The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-04-13
Approved and DiSdppr0Yed Methods of Giving
APaper Read Before the W. F. NJ S. Convention
at OsCeoIa, Iowa, by Mrs. A. C. Voeker, Leon, Iowa.

Protestant churches. The solution
of this problem rests with the chris
tians enrolled in the church of Christ
today.
It is a logical fact that radical
changes are more easily remedied
than gradual changes which have
become chronic in their results. The
pendulum has slowly but surely
swung far away from the days of our
forefathers when church or the
Lords obligations" were as religi-
ously and faithfully discharged as the
account of the grocer or butcher.
Our great gradfathers considered
it privilege to help sustain the
church and it's needs as near to his
heart as the caring for his own heart
and home.
" Should one of the old saints long
since asleep be granted a brief fur
Tough among his ancestral halls, his
eyes would be no more astounded at
seeing a passenger airship almost
lost to sight in the trackless blue
above, than his ears would be to hear
a decorous deacon get up after a
good sermon and destroy the good
thought and spirit left, by the long
and tiresome "coaxing method of
raising the appointments of the
church as is all too often done in this
our day.
The crisis is at hand. Gods call
to duty is heralded from every pull
pit and should be heard and needed
by every loyal christian in the pew
until the question Of giving is solved.
All christians are agreed that the
church has claim upon it's followers.
"Give to God that which is Gods. -
The issue is here, how can we meet
our obligations and feel that our
methods are approved?
l am sure you will expect me to
mention "tithfng as the first and
best of all "approved methods" AL
though l am personally fully agreed
with you l will not endeavor to say
much on this subject as l am aware
there are those among you who have
given you their best thoughts after
careful and we'll studied considera-
ton of this subject. The little scope
allowed me in this paper could add
little to what has been said SO l
will give only three concise reasons
why tithing is the mehod.
1st.-It is an established and rec
ognized law, THE tith is the Lord s, y
2nd-It is the best known sys-
tematic method of equal distribution.
The widow giving her mite shares
equally with the millions of the
philanthropist.
3rd.-If all church members were
tithers we would have no need for
such papers as these. when the
Lord comes into his own the store
house will be blessed that there shall
mot be room enough to receive But
since only small per cent of enroll
ed christians are tithers these dis
cussions can but aim at the goal.
The second approved method I
would call System attic giving
Whether you give a per cent or a
fraction of your means or your in
crease let it be systematic. Because
1st-Systematic giving would in
sure increased offering. We hear
so many complaints, 1T is just give,
give, here a little, there little,
something all the time" but let the
giver keep an exact account of his
"here little, there a little I be-
lieve he would undoubtedly find that
it is Gin the end little" also when
compared with any other item of his
various uUuocuOlu VI SApcAoCo.
2nd.-Systematic giving insures a
freer hand. If we have no mite box
or Lords own" fund to draw from,
the question will constantly come up,
Can I afford it this month, there
are always so many expenses at this
time of, year" (Which time always
seems to be the season at hand). But
if regular fund is kept the question
will not SO often be, Can I give?"
but "How much can l give?" for this
particular call.
3rd.-Systematic giving does, or
should have, a reflex action on the
home if it is carried out right.
believe parents and children alike
should be partners in their Lords
fund" The children of today will
be the stewards of tomorrow and
need this home training to meet this
duty. Too often the head of the fam
lily gives to various calls without con-
sulting any of his household, while if
they were giving comparatively and
systematically each member of the
family would share in the discussions
and so learn to give and incidentally
become Interested in giving and in
the needs of the church.
4th-All giving whether system
attic or at random should be varied"
When calling upon the members our
committee too often hear the final,
81 decided to give it all in lump
this year and I have given all ! can
afford" Sometimes this lump" is
all given to the pastors salary, some
times to the general fund. Now if
this giving were varied it would
,.1st-Increase the offering. A ten
dollar bill might look pretty big in a
lump" but would be rather minute
1y dissected if it had to meet the ten
or eleven board requirements as we'll
as the other membership obligations.
~ 2nd.-Dividing our gifts and CIV
ing to the different causes would
naturally stimulate interest in the
various needs and an aroused inter-
est is the first prime essential to in
creased giving. God says that those
who honor him with their substance
shall have his blessing. Return I'M
to me and will return unto you,