The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-25
Humane Plan.

Humane Plan.
Rev. is. Mofatt, D.. d. the efisoient church
worker, and treasurer Of the "Church Exten-
sion FUND.- OF the A. R. P. church publishes
in the A. R. Presbyterian q notice to church
people of which the following are extracts:
II Ann going to try TO fnd out bow many In
the various congregations Will give Sl.W q
month for ten months, beginning Jan. ISL,
1903. On the same terms how many WILL give
nifty cents, twenty-five cents!and Ten Genus
In order to get this mali am going 10
send out 10 each pastor and supply cards for
distribution among his congregation. There
will be $l.OO cards, fifty cent cards, twenty
five cent cards and len cent cards.
~ ask the pastors and supplies TO cooper.
ate with me in This plan ior Without their CO.
operation l am altogether helpless. WIN
each pastor OF supply please distribute Inc
cards NJ the first opportunity after receiving
them, and distribute them as thoroughly 10
zone advantage ia this: 1t will let me know
by Jan. lst, Uf all will cooperate promptly
whether we IAN meet the Obligations ALREADY
made TO Concord, Atlanta, and other places;
and whether We will have any funds TO give
this year 10 new places Whioh are calling ior
help. so ,.v.,ns =, o,r
church who will give one dollar monthly lor
ten months for Chnrch Extension? l wonder
If there are 1000 persons who Will give nfty
cents; 1000 who will give twenty-five Genus,
and 5000 who will give ten cents monthly for
ten months for Church Extension tnls Pres-
entchurch Year,"
The plan seems TO be an excellent one, and
this editor has no doubt that many good Pso-
pie will 20 into the scheme. The plan Will
for nearly q whole year remind them OF their
churchly zeal at The least possible monthly
cost. The plan is 30 humane that We are re-
minded OF the man who Ielt compelled TO cut
of the tail OF his monkey. Taking the ami.
NAL ont to the wood pile. a great monkey
noise OF distress was soon heard in that d.
rection. A curious neighbor appeared on the
scene and enquired the cause OF all the racket
The reply wa to the effect that he "had con-
Guided to cut on tho tail Of his animal, and
tina he did not wish to hurt him any more
than necessary. For this he was chopping OF
only an1nch ofhis caudal appendix at each
stroke OF the AK" We can have ten strokes,
at this church proposition, so 1t won't hurt
much.
What this editor thinks would be more
profitable to the whole church is.the awaken
ing OF q churchly zeal among the people. The
heavy assessments upon the A. X. P. people
are not only having q depressing effect upon
The old members but these frequent and ur.
gent calls certainly act as barriers to the &C.
oession OF new members. Half dozen threat
ened or certain calls for money during the
year IL too much like shutting the door to
new corners. Ifthose who are in authority
would make effort to add others TO the church
work, the church would grow and prosper.
II We heard q little more of urgent effort TO
bring new men and new women into the
church the A. r. P. membership would In
crease, and II the increased membership
should take An interest in the church, all the
needed money could DO freely had.
The minutes Of the last Synod showed lit
tie else than q desire TO get our money. Just
the semblance Of anxiety ubout our souls nj
the ex tension OF the blessed influence Of the
church would have been grateful, at least.
NJ onthly payments may be well enough for
the promoter Of schemes which may be on
their face perfectly innocent and entirely
praiseworthy. but which In fact may be
snares for the unguarded action OF the citi-
zen. Assuming that It may be lawful for d
book agent or the seller Of other goods to
take obligations for the monthly payments
OF tho purchase we submit that 1t is not right
for the preacher to appeal to the church
member TO obligste himself to make month
ly payments for even 30 laudable q purpose
as that Of building q church in Atlanta.
The proposition coming from the treasurer
OF church extension, who is also q member OF
the board OF home missions must be very EN-.
barrassipg to home mission preachers.
Knowing that the treasurer Of the church e1.
x---s-- s..l L. zl.1 ~oapnhor ~ tho hnmo
board, which dispenaes good gifts, he natur-
ally fears that his own salary may be cut, If
he does not press the scheme that he Is Or
dered. TO press whereby individual members
may be buildozed into an unwilling obliga-
ton for q scheme which at best is but specu-l
lative. andin which q majority Of the mem
beers have little or no interest.
The Abbeville congregation Is a mis-
sion church, and II every member has done
his whole duty he has no money with which
to build fine churches in distant cities.
Any idea Of bulldozlng Q dependent little
church into giving money to advance other
than their own interest and holding up the
reminder of the home boards liberality is
too much like taking advantage OF q weak
And our preachers. whether OF mission
churches, or ~self-supporting congregations,
should defend their people from schemes,
which may result in Injury not only TO In
dividusls, but 10 the whole church. 1t is not
right to tax the people heavily and then ask
them to give the remainder OF their money
for doubtful schemes.
Reduced to the last analysis, the little
ought not 70 be reduced to a collec-
tion agency for all sorts OF alleged benevolent
purposes. but which may be primarily for
the benefit Of lucky individuals. OF course
this last remark has no reference to the case
in mind. Dr.. Moffatt has no money interest
In the Atlanta church. But the pastor Of this
church may be dependent upon him for a
contribution, aud hence his zeal might be
increased in getting our people TO carry out
Contributions should be voluntary
mot compulsory. |
Sudden Death.
Robert w. Hester OF Calhoun Falls died
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