was adopted without
debate.
The Basis Of Representation.
The next item of business was the report
of the committee which was appointed a
couple of years ago to consider the propo-
sition of change in the basis of repre-
sentation in the convention. At present
representation is on the basis of the money
contributions to the be ards of the conven-
ton. certain element in the body favors
representation on a basis of numerical
strength. ,..
The rercrt was read by Rev. E. E. Folk.