The Harrison times., 1912-06-01
Raising Benevolent
Funds
]. S. Kendall IN the Religious Telescope

ana Otner benevolent interests.
Many churches are failing in this par.
ticular because they have no well.
thought-out plans They are not ap-
plying the same tact and business
sense in this department that they
use in their local church affairs.
1t is not in the province Of the stew.
ardship commission to order the plan
a church should use. Every church
will pursue the plan which seems
most desirable for its locality; but
several years Of experience and care
ful observation Of churches OF every
kind leads us to believe that we can
safely make some suggestions as to
the requisites for success.
There must be organization first Of
all This organization must have,
first, a pastor with a vision The re.
lation Of this servant Of the church to
the financial welfare Of this depart
ment Of the congregation's finance Is
unique and important, Especially Is
this true Of the smaller churches,
Second, there must be a strong be.
neyolent committee This committee
should be chosen wisely 1t should
have members who are interested in
and are in touch with the various be.
nevolcnt boards
Third, there must be a cooperation
OF the various departments in the
church, The Sunday school and Ju.
Tior and Senior Christian Endeavor.
ers should be enlisted,
benevolent Budget" Needed,
The plan is to provide a benevolent
budget which will include all that the
local church is to be called upon pub.
licly for the regular benevolence Of
the congregation
The benevolent committee Is TO dl.
rect an every member canvass Of the
entire church for an annual pledge on
the weekly basis, to be paid weekly or
monthly Where practical this can
vass should be separate from the can.
vas for the current expense budget
This coWmit,ee should see that the
pledged amount 10 fully adequate to
meet tie entire budget
The Offering Is TO be made IN CON
nectlon with the regular church Of
fering using for this purpose tho du
pleX envelope either the single or the
double pocket, as the church may fur.
nish These envelopes should be
numbered and dated and every mem.
Der supplied with one for every Sun.
day Of the year
Every church should have a beney.
olent treasurer, who should be a mem.
Der OF the benevolent committee, and
In connection with the general ste
ward should open all envelopes and
make the proper entries In books pro.
vded for this purpose, He should
make a remittance once quarter to
the parties designated TO receive tho
benevolent funds. Quarterly state
monts Should be furnished the beney'
olent committee for every member
This committee should distribute the
same and look carefully after delin
quents and collect unpaid pledges,
Work Of the Church,
Preparation should preeede the
canvass to be made for boneyolenees
The church should give information
RB to the needs and work done by
these various societies that are sup.
ported by this Offering Tho church
should be called upon to give herself
10 prayer for these various interests,
Secure, II possible, some one who Ia
thoroughly familiar with the plan to
present II He should show how Il
works elsewhere whom worked, The
church should provide those who ara
to do the work with the needed helps
Have those who are TO take the
pledges thoroughly familiar with the
system, 80 that they can give the
needed information when desired,
In the financial awakening OF n
church, In the majority Of eases, II In
wise to have two distinct campaigns
OF agitation, one for church support,
the other for church benevolences
The pledge getting may be worked in
ono canvass, using cards especially
prepared for the double budget, hay
Ing both subscription blanks on the
same card Experience Ia proving
that separate eAnyassoB are result.
Ing IN tho greatest success, Where
this Ia done, the people should bo civ.
en- little time TO breathe between tho