The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-21
Raising Benevolent
Funds
J. S Kendau IN The Religion Telescope


church. II they are to provide
adequately for the missionary
and other benevolent interests.
Many churches are failing In this par
ticular because they have no we'll
thought-out plans. They are not ap-
plying tho Same tact and business
sense In this department that they
use in their local church affairs.
1t 10 not In the province of the stew
ardship commission to order the plan
D church should use. Every church
will pursue the plan which seems
most desirable for its locality: but
several years Of experience and care
full 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
oil. This organization must have.
flrst. a pastor with a vision. The re-
lation of this servant of the church to
the financial welfare Of this depart.
ment Of the congregations finance is
unique and important. Especially is
this true of the smaller churches
Second. there must be a strong be-
nevolent committee. This committee
should be chosen wisely. 1t should
have members who are interested in
and are in touch with the various be-
nsvolent boards.
Third, there must be a cooperation
Of the various departments In the
church. The Sunday school and Ju.
nior and Senior Christian Endeavor
ers should be enlisted.
Benevolent Budget" Needed.
The plan 10 to provide a benevolent
budget which will include all that the
local church 10 to be called upon pub
licly for the regular benevolence of
the congregation.
The benevolent committee IL to di.
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 committee should see that the
pledged amount is fully adequate to
meet the entire budget.
The offering IL to be made in con-
nection with the regular church Of
fering. using for this purpose the du-
pick 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 tho year.
EvApxy oh,,pch ah4,s1A havA h>~A~
o!ent treasurer. who should be a mem.
Der Of the benevolent committee. and
in connection with the general ste
ward should open all ENVELOPES and
mako the proper entries in books pro-
vided for this purpose. He should
make a remittance once a quarter to
the parties designated to receive the
benevolent funds. Quarterly state
ments should be furnished the benev-
olent committee for every member.
This committee should distribute tho
same and look carefully after delin-
Quents and collect unpaid pledges.
Work Of the Church.
Preparation should precede the
canvass to be made for benevolences.
The church should give Information
~ to the needs and work done by
these various societies that are sup
ported by this offering. The church
should be called upon to give herself
to prayer for these various interests.
Secure. II possible. some one who is
thoroughly familiar with the plan to
present 1t. He should show how it
works elsewhere when worked. The
church should provide those who are
to do the work with the needed helps.
Have those who are to take tho
pledges thoroughly familiar with the
system. 80 that they can give the
needed Information when desired.
In the financial awakening Of
church, in the majority Of cases. It 10
wise to have two distinct campaigns
OF agitation. one for church support,
the other for church benevolences.
The pledge getting may be worked in
one canvass. using cards especially
prepared for the double budget, hav-
ing both subscription blanks on tho
same card. Experience IL proving
that separate canvasses are result
ing In the greatest success. Where
this 10 done. the people should be Civ.
en- little time to breathe between tho
eanvasses.