The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
THE SEASON FOR GIVING
MIR. MILBURN's APPEAL NETS A SUM
FOR MAYER CHAPEL.
Mr.. VilIers on City POverty-Rev. Mr..
Parish Discusses the Of
Zee Holder.

At the Second Presbyterian Church yes
terday morning Giving" was the topic of
Rev. J. A Milburn's discourse. The subject
was appropriate to the occasion, and as a
result of Mr.. Milburns eloquent sermon a
considerable sum was subscribed toward the
building of an addition to Mayer Chapel at
West and Catherine streets. The chapel is
under the direct supervision of Mr.. Mil
burns congregation. and 1t is the purpose to
enlarge the building so that kindergarten
work may be carried on. About 81. 100 was
subscribed at the services yesterday.
In his talk on Giving" the pastor said
this was a human duty-an obligation. 1t
is matter of equity to give, because il
one man does not give the other man has
to give not only his share but the share of
the man who fails. He has to take on him
self double burden. The nongiver is a
parasite.
Giving is the noblest part of our chris
tianity," said he. Every Christian must
be, by virtue of his loyalty to his Master
giver. His hand must be large and gem
erous and full of gifts for those that are in
need. nongiving Christian is a contradic-
ton Of terms. There are three laws of Civ
ing. First, we give according to our ability.
Men say they will give a 1.-THE of their in
SOitSs OdI tllcaI VI SANliIS ID OUSOiele
1t went out with the old dispensation. The
man who earns $4G0 a year, with a house
hold to support, has no right to give a 1.-THE.
He cannot give a tenth part of his income
without depriving his family of what they
need. The who earns from 5000 to
$4,000 year-that man is not doing justice
to society if he gives only tenth part of
it, He should give far more. His only
measure of giving should be his capacity.
lie should give to the distress point-to the
point where giving is really felt to be a
strain and a sacrifice. Second, we should
give according to need. The man or woman
whose need is deepest has the first and most
commanding claim on a pocketbook. Third,
in giving we are not to consider the worth
or unworth of the applicant, nor our own
personal predictions Remember this when
Christmas comes around. Many of you will
go down town and buy expensive presents
for those to whom you feel yourselves OBJ
ligated by ties of love social interest.
You will make them presents that are osten-
tatious and extravagant. This is all wrong.
Give your little gifts to the rich and your
large gifts to the poor. Give your small
presents to those whose need is the least
and yelr large presents to those whose need
is greatest: In our giving we should OBJ
serve the law of proximity. The distress
that is nearest to us is the distress that
most imperiOuSly claims us. Christianity is
large in it's orbit; it's spirit universal, it's
heart is as large as the world. But still
we must remember that he that careth not
for his own is worse than an infidel.' Let
us give to foreign missions. but also to
home missions. Let us give to Hong Kong,
but let give yet more to Indianapolis.
Let our Christianity be for all the world.
but primarily let our gifts be for the United
States of America, the State of Indiana,
the city of indianapolis and our nearest
neighbour