Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-22
THE OTTUMWA COURIER: THURSDAY, MAY %, 1909.

A COURIER: THURSDA1
Rev. ]. H. Raglan, of Des Moines, was
also called to present briefly the sub
ject of Church Records" in the abb
sence of Rev. L. Lane to whom had
been assigned this subject.
Rev. PaIIisters Address.
Rev. H., A. Pallister opened the dis
cussion of the afternoon with an inter-
esting and able presentation of the
topic of Church Finance" and said in
part as follows: In the new tesla
ment the problem of church finance is
wisely left to be worked out by sane
titled common sense. No one plan can
be adopted and work everywhere in
this matter. Local conditions vary.
However, there are some great under
lying principles regarding church
finance disclosed in the scriptures.
First, believers are not their own, but
have been bought with a price, and
that henceforth their time, means, tai
ents and influence belong to the Sar-
ior and that of all we possess we are
but the stewards; second, we are
shown that believers are partners to-
gether in church relationship for one
common end, the salvation of souls:
third, that the believers should CON
tribute to the church as the Lord has
prospered them; fourth, that believers
should contribute of their substance
not grudgingly, but freely: fifth, the
contributions to the work of the mas.
ter should be made with equality and
commensurate with the ability of the
person giving; sixth, the gifts should
be made regularly.
Be Economical.
mo church should live beyond it's
means. The financial interests of a
church should be committed to the
care of able persons, who should make
a careful estimate of the prob
able expenses allowing liberal
margins to provide for the
losses, which are unavoidable. The
financial ability of the membership
should be carefully ascertained and
the sum divided proportionately. The
best plan in the matter of church col
lections is the best one. that brings
the largest results and in this matter
no iron clad rule can be adopted.
Sometimes the annual subscription
method is found to work the best and
possibly in another place what is
known as THE Weekly Envelope Sys-
tem." is employed with the greatest
satisfaction.
The Annual Meeting.
Every congregation should hold an
annual meeting at which time the re
ports of the church and it's various
auxiliaries should meet and decide on
the amount to be assumed by them in
the support of the church Frequent
reports of the condition of the finances
should be made publicly to the con-
gregation.
The Women's Meeting.
The latter part of the afternoon was
devoted to the remainder of the pro-
gram of the G. w. B. M. Mrs Edith
G. Jordan, president of the district,
took charge of the meeting. The first
part of this pragram was the address
given by Mrs. E. E. Ogburn, of Des
Moines, state superintendent of the
junior work.
2
Mrs. E. E. Ogburn in treating the
subject Are All the Children In?'
|tspoke in brief as follows: In the mad
rush of American life comparatively
few people in their pursuit of knowl
edge, wealth or fame pause to consider
and study the child mind and it's adap.
| tation to spiritual teachings. Jesus
called little child to him and blessed
it and thereby gave them a place in
his kingdom. Save the children of to.
| day and save the nation tomorrow.
The Three Seasons.
There are three seasons in the life
of child: First. the passive season
| when he is directed by the ideas and
influence of others and life is one hap.
Ply day without responsibility. At this
| time habits are being formed and the
mind is easily guided and it is the time
above all others for the beginning
work"
The second period is the active, or
danger period, when choice is being
made. If the first period has been
well cared for there is very little dan
ger in this second epoch of the child
going wrong as it will naturally choose
the right.
In the third season of a child's life
the choice has been made, ideas fixed
and habits formed. If an idea has be-
come fixed in the persons mind by n
false argument it is almost impossible
to change or eradicate wholly the
wrong during the last period of life.
| The Junior Work.
when the Christian Womans
Board of Missions was organized, the
mothers naturally felt that duty hao
been left undone and the work of or
ganizing the Mission Bands was begun
In the course of time the Y. P. S. C. r
was started and the mission bands
were merged together. But with this ef
fort to teach and train the children
there are still 100000, even in our own
Estate, who have not as yet been reach
ed The problem of how to enlist the
unclaimed chiulden is one that de
mands our most earnest and thought
full efforts and when this has been done
the children will become interested
Is not me work of forming character
greater and more certain of success
than o. reforming character and is il
l o ~