The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-09
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN.

L
| church both morning and night on. Sun
day. BY request of the session the pastor
| IN the morning preached Il sermon on the
subject of giving and also spoke of the
new plan of making offerings in the
church, recently adopted by the board of
deacons with the approval of the session
| The envelope system will be continued.
rms, however, instead of being used for
making offerings for one object will in.
| clude the whole current expenses of the
| local church. Between this time and
| the first of April the congregation will he
| canvassed by the board of deacons and
every member be given the opportunity
TO say how much he or she will contrib
ute weekly for the support of his church
for the coming year. After the names
are secured each member or contributor
| during the week preceding the first sun.
| day in April will be furnished a card and
! fifty two envelopes, numbered ana dated.
in which to make the Offering The ten.
cons have very neat and unique card to
| which the envelopes are fastened in II new
way, making it quite easy to use This
card IS ornamental and can be hung in
the room of the member.
1t is believed that the members will
enter heartily into this scheme Already
some have Indicated their purpos:. of
awaiting themselves Of it. 1t makes If so
bers to make their gifts to the Lord. One
who could not possibly ut any one time
give rs much as five dollars can by this
plan easily give ten cents per week and
at the end of the year his Offering will
have been so easily made as to haze
caused little or no inconvenience. II
makes it possible for the younger mem
bers of the church to give as well as those
who are older. The advantages of the
,lo,, 81, -
TO systematic giving, that it will center
the love OF the people about their church
and that it makes it easier to give. Be-
tween three and four hundred pledge
cards were distributed last week and are
now in the hands of members THESE
will be filled up and handed either to the
deacons or put in the plate on Sunday.
The pastor preached on the general sub
Ject of giving and took for his text Pro-
verbs $50 Honor the Lord with thy sub
stance and the first fruits of all thine in
crease, so shall thy barns be filled with
plenty and thy presses burst out with
new wine" In considering this question
he asked and answered several questions:
First, why should we give? Because
God commands us to do So Because of
our relation to our property. 1t is the
Lords and we should make proper re-
turn to Him of the income. We are stew
ards, tenants at will, only. Because of
gratitude. Because Gods work cannot
be carried on unless we give. Because of
our sense of manliness and self-respect.
Church membership carries with it the
obligation to support to the extent of
ones ability the church of which he or
she may be II member. Because il is
doubtful if Gods blessing rests upon
those who are unfaithful in this respect.
God says that it is the liberal soul chat
is made fat.
How much should we give? Jacob said
he would give the Lord the tenth of his
increase. The tenth was the rule in the
Old Testament days We believe now
that people would be more blessed if they
adhered to the same plan. Giving with
many is too much matter of whim. 1t
should he n matter of principle The
amount should he determined by the
needs of the case. 1t is according to ones
| ability and Gods blessing. Gratitude
| for mercies should call forth offerings to
the Lord. Mr.. Wanamaker is going to
| build IA church because his store was not
| burned down. His loss was about IL hun
dred thousand dollars, but it was not
| million, and that was II cause for graft
| tude.
When are neople to give? This means
| our stated gifts. God has fixed the time.
He says weekly ION the first day of
the week let each one lay by him in store
rs God has prospered him. Cor. 1872
In what spirit are people to give? AS
Gods people of old did, Willingly, gladly.
The apostle says cheerfully, assuring us
that God lores the cheerful giver
The pastor impressed the fact that all
| giving should he TO the Lord He was to
| be the object of their gifts. They were
for Him. to be used in various ways.
| Keeping the Lord before the mind as the
object of the Offering ennobled the gift
and the giver.
At night the pastor and Rev DR.. Mil
Ter, of the Lutheran Church. exchanged
| pulpits. DR. Miller preached II fine ser.
mon, which was enjoyed. The night con-
gregaton also had the pleasure of hear
ing very fine duet most delightfully."-
rendered by Miss Leila Beckley and Mrs
| Aunspaugh. The congregation has had
the pleasure ut different times of hearin z
some of the finest vocalsts in the city.
SUNDAY.SCHOOL UNION. - -'''
The Bal fist Sunday school Union, COM
| posed Of all the Sunday schools of the
Baptist Church of this city and Vinton.
met last Sunday afternoon ut $3.50 at Cal
vary Baptist Church and the attendance
was the largest in the history of the
union. The newly elected president, +.
w. Reynolds presided, and the exercises
were of an interesting and instructive
character. Excellent papers were read
| by Miss Mary Strickland and Miss Icnn