Arizona republican., 1901-04-10
LESSON ON TITHING
Paper by Mrs. c. v. Cowan Before
 the Home Missionery Society.

The following paper was read be- fore the Women's Home Missionary so- ciety at the First M. F.. church yester day afternoon, by Mrs. c. V. Cowan:
 "Tithing or the law of Christian giv- ing"
 " Bring ye all the tithes into the store house, that there may be meat ia mine house, and prove me now here with, saith the Lord of Hosts. if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Nal. 3:l0
 'The tithe is not the law of giving for the Christian. It belonged to dis pensation which has passed away. The tax on the ancient Jew for the sup port of ministers of religion, for works of charity, over and above the sacri- fees to be offered at the altar, and freewill gifts, was greater than Is generally thought, instead of one tenth, 1t often amounted to one-fifth-- and one historian gives it as high as three -tenths of the years increase--it was q heavy burden on the people. yet it's faithful payment never tended. to poverty but rather to enrichment. God could. and did, return manyfo!d that which was given for the support of His cause In asking how much we should give for the Lords work Christ him self has given an answer, If any man will come after me, let him deny him self This does not imply a tenth or a twentieth nor yet fifth. or even half, but for so much as will call for some sacrifice, the denial of some cherished desire. This may mean for some less than tenth, for others more than a fifth. If each follower of Christ would honestly apply this test, would measure his giving by this rule Christ's ministers would never lack support. nor His work suffer fur funds
 Grateful love is the source of Chris tian giving, and the measure of it IS the appreciation of the debt we owe to Christ, and the perception of what is needed at our hands in order that His work may not suffer. The Chris tian is to hold everything subject to the call of the Master. What he pos sesses is committed 10 him as stew ard not as the owner, and he should use these gifts of God, that he may be accounted a faithful steward.
 The law of Christian giving is there fore heart principle. What the Chris tian will give is not determined by any law, which demands a fixed pro portion, but is measured by the hearts love for it's Lord. and by it's love for others for Christ's sake. Love never makes close bargains, penuriousness is foreign to its nature. a miserly Chris tian Is a contradiction of terms. A disciple of Christ is hearted, gen. erous, self-forgetful. Christ wants every member of His church to have part in the privileges and blessings of giving All with rare exceptions can and ought to give something, it is a duty we owe to God. Many are held back from giving because of pride. They are not able to give what they think would make good show ing, and so they do not give at all.
 Let everyone give something. The Lords treasury is in special need or the gifts of the many Should the col lection basket tell it's story it would impeach the spiritual life of many Christian. If everyone would give ac- cordng as God has prospered him. It would very soon do away with church fairs, baZaars, dinners, oyster sup pers. etc.. which I am very sure is not Gods plan for raising means for the support of His cause.
 Ut is right to observe system in re- ligious giving. System is necessary in every other department in life, in bus mess, in the household. in study, in all personal habits, and 1t certainly ought to be employed in a matter so impor- tant as giving. Paul laid down a sys- tenn for the churches in Galatia. he did not say that a collection must be taken in the church service on the first day of the week, but that every one must lay by him in store which means that each one should gradually gather a private fund at home. After all, giving rests with the in- divdual. and the work moves forward or halts according to our fidelity in re- gard to stewardships. We depreciate the cause of Christ when we give just as it happens or only when we feel like it. Once let this conviction be bourne in upon every Methodist and it will nearly double the number of our contributors, adding more than twelve hundred thousand, to the list of our paying members and greatly advance