The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-10

A young friend who has recently be-
gun to build a home for himself and
his wife in a great city, wrote me a
few days ago in the following words:
'I wish you would write an article on
not being able to afford to join the
church. We are sorry we Joined here
already, and il we had to do it over
again, we would not join. We are
simply teaSed for money all the time.
We shall refuse to subscribe any reg
ular amount for anything, for scarcely
a week goes by but we are asked for
something. Last Sunday a regular
scheme was sprung on every one pres
ent to get money, and we were just
forced to do what we could not af-
ford 10 do. Poor people had better
keep out of the churches these days"
What was said set me to thinking.
I recalled the case of a business man
in q little town who said substantially
the same to me: I'VE can't afford to
go to church. We can't pay what we
know they would ask us to pay" And
in another town and church, another
business man told me what a scheme
the ladies of the church to which he
belonged worked on him, to get him
to pay for an amount Of stuff from his
store which he had never engaged to
give. He allowed that if his wits did
not desert him, he would not be drag
ged into paying more than he thought
he could afford.
And then, after reading the words
just quoted, there same to mind the
remark of a sagacious minister in that
city, who said in regard to the church
home of the same young people: Il
would advise them to go into a strong
church; if they do not, they will be
bounded to death for money" 1 have
heard such remarks occasionally dur
ing all my ministry. People nave said
more than once: " can't afford to go
to church. L can't pay what they will
expect me to pay" And such remark
have usually, as in the case already
mentioned, come from those who were
in a position where every penny count
ed in their business, yet where a GER
tain station in life must be retained.
They could not give what they knew
would be expected. and so they pre-
ferred not to be placed where any reg
ular demands could be made on them.
Once 1 did nob think that there was
much in their saying. I have changed
my mind. There are some churches
where the support of the work is a
constant burden. An expense has been
incurred for building or something of
the sort which was utterly beyond the
ability Of the congregation to meet.
And then the most desperate means
have been employed to raise the debt.
And, worse than all, the extraSagant
outlay was incurred under the claim
that IL was an act of faith in God. He
has promised 10 provide, ana though
we know We have no visible means for
meeting our obligations. yet somehow
The Lord win provide" That is the
reasoning and the policy which. sound
business abhors, becomes an act Of
sound sense when applied tn religion
A ~benevolent board agrees: 70 pay $40
600 when there is only s., $50 which can
be reasonably expected. A little conn
pany of people bargains for a saO. 900
churcn, when by the utaaO ST Of present
agencies they can MY find az so0 IN
their pockets. And ye en- comes the
pulling and squeezing to drag the re-
fuctant dollars from the porckets Of
people who possibly need the money for
their own bread Is 1t not time for a
reign of common sense. or righteous
ness" in its br'sadest APPLICATIONS?
| III. +. b.