The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-16
CHURCH FINANCE.


secrated judgment than in the depart
ment of finance. Church finance stands
in some respects by itself. 1t is not
business pure and simple; neither is it
all sentiment. The minister, and the
sexton, and the coal-dealer. and the gas
company, have right to expect their
money when it is due. 1t will not ans
wer to say. ooh, this is a religious cor
poration, and you must not expect the
same legal exactness as in secular
body" First. there is the legal bust
ness obligation, and then there is the
honor of God, Not all the blasphemies
and attacks of infidels could 80 dishonor
the cause of Christ as when church
settles with it's creditors, many of them
poor mechanics, at twenty cents on a
dollar.
Yet neither is it all business. Those
who support the church have no selfish
or interested motive. They contribute
their money for the honor of God and
the benefit of their neighbors. We can
not urge those who have taken stock in
bank or railroad to pay their assess
ments on the grounds of conscience, or
of love to God; but these are the very
motives that come into exercise in a
church.
Above every other establishment, the
affairs of the church should be managed
with system, with promptness, with
frankness, with. courage, with faith. A
small deficit should be removed at once,
and its recurrence provided against
The stockholders in the church should
understand just where they are. 1t is a
great wrong to them when the finances
are allowed to fall into confusion, and
when growing deficit is established.
We have before US financial state
ment OF church 10 Pennsylvania. for
the quarter ending September 80, 1895.
Credits are given in detail, and also the
debts, and the balance on hand, re-
sources, the liabilities. and the amount
unprovided for. The weekly expenses
we're S27. the total collections about S24.
Every member OF the church can see,
from such statement, what the weekly
lack is, and can form some idea of his
duty. 1t does not require much effort
to cover weekly deficit of three dollars;
but il the deficit is allowed to grow. it
will soon become serious.
But perhaps the deficit is the result of
year OF hard times; perhaps it is the
accumulated deficit of several years,
which has been kept out of sight by in.
territorial or unintentional mismanage-
ment. 1t is altogether likely that it is
the result OF neglecting to apply the
principles OF business and common
sense to the finances of the church.
Perhaps-but, after all. there it is, and
that lie the main thing. How it came is
incidental.
The first thing to be said is, do not
be frightened; do not lose your head"
Do not think that the deficit is all to be
unloaded upon the pastor, the church
missionary. the choir. Better begin
with the coal bill than with these.
There are no limits to the achievements
possible to united believing, self-sacri-
cling, hopeful church, when it is well led.
II there has been needless and unwise
expenditure, this should be corrected.
But, after all, the great remedy for the
deficit is greater enterprise and large
heartedness on the part of the Lords
people.
Deal frankly with the church. Show
them exactly what the deficit is. Ans
wer every question about it. Remove
all appearance OF mystery, all suspicion
that you are keeping back anything.
Explain to the people the privilege of
sustaining the Lords cause, and even of
making sacrifices. Let the subscriptions
be conditioned on raising the whole
amount. 1t is better to begin with large
sums. II you begin with nickels you
will find it very hard to climb up. Sup
pose the deficit is $4,000. Say to the
people; Now, il this is raised, as it will
be, there must be five subscriptions of
5000 each, so many Of 800, so many of
800 and SO on. A family may count as
one; the Sunday school, class. the
Ladies' Aid Society, the Dorcas. the
choir, may each count as one, and 80 on.
This will be complete work, or it will
be nothing. "-EGdn1iner