The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-28
THE ENDOWMENT FUND OF MINISTERIAL
RELIEF.
RELIEF.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

make an ample provision for aged and infrm min
listers If we rich i'll love 5 in money
we will make this provision for them
We are face to with great opportunity to
serve the cause the best have had some
thing adequate for it, liberal offers 100000
Tor Its endowment, provided cur whole church will
give $l25,00OO0 And with this noble offer there is
most liberal concession TO time-allowng three
years in which to raise this amount.
Our opportunity is at hand. is contingent on
nothing but willingness use it, 1t is
an opportunity only to provide Il permanent ell
dowment, the interest OF which Will aid i'll Minister
ial Relief, but also it a quckening of our
church's interest in this neglected cause.
1t is easy TO neglect it because have long dis
regarded 1t, but 10 call whole church this
time Tor large amount, put this cause before
our people with emphasis it has never had. Work
for cause begets work tor 1t, and this
$l25,OO0OO from people is their atten-
ton, and consequently their interest in it,
1t is worth while noting that TINS is already the
result of this effort recent letter from Secretary
Sweets says hlIe the contributions OF the Endow-
ment Fund up to this time more than three times
those received during the corresponding period last
year, there has been falling OF the amounts
tributed for the Immediate necessities of beneti
Charles. On the contrary, have received larger
sum-" This VIII be manifested the church
is more generally aroused by the statement of its
present opportunity.
THE CONDITIONAL OFFER
He mutiplies givers who attaches conditions to his
gifts In Inls instance he gives twice by giving
dllonally and for he loves the help
OF others who love It, We do well if we make these
conditions explicit to ourselves. we should see that
we are dealing with something purely conditional.
The offer is give 500, 100000 provided church
gives $l25,000OO within three years from the time
the offer was We dealing with condi-
tons-one of the amount to be raised; the other of
the time in which it must be given. These not
conditions of severity but of dentenes They need
be viewed so much a challenge as an appeal. One
of people stands out far in advance of the rest OF
us, and by his liberaty melted all to duty.
The definite conditions attached enables him to call
to duty while at the same time he performs
his Let us be that appreciate the def
niteness of the conditions and that rightly answer
the appeal
The SITUATION.
The money comes in very slowly for our part of
the Endowment Fund Eight months of the three
years gone already and only about $4 100000 has
been given by church The capable Secretary
the has given wide publicity to this matter.
Practically all of churches have knowledge of the
of elder in Atlanta, and practically all
churches have thus far failed to act in the matter
1t is a situation which causes wonder. 1t lays an
other portion of humiliation upon with respect
uncaredfor If do not give in response
to this liberal offer before at this time the
lveliest imagination conceive conditions under which
would?
A SUGGESTION
1t will be easier to do our part in this matter if
hold two ideas of the situation in minds:
TO regard the congregation the unit in the division
of responsibility. q To regard the fiscal year
april LIST to March 3lst) the unit in the division
of time
As to the first of these it is manifestly impracti-
cable to take the individual the in the division
of our responsibility Any responsibility divided
among ESQ 900 individuals loses its force 1t is very
difficult to impress them with the idea and well nigh
impossible to any concert of action.
But if the congregation is taken as a unit there
only 1900 units to deal with and practically all
Of these units directly under the care Of ministers